Would you rather play 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1?

Just wondering what your opinions are on these formations, would you rather play a midfield 3 of Cabaye, Tiote and Barton and have Ben Arfa used as a Winger, or play two holding midfielders in Cabaye and Tiote and put Joey out on the right to put quality balls in the box? i think that we would get the best out of Ben Arfa through the middle but i would also like a midfield 3 so we could control the games more in midfield so its a hard choice at the moment.

 

I think 4-4-1-1 might be the formation Pardew will start with against Arsenal with Ben Arfa Behind Ba, Midfield of Barton-Tiote-Cabaye-Gutierrez.

 

I can see that being our most used line up next sseason.

 

4-1-3-1-1

Tiote deep, with Gutierrez/Marveaux, Cabaye and Barton as a flat midfield 3, and Ben Arfa roaming behind Ba

 

more than likely i suppose, still a good line up to be fair and probably going to be better than last seasons line up.

 

433 for me. I'm on my phone so no formation porn but a midfield 3 of Barton, Cabaye and Tiote with Ben Arfa and Jonas/Marv on the wings would be great

 

4231

 

For me, 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-1-1 are the same thing, just the 4-2-3-1 is more detailed about exact player positions.

I think Ben Arfa will be more effective in the middle and Bartons's deliveries from wide will be most beneficial to Ba so I'm saying 4-2-3-1

 

I wouldn't play Tiote alone in CDM. I don't think Cabaye would play well in that role either as he is more of and attacking midfielder (well that's where he played best at Lille). I think this would work:

Barton Tiote Cabaye

Ben arfa. Jonas

 

Cabaye was used as a deep playmaker last season at Lille, he was an attacking midfielder a couple of seasons ago and got something like 15 goals in a season, but has adapted his game to become a more box to box midfielder with great passing and vision, i think he would be good as a deep playmaker next to tiote.

 

Agree, just sit there in the Xabi Alonso role picking long passes out for the wingers, and through balls from deep for Ben Arfa.

 

What a headache for Pardeu to have tho

4-5-1 with Arfa behind Ba
4-3-3 with Ba and Guti and Arfa either side

 

4-2-3-1 best fortmation for me, especially because we will have hard working wingers in barton and jonas which makes the system fully effective and it allows ben arfa freedom

 

especially if we sign sturridge, where do you fit him in to the system above?

 

Hadn't even thought about that one! if we do sign him on loan, that is going to be a very hard team to pick because personally i rate ba as a good striker and has always averaged around a goal every 2 games.

 

4-3-3

Sturridge, Ba, Arfa

 

i concur

 

i actually wouldn't mind that but im not sure sturridge would like to be used as a winger, he looked poor at the u21 world cup in that position i think

 

If we got Sturridge we'd have to scrap our plans and go 4-4-2, dont think him or Chelsea would be too keen on him being used as a winger.

 

Definitely can't complain about that predicament