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4-1-4-1

olliec

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2012
3,574
11,763
I know it is early days but right now we are exposed and leaving so much space in front of the back 4. We were lucky to escape with a draw yesterday in my opinion but when we changed back to 4-2-3-1 around the 60th min we cleaned up and looked a lot more comfortable in the middle. Can you see this 4-1-4-1 working for us? We did the same at WBA and also escaped with another draw. I mean I get that it will work for teams that want to park the bus, but not those who actually want to play football and press us.
 

bubble07

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2004
22,959
29,896
I like it. It means the team can really press in opposition half

My only issue is when our back 4 have the ball wamyama is the only player anywhere near them and if he is marked that becomes an issue
 

olliec

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2012
3,574
11,763
I like it. It means the team can really press in opposition half

My only issue is when our back 4 have the ball wamyama is the only player anywhere near them and if he is marked that becomes an issue
Yes which is what happened yesterday with Leverkusen they pressed us well and won the ball back and forced us into a lot of mistakes.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
I wouldn't say we looked more comfortable, Dembele was way off the pace when he came on and little changed bar both teams maybe running out of steam a bit.

One holding midfielder is my preference, but with that you have to press and work properly. Last night again we got lazy in the second half and our work rate tailed off - not just with the press but the amount of times players in midfield particularly were letting runners go. Same happened against WBA. If you don't do the work off the ball then all of a sudden it is a lot of players out of the game.
 

olliec

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2012
3,574
11,763
In time I can see it working but right now there are a lot of mistakes being made with the passing and that is because we are not getting any time on the ball.
 

THOWIG

Well-Known Member
Feb 14, 2005
6,499
8,329
I know it is early days but right now we are exposed and leaving so much space in front of the back 4. We were lucky to escape with a draw yesterday in my opinion but when we changed back to 4-2-3-1 around the 60th min we cleaned up and looked a lot more comfortable in the middle. Can you see this 4-1-4-1 working for us? We did the same at WBA and also escaped with another draw. I mean I get that it will work for teams that want to park the bus, but not those who actually want to play football and press us.

Personally thought the complete opposite. We looked so much better in the first half with that system. Went to pot when Dembele came on and Janssen came off.
 

waresy

Well-Known Member
Mar 22, 2004
2,421
1,569
I'm not sure about it either, feels like we dont have the same amount of flexibilty or different lines, feels flatter. I have no real justification for that other than gut feel though. In theory it should give us more attacking options but I'll leave it to poch and wait and see how it pans out.
 

idontgetit

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2011
14,404
30,804
It worked amazingly against City but it can get out of balance very easily and once the confidence goes everyones game seems to go to shit
 

olliec

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2012
3,574
11,763
It works amazingly well if everyone is on the same page but some games that is not the case!
 

glospur

Well-Known Member
May 19, 2015
2,608
9,806
I know it is early days but right now we are exposed and leaving so much space in front of the back 4. We were lucky to escape with a draw yesterday in my opinion but when we changed back to 4-2-3-1 around the 60th min we cleaned up and looked a lot more comfortable in the middle. Can you see this 4-1-4-1 working for us? We did the same at WBA and also escaped with another draw. I mean I get that it will work for teams that want to park the bus, but not those who actually want to play football and press us.
What?

Our best performance of the season - and probably the best performance by any team this season - came when we played a 4-1-4-1 against the best footballing team, and one of the best pressing teams, in the country.
 

theShiznit

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2004
17,800
23,813
I wouldn't say we looked more comfortable, Dembele was way off the pace when he came on and little changed bar both teams maybe running out of steam a bit.

One holding midfielder is my preference, but with that you have to press and work properly. Last night again we got lazy in the second half and our work rate tailed off - not just with the press but the amount of times players in midfield particularly were letting runners go. Same happened against WBA. If you don't do the work off the ball then all of a sudden it is a lot of players out of the game.
Agree. Last 30 minutes was anything but comfortable...
 

olliec

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2012
3,574
11,763
What?

Our best performance of the season - and probably the best performance by any team this season - came when we played a 4-1-4-1 against the best footballing team, and one of the best pressing teams, in the country.
Yes that is true but like I said you could see that every single player was up for that game and wanted to win but not every game is going to be like that otherwise we would walk the league. The times when we don't put in the same performance is my concern because it starts to become sloppy.
 

olliec

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2012
3,574
11,763
Agree. Last 30 minutes was anything but comfortable...
I think there was a miscommunication. Wanyama was still too forward when Dembele came on and he needed to drop back to cover the back 4 which is what happened around the 70th min mark.
 

DJS

A hoonter must hoont
Dec 9, 2006
31,261
21,760
I think we need to adapt the formation between 4-2-3-1 and 4-1-4-1 depending on our opponents and their playing personnel.

If Dembele is in there we should especially be able to switch between the two without too much hassle.
 

coy-spurs1882

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
3,989
10,442
we better press and get the fxxking goals with 4141 in the first 60 mins and get someone who can dictate tempo (winks) and someone who is pacy (gkn) to maintain the attacking threat for the last 30 (changed to 4231)
 

midoNdefoe

the member formerly and technically still known as
Mar 9, 2005
3,107
3,166
we better press and get the fxxking goals with 4141 in the first 60 mins and get someone who can dictate tempo (winks) and someone who is pacy (gkn) to maintain the attacking threat for the last 30 (changed to 4231)

Bit pushy...
 
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