comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 5 minutes ago
Hojbjerg/Skipp---------GLC/Winks
-------------Ndombele/Dele
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The only one of these players who wouldn't fit in a 433 is Alli

Yeah his ball carrying is definitely his best asset rather than picking the lock in the final third

There's not many pure, creative 10s nowadays. Most of them have been played out wide in free-ish roles (like Neymar or Foden) or converted into more rounded midfielders (like De Bruyne, David Silva, Bernardo Silva)

Yeah if we got a creative player I'd prefer them to replace a headless chicken winger in the squad/team. A player who can create and score goals like Eriksen did. Aka sabitzer type I guess. Can play off a wide position or in a free role.

comment by Christopher (U20930)
posted 12 minutes ago
Yeah his ball carrying is definitely his best asset rather than picking the lock in the final third
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Who?

Lo Celso

What's the benefit of a 433 over a 4231? Seems like with wingers that like to come inside we're better off with a pivot that can cover the fullbacks while they create width.

comment by Bãles left boot (U22081)
posted 12 seconds ago
What's the benefit of a 433 over a 4231? Seems like with wingers that like to come inside we're better off with a pivot that can cover the fullbacks while they create width.
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No need to go full sherwood but formations aren't too significant really. Not with fluid play and players.

First half today we had hojbjerg and the defence against their whole team when they attacked because no one dropped deep to offer for the ball and we don't press as a team

All formations can be similar and change in attack and defence, in and out of possession n that

Right yeah. Gilet back in the drawer.

That's kind of my point, really. With a 4231 defensive shape it's very clear whose job it is to cover back. If you're telling a midfield 3 to drop or go as they feel, you're bound to have gaps occasionally. Unless they're coached and drilled into it

It's about roles more than positions. Two midfielders who are expected to break from deep have a very different role to a #10 or the midfielders in a double pivot, and they need different attributes too (better close control and ability to beat first tackles, for example, and less direct creative vision than a 10). Similarly the sitting mid in a 3 has a different role to the "sitter" in the midfield 2.

Which demands different roles and attributes from the other players in the system to make the whole thing work without leaving gaps.

comment by Bãles left boot (U22081)
posted 1 minute ago
Right yeah. Gilet back in the drawer.

That's kind of my point, really. With a 4231 defensive shape it's very clear whose job it is to cover back. If you're telling a midfield 3 to drop or go as they feel, you're bound to have gaps occasionally. Unless they're coached and drilled into it
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That's it though. We are playing a 4231 with Ndombele in the pivot but he doesn't cover full backs like you say also the defence and full backs especially do not press high up the pitch offering the width to allow for the forwards to drift inside more

We have kinda thrown players into formations all seasons without them doing the roles to make it work. When it's more than one player, then you know its not an individual issue.

Agreed Amanda. I'm always a fan of keeping it simple. Telling a player to go forward if X happens, but not if Y happens etc etc is just complicating things. Unless you're coaching that in from pre season it seems like it could be a mess. Even then, you're asking extra of them.

And fair Phenom. Hopefully with a more attacking coach we'll see a return of the flying fullbacks. Unless we stick Bale on the left, Lucas on the right and go old school

Whatever we do it needs to be consistent and ideally ambitious. Jose didn't help himself by trying to appease people with his tactics.

It's when you see Mourinho sticking a player like Lucas in the main creative position of a 4231 (ie. the middle of the 3) that you wonder what the hell he's thinking. It's all very well having a preferred setup but if the players don't have the right attribute for the roles you're asking them to play then you have to adapt

I thought Lucas did very well at 10

Well, to be fair Mourinho clearly expects something different from his #10 to what I would look for, so... Whatever

Fair enough. I see what you mean I just think it's an unfortunate example cos he actually did well through the middle. Better than Lamela has, and everyone seemed to think that was a good idea

Yeah, bad example maybe. I stand by the rest of the stuff I said though

In fact Lucas as a striker is probably a better example, considering how much Mourinho asks of his #9

Yeah I don't get playing him up front at all. Though Poch did the same in a squeeze. He must bang them in in training

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Someone needs to let Bale know the topknot has gone out again even for the d'ckheads that got on that bandwagon

Covering his bald spot init