Pardew is too reluctant to rotate/change formation

This was a problem at times last season and will be this season if Pards insists on staying with the exact starting 11 every league game (bar injuries). We'd be much more fluid and effective if we played 4-3-3 with Marv-Cisse/BA-HBA up front and then have a good striker to bring on if we need it.

For some reason he also keeps going back to 4-4-2 which is very frustrating as it seriously restricts HBA and Dreamboat and Ba and Cisse keep getting in each others way. This will be a problem in Europe especially against some of the better teams. Very disappointing considering the kind of football we were playing towards the back end of last season and with the addition of anita we seem even better equipped to play 4-3-3 this season.

Thoughts?

 

agree with this.
we were class with 4-3-3 and have mainly the same players so I can only assume he is trying to accommodate Ba.
Maybe he made him a promise to keep him?

 

The problem is that, as we all know, Cabaye is the best player we have at feeding in other players. He needs to play further up the pitch which the 4-3-3 allows with 2 of Jonas Tiote Anita Perch protecting the back 4. With 4-4-2 so much of the game passes Cabaye that he can't influence it as we know he can even when he's not on top form.

 

Cabaye can't get as far up the pitch without Tiote.

 

Also, don't forget about Cabaye's partner-in-crime, Tiote. No matter Bigi or Anita, none of them can match up the amount of defensive presence Tiote exerts on opposing teams. Could be a factor that makes Cabaye have to work harder for the team in defense.

 

This is true, Anita looks like he can be a very good player but doesn't show anywhere near the presence Tiote has in the anchor man role. Gael though looks a different player. He is confident on the ball and can has very good vision and can tackle and his positional sense is far beyond his years and for a player who has just finished puberty he looks astonishing but is not yet to the level of Cheik.

 

In which case play Ba in the CF role in a 4-3-3, he's looked a lot sharper than Cisse so far

 

Even if Ba doesnt want to play wide left of a front 3, how about rotating Ba and Cisse for the top spot, or even go for 4411 formation, with HBA in the hole and Obertan back on the right side of midfield - again rotating Cisse and Ba. It is quite clear that they have zero-chemistry to play together.

 

I made a thread about this exact thing yesterday -

http://www.not606.com/showthread.ph...ch-back-to-4-3-3-now-you-fat-****-quot-thread!

 

Why can't we just play 4-3-3 and play an all defensive right back so Ben Arfa doesn't have to track back, and have two defensive mids that just stay back, or at least one that does, and the other go a little bit more forward?

Perch is a solid defensive player, and he could be like our version of Hibbert from Everton. An all defensive RB that's solid and doesn't go forward, and never gets caught out?

This will let Ben Arfa go forward as much as his likes.

Plus play two defensive mids that just stay back, in front of the defense, not making too many runs forward, and let Cabaye have freedom?

It's far better.

Playing Ba and Cisse can work in a 4-3-3, as there's a lot more movement and flowing play. In a 4-4-2 it's just two strikers rooted to their position, trying to win headers and get in position to score. It's too easy for the opposition to deal with Ba and Cisse in a 4-4-2.

I would get it if Pardew played 4-4-2 to make us more defensively solid, not concede, and hope that one of our forwards can produce a moment of magic to win 1/2-0. But we're really just as exposed in a 4-4-2.

a 4-4-2 is far too flat, and without Tiote, players can run straight through us.

In a 4-3-3, we'd have two defensive mids that know their role in the team, and work as defensive blockades. And we'll have an attacking mid (Cabaye) in front of them, creating chances and waving his magic wand.

4-4-2 is boring, flat and too easily to deal with, when we try and play it.

 

To be fair, think we might be back to 4-3-3 when Tiote is back, which is hopefully going to be against Everton.

 

From his comments post game, I think Pards knows this. Would now be surprised to see a change for the Everton game in a fortnight

 

Tash, its difficult to have your winger not helping out the full-back. All and well saying that if the full back is all-defensive there shouldn't be an issue, but it doesn't stop the opposing team from doubling up on our 'defensive' full back.

 

I'm ok with things to be honest. I'd probably set up a bit more 433 but I prefer the flexible approach of last season. One where Ba and Cisse rotate on the left, and we can switch to 442 or 451 as required. The problem is we are talking way too much about formations really. Its not the be all and end all, players in form make whichever formation you choose look good.

The reality is for me is that we have two out of sorts strikers, no Tiote, a half cocked Cabaye, and Anita trying to adjust to the pace. It wouldn't matter how advanced we played Cabaye at present, the bottom line is he is no where near his level. If everyone was fit at present I'd be looking to start with Bigismalls and Tiote, and then playing either Cabaye or Abeid in front. At present I'd maybe go Abeid and let Cabaye catch up. The problem you have is match fitness can only be gained by playing. Can the likes of Cabaye etc turn out for the 21's in the league that's replaced the reserves?

To be fair Pardew was very flexible against Villa. During the game he must have made 10 minor adjustments, some forced, some proactive. We're just not at the top of our game right now and we have to be patient. Defensive tightness is what we should concentrate on at present as opposed to how we set up in attack. We are all over the shop and need to get a settled 4 bedded in like last season. We have suffered a couple blows with Raylor and Simpson. We look raggy as **** at times and need to work hard to tighten up.

Set plays are now officially a joke again.