Too much time is spent focusing on formations etc. Are we likely to go back to basics this year and just see a standard 442? Mcgregor Rosie Chester Davies Figgy Elmo Huddlestone Livermore Brady Sagbo Graham\Aluko That, IMO is a good a team as any we can field this season. A solid back four, energetic midfield with Thudd who can pick a pass and wingers who enjoy running at the opposition. A man mountain in Sagbo and a natural finisher (I'm told) in Graham. With the exception of sticking a defensive minded midfielder on to secure a lead, I honestly dont see the likes of Meyler, Quinn, Koren et al improving that team.
In answer to your first question, no. Very few bottom half PL teams will play only two in midfield these days. It's suicide.
If we were going to play 4-4-2 I'd play aluko on the right wing and the foreigner up front with Sagbo, 2 tall players to get their noggins on crosses.
Against teams we 'need' points against at home, I'd revert to a 3-5-2. Most of the squad are comfortable in that system and we can probably get away with it for a few games as teams won't expect it based on our Chelsea formation.
I thought about that as well, before the other teams in the Championship got used to it 3-5-2 worked brilliantly
4-4-2 is a terrible formation to play now, while I agree that is a good team, Many teams know how to counter it. I'd myself go for a 4-2-3-1, Hudds and Livermoore CDM and bring Aluko back to CF, And then alternate Elmo and Brady from CAM's to LM/RM.
Problem is, a lot of Prem teams play 4-3-3 (or a variation of it), so to leave 3 Vs 3 attack Vs defence would/could work badly against us.
Like PLT said any team fighting relegation would be insane to play 2 men in the middle of the pitch. We should only be looking at 3-5-2, 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1/4-5-1.
I don't want City to play 433 just to appease all these SKY fans, who are saying oh well they went out with the intention of playing football "the right way". Whatever that means. I want City to play the formation that will win us enough games to stay in the league. And i don't think we're good enough to play 433 in this league. It's points that counts.
To be fair, 352, 433, 451, 422. The same starting 11 are pretty much nailed on whatever the formation.
And that is a very good thing. It also shows the flexability of the team, and how we can change and adapt a game plan depending on the opponents and/or situation.
Answer to said question - No chance. As Bruce said they had been working on a game plan for Chelsea and to come away with 2-0 when goal 2 was scored from a free kick that should not have been given we did ok and hung in. Played some nice football 2nd half and nothing to be concerned about. Most teams would have lost that game. With the circus now over The season starts now We are at home to a team nowhere near the standard of Chelsea and we should go back to 3-5-2 at home. Massive doubts over Hooper who missed the Everton game.
So 2 banks of 4 wasnt too far off after-all. With the formation against Norwich being described as a 4411.
Koren's a midfielder and that's where he played. He started off getting forward quite a lot which I think we can get away with since the other two midfielders are so good, but I don't think we'll play a flat midfield 4 any time soon.
We played a back four. Beyond that it was pretty fluid. No way was it 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1. Not that it really matters.
It was a 4-5-1, 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, 4-4-1-1 whatever you want to call that formation. Until the red card at least. Koren was obviously playing in the hole, and then switched positions with Aluko who was sitting in the same places until Sagbo bent over to talk to Martin. Wingers were also staying forward. I'd say that sounds more like 4-2-3-1 than the others but they're all practically the same, just depends whether your on the offence or playing cautiously to how it looks.
