Different formation suggestions?

Since Pardew insists on playing a 4-4-2 formation and knocking it long for strikes, how about a 3-4-1-2/3-5-2?

----Ba/Cisse-----Shola------

----------Ben Arfa----------

Ferguson-------------------Santon
---------Jonas--Cabaye--------

-----Perch---Saylor--Colo-----

-------------Krul--------------

Shola should be starting along side Ba or Cisse. This way we can win more headers, and keep more possession. In this formation we can control possession and dictate the pace of the game. We can provide a physical threat and a technical threat.

Perch and Colo along side a big physical CB, both comfortable on the ball. Perch with good pace at CB. Colo with great reading of the game, plus decent pace also.

Ben Arfa drifting in a free role, picking up knock downs and working his magic.

Ferguson and Santon on the wings, tracking back whenever we need them.

In this formation we can knock it long, win possession and keep it due to the extra man.

 

Any suggestions from you lads?

 

Just a quick edit, I forgot to put Cabaye in

 

Here's my idea of a similar sort of formation, more a 5-2-1-2 or 5-3-2.

-----10-----11-----
---------9---------
------7-----8------
--5-------------6--
-----2---3---4-----
---------1---------

i've used numbers rather than player names as i'm undecided as to who i would play in some positions. I'm thinking solid back 3 with 2 wing backs, 2 central midfielders (maybe 1 defensive minded and 1 more forward thinking), 1 in the hole behind 2 strikers.

Corresponding with the numbers in the formation layout, here's who i think could play in this suggested formation:

1. Krul
2. Williamson
3. Coloccini
4. S.Taylor
5. Ferguson
6. Santon
7. Cabaye
8. Tiote
9. Ben Arfa
10. Ba
11. Cisse

I've gone with Ferguson and Santon as wing backs as i think using this formation they would be our best options going forward. Both young with plenty of energy i think they would be comfortable both attacking and defending when need be. Equally i guess you could also make a case for Anita as a left wing back and maybe even Simpson/R. Taylor as right wing back. As they all offer something a little different. The choice would be very much dependent on the opposition.

Jonas/Perch/Anita could also be used in the central midfield positions. I've gone with Cabaye and Tiote as my own personal preference as Tiote would be my defensive minded player and Cabaye the more forward thinking. You could perhaps argue the need away from home or against strong opposition at home that you could go with 2 more defensive minded players (maybe 2 of Perch, Jonas or Anita)

I think Ben Arfa is a no brainer as to who would play behind the front 2. I think we have a good 1 or 2 young players who could also play this position so for competition sake i'm gonna throw Sammy Ameobi and Haris Vuckic names into the mix.

Based on this seasons form, BA would have to be a starter up front and then 1 of either Cisse or Shola to play with him.

I think what i have laid out is pretty much the same as Tash's but with my a few tweeks of my own. I think with both formations we have plenty of competitions for places and a good balance. I am stuck in 2 minds as to whether i maybe playing it a little too safe but that's up for discussion.

I've never really contributed a thread of this nature so thought i'd give it a go.

Opinions welcome.

 

Something I've always said about 3 at the back formations is that the wing-backs need to get the right balance between attack and defence. My worry is that Fergie and Santon are both too attack minded to play there (santon often gets caught out as it is).

I'd be tempted to play:

------Ba-------Shola------
---------Benny------------
Jonas-Cabs--Tiote--Santon
---Perch---Saylor---Colo---

It would be nice to have Raylor in there, as I think it would be his best position

 

Sticking with your idea Tash, I would be more inclined to go along these lines and consider it 5-2-3

----Ba/Cisse-----Shola------
----------Ben Arfa----------

---------Cabaye----Tiote--------

Ferguson/Jonas---------------Santon
------Saylor---Colo--Willo------

-------------Krul--------------

Put Cabaye into the MF as we have 5 defenders in the squad in this formation and Cab's is a bit more attacking than our other midfielders. Hatem playing just off the strikers running through on to flick ons or picking the ball up just infront of the defence would see him at his most dangerous IMO.

But personally for me we don't have the quality or quanitity of first class players to play this formation, we are struggling for defenders as it is without having them all on the pitch at the same time as well as having the most depth in our midfield which would be totally over looked in this formation for me.

 

I don't know why, but playing 3 at the back disturbs me when you don't have at least two exceptionally gifted ball-keeping central defenders. We have one. It also seems to fit more obviously with possession football, not the direct stuff we play, so I'd suggest it'd mean a change in philosophy which would be dangerous to implement at this stage without serious work on the system.

4 at the back works fine for me, and the only time I wouldn't be happy with just 3 midfielders is when the opposition are playing 4-5-1 or some variant, in which case 4-4-2 is adequate. Our midfielders always seem to work harder in the stats than most others, and they can generally match up pretty well when outnumbered, so the extra striker is the revolving option for me.

 

This is essentially a flat 4 with Perch in DM playing as an extra CB while the fullbacks push up. I like the idea of this regardless of how the formation on paper is. Although Santon can't cross to save Obertan's life, he's still a good threat down the right with Fergie on the left so...it's probably our best 11 for now.

 

Hahahahaha

 

Perch is poor as a fullback and even worse at CB, wouldn't even take a chance having him as part of a back three.

We don't have a good 3rd central defender, never mind backups to contemplate 3 at the back.