Cabaye much more dangerous when given freedom

I know it looked at times that we were playing 4-4-2 2nd half vs Everton, and yesterday vs Norwich, but I think it's a sort of strategy Pards has; where he switches formations throughout the game.

I don't know exactly what sort of thing we did yesterday, but It looked more like the 4-3-3 we played last season. When we took goal kicks, I think we played 4-4-2, so we could control the ball, then switched to 4-3-3 when he had possession.

Anyway, Cabaye's shooting was below normal standards yesterday, but he was a lot more dangerous. His ability to find space was fantastic, and he could have had a couple. His passing was mostly good.

In the times where we played 4-4-2, he was basically just trying to play long balls over the defence, and it wasn't working.

In a 4-3-3 he was all over the pitch, as he's not routed to his positon, where is in a 4-4-2, he's basically trapped as a CM just trying to feed players through.

Hopefully we keep playing with this system.

 

Cabaye had a good game. Got into some good positions to receive the ball, used it well when he did have it, and if he'd had his shooting boots on he'd have got a couple of goals at least. It's all coming together for him though and he'll be popping them in before too long.

 

Cab's does play a lot better when given the freedom in a 3 man midfield but i think the poor start to the season was mainly down to lack of fitness and fatigue after the summer playing for France.

Does look like your right though regarding the formation changes especially from goal kicks, Pardew seems to like to keep people guessing but some times i wonder if the players fully understand all the changes he makes. I think most people are a bit doubtful of our 4-4-2 formation and we should stick to 4-3-3 and if he wants2 strikers up from goal kicks etc we should go 4-3-1-2 with hatem floating in behind to pick up on any scraps coming down from the big lads up front.

 

I agree. We seem to be winning some of these knock downs, but no one is there to pick them up.

4-3-1-2 is worth a try.

Cisse or Ba knocking down for Ben Arfa, and then we've automatically got into a threatening position.

 

Exactly or he could burst through the middle and try and latch on to any balls that get flicked through or over the defence.

P.S. when i said Cab's poor start to the season what i really meant was slow start to the season. Cabaye is never poor, well you couldn't be picking up 40K a week could you.

 

Cabaye is like a Iniesta or a Gotze, if he hasn't got the freedom to roam in front of the attack he won't be at his best and won't create the chances he should.

 

I don't know about Ineista but Gotze and Nasri are both comparisons. Cabaye obviously doesn't have their skill or pace, but he's like them - Much better with freedom.

But he has got suprisingly good defensive ability. His interceptions and reading of the game are great, and his tackling good.

 

Tash, every day there seems to be a thread with you crying out for 4-3-3... I think we get it lad

 

Not sure the uplift in Cabayes game yesterday had anything at all to do with formations. The bloke has just been painfully off the pace and not match fit so far. Hardly surprising, he only played 20mins in pre season. Hopefully with him progressing, Cheik back, Demba looking his old self, Colo and Krul imminent, the real Newcastle can finally unveil itself. As I said prior to the weekend, we've had a cracking start when you consider the spine of the team has been missing.

The players should all be able to play in any formation the manager selects, and its more about form than formations. Cabaye will look good once he is in form, if he is playing 442 or 433. He would be better suited to having Jonas and Tiote sitting behind though.

 

4-4-2 is like Karl Kani jeans, ok in the 90's but wouldn't be seen dead in it now.

 

Don't think 4-3-1-2 is the way to go. I'd love to see Hatem excel in the number 10 position, but every time he plays there he just looks average. We tried it at the start of last season and he couldn't make enough impact to get in the first team, we brought him on at RW against the mackems and he took us by storm. Even yesterday when he moved more central he saw less of the ball, and couldn't get into the game anywhere near as much. I guess when he's in the middle it's a lot easier for opponents to mark him while not moving massively out of position, so he can be surrounded, meaning team mates won't attempt to reach him.

And when he's out wide he's drawing defenders out of position and making more space in the middle for the strikers.

 

I think he can play there but as you say it is obvious he is more effective on the right. He naturally cuts in and because the oppo players inside have others to worry about, he finds space. He has thunder is his left (and his right) and it affords him opportunities to show it. I think people get way too bogged down by formations generally. Most are tweaked versions of a known formation adjusted to suit the personnel. Form is more important.