Sorry, summer and unemployment is boring as ****, so here’s another thread nobody asked for - what formation would you like to see next season that ISNT the 433 we’re used to. I’m going 3-5-2. For me having 3 in the middle is critical in the PL as Amorim has inadvertently proved. And if you look at our personnel, assuming we add a centre back, having three there could make some sense. I also feel two of our best next season could well be Tino and Hall - both very well suited to wing back roles. Would mean a different tact in the transfer window, with another option on the left being very important and a foil for Isak needing huge investment. Not going to happen but just something to kill a few minutes.
Depends on who comes in. I'd like to see us get away from the flat 3 in the middle and either play with an out and out "6" or "10" in a 1-4-1-2-3 or 1-4-2-3-1 formations. Think Isak can get a little isolated at times up top so personal preference would be a 4-2-3-1 with Joao Pedro coming into the 10 role supported by Willock with Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton and Miley playing in the holding roles. Then with an overlapping full back over an inverted winger on the possession side to create a 1-3-2-4-1 attacking formation in possession. Defensively (OOP) I've always been a fan of the 1-4-1-4-1 with 2 banks of 4 and a ball winner in between the lines (which would require a "6" type destroyer as one of the holding CM's), just think it is very hard to break down in your final third and gives you good coverage across the pitch. The current flat 4-3-3 we play kind of allows for both of these but I've noticed we are vulnerable between the midfield and defensive lines, especially in transition, when we lose the ball in the middle/final third so think adding that extra line into the midfield would cut this out.
Ignoring the formation part, would you be preferring Willock over Gordon? Other way round for me. Gordon didn’t have a good season last year but see more in him than Willock who is also to injury prone.
No - sorry probably not very clear - Willock second choice CAM, think Gordon despite a bit of a poor end to the season after his red card is our best LW currently - I'd have my 25 man squad like this: Pope/Dubz/GK Tino/Trips, RCB/Schar, Botman/Burn, Hall/Targett Bruno/Miley/Longstaff, Tonali/Joelinton RW/Murphy, CAM/Willock, Gordon/Barnes Isak/Osula/CF Think we have a fair few who "could" play the 10 role, Willock isn't great at defending but great carrier on the ball so would be my preferred position for him overall tbh, Joelinton could also play in the 10 role but would prefer him deeper smashing seven days of **** out of opposition. Isak as well can dribble from deep so could be an option but then you lose his goals, he played off Wilson the few times they played together. Gordon played as a false 9 for the U21's when they won the Euros so could probably do a job in there as well.
Was this an evolution of the old 1-3-2-5 formation from the 1930's? Showing your age there! please log in to view this image
