a new formation?

[mendesstormer]

Prepared to be shot down in flames for this, but ...

Was just thinking about next season's best line-up/likely formations. Wonder if Juande would ever consider this:

Goalie

Woody King
Zok

Hutton New DM Bale
Hudd JJ

Keane Berba

Before anyone mentions the dreaded word wing-back, I'm thinking of Hutton and Bale more as wing-forwards. It's a mental thing, I guess, but I want to see them bombing up the wings, supplying crosses, pinning back the opposing full-backs most of the time. These two are very fit and will run non-stop - think they're ideally suited for the role. Zokora plays the combo CB/DM role he's already proving good at, with a license to burst forward at the appropriate moment. The new DM (I'm sure there will be one, and I'm expecting a world-class name in there - think Gattuso or Makelele of a few seasons ago in terms of style, if perhaps not quite that level of quality). Hudd will come back and collect the ball sometimes but will primarily be supplying the forward creativity. There's plenty of protection for the (new?) goalie. There's width, pace, blah blah. I honestly think this may be the best use of existing players, and makes a virtue out of the fact that we're not that strong in terms of wide midfielders. Don't suppose JR will go for it, but does anyone else agree this would be a strong and versatile line-up?

 

[Evolution]

Are you Kevin Keegan in disguise ??? :wink:

 

[Michey]

Are you Kevin Keegan in disguise ??? :wink:

:rofl:

 

[chinaman]

We'll be roast against Manure or any one of the top 4 playing that.

 

[mendesstormer]

We'll be roast against Manure or any one of the top 4 playing that.

Why exactly? If anything there are more defensive players in that team than we usually have.

 

[Evolution]

Goalie

Woody King
Zokora

Hutton NewDM Bale
Huddlestone Jenas

Keane Berbatov

Well.....

(1) - Where the hell is Aaron Lennon ?
(2) - Although I would like to see us employ a more attacking formation for Home matches especially I think you have too many defensive midfielders in the lineup
(3) We would be extremely exposed at the beck left and right positions and if you think back to the PSV game, you'll remember they lifted many a high ball into those areas for Farfan to run onto....with great effect.

Sorry mate but I think we would get torn apart with this formation

 

[tRiKS]

Goalie

Woody King
Zokora

Hutton NewDM Bale
Huddlestone Jenas

Keane Berbatov

Well.....

(1) - Where the hell is Aaron Lennon ?
(2) - Although I would like to see us employ a more attacking formation for Home matches especially I think you have too many defensive midfielders in the lineup
(3) We would be extremely exposed at the beck left and right positions and if you think back to the PSV game, you'll remember they lifted many a high ball into those areas for Farfan to run onto....with great effect.

Sorry mate but I think we would get torn apart with this formation

4) Football is 11 a side

 

[ever]

uhm.....

goalie, king, woody, zoko, bale, hutts, hudds, new dm, jenas, keane, berbatov

does make 11

 

[Evolution]

4) Football is 11 a side

Er tRiKS mate, you might want to trade in those bifocals :wink:

 

[chrissivad]

If you are going 3 at the back, you need to keep 3 at the back. From that team it looks more like only 2.

Woodgate Dawson/Kaboul/New CB King

if its to be a back 3.

 

[mendesstormer]

Goalie

Woody King
Zokora

Hutton NewDM Bale
Huddlestone Jenas

Keane Berbatov

Well.....

(1) - Where the hell is Aaron Lennon ?
(2) - Although I would like to see us employ a more attacking formation for Home matches especially I think you have too many defensive midfielders in the lineup
(3) We would be extremely exposed at the beck left and right positions and if you think back to the PSV game, you'll remember they lifted many a high ball into those areas for Farfan to run onto....with great effect.

Sorry mate but I think we would get torn apart with this formation

1 - Well, he's dropped, for now, with this formation. Wouldn't have to use it every week, but I think it's a possible alternative and AL isn't setting the place alight at the moment. I certainly wouldn't rule him out altogether though.
2 - I think this can be a very attacking formation. I don't see Hudd as a defensive mid, and I think JR has come to that conclusion too. The wing-back/wing forwards can be very attacking.
3 - This was my main concern. Think it could be dealt with though if the back 3 work intelligently. Very rare that a team has more than 2 strikers so there's a spare man there who can cover the runs of an attacker down the wing, in the event that they've got in behind Hutton or Bale. King and Woody definitely capable of this, and I think DZ is learning more about playing at the back.

I still think it could work, although I had reservations, I admit. Would love to see them at least try it.

 

[Yid-ol]

If you are going 3 at the back, you need to keep 3 at the back. From that team it looks more like only 2.

Woodgate Dawson/Kaboul/New CB King

if its to be a back 3.

yeah, what he said (even though i dont want to agree with him)

no way should we play just 2 at the back and have zokora sitting infrount if we are going to have Bale and hutton pushing forward so much

also if we do get a good Defensive midfielder there would be no point in having zokora sitting infrount of the Defenders anyway

 

[mendesstormer]

If you are going 3 at the back, you need to keep 3 at the back. From that team it looks more like only 2.

Woodgate Dawson/Kaboul/New CB King

if its to be a back 3.

But why not Zokora as the third CB? He's already shown himself more than capable. I've put him nominally in front of the other 2 as he's the one likely to be breaking out and supporting the midfield, as appropriate.

 

[DC_Boy]

where's JJ - he'll still be our no. 1 mid out of the current crop as he has been the last two seasons - oops apologies - got caught out by the formation - and poor reading

anyway haven't got a clue about formations - was just doing my usual JJ defending

 

[Yid-ol]

But why not Zokora as the third CB? He's already shown himself more than capable. I've put him nominally in front of the other 2 as he's the one likely to be breaking out and supporting the midfield, as appropriate.

because if we have a new DM then it would be pointless as they would be both sitting in just abotu the same spot :shrug: better keeping 3 at the back than risking just having 2, we all know how bad we are at the back just now, no point in making it worse by having less back

 

[chrissivad]

But why not Zokora as the third CB? He's already shown himself more than capable. I've put him nominally in front of the other 2 as he's the one likely to be breaking out and supporting the midfield, as appropriate.

You have Zokora as a sweeper infront of a back 2, and im still unconvinced by Zokoras positioning.

I just think if Zokora is to be pushed forward how you say then King and Woodgate will be puled all over the place. Long balls in behind the wingbacks will pull one of them out to cover, if we are up against 2 strikers or a striker and two wingers then the other winger could move in and we could end up having 2 on 1 in the box.

Zokora has done the job there before, and its good to have players like Zokora, Chimbonda, Tainio and O'hara that can cover. But for me i would rather have a CB at CB

 

[van_Pommel]

Here's my new formation

-----------------Robbo---------------
--------------------------------------
-----------Woody-----King------------
-Hutton--------------------------Bale-
---|------Hudd-----New DM--------|--
---|----------New AM--------------|--
---|---Lennon----\/-----Keane-----|--
---|------|----------------|-------|--
---\/-----\/-----Berba-----\/------\/--
--------------------------------------

Does this make any sense at all?

The 2 defensive mids will cover the full backs as and when required. When the full backs are not forward Lennon and Keane have the option to move out wider.

P.S I predict Bale will turn into an alcoholic next season and be drunk at most of our matches, hence the wonky run.

 

[mendesstormer]

Here's my new formation

-----------------Robbo---------------
--------------------------------------
-----------Woody-----King------------
-Hutton--------------------------Bale-
---|------Hudd-----New DM--------|--
---|----------New AM--------------|--
---|---Lennon----\/-----Keane-----|--
---|------|----------------|-------|--
---\/-----\/-----Berba-----\/------\/--
--------------------------------------

Does this make any sense at all?

The 2 defensive mids will cover the full backs as and when required. When the full backs are not forward Lennon and Keane have the option to move out wider.

P.S I predict Bale will turn into an alcoholic next season and be drunk at most of our matches, hence the wonky run.

Yeah, I like that too. Bit like mine, but not so innovative My only trouble with it is where will we find this new top-class AM? There aren't many about and the good ones are in huge demand.

 

[Yid-ol]

Here's my new formation

-----------------Robbo---------------
--------------------------------------
-----------Woody-----King------------
-Hutton--------------------------Bale-
---|------Hudd-----New DM--------|--
---|----------New AM--------------|--
---|---Lennon----\/-----Keane-----|--
---|------|----------------|-------|--
---\/-----\/-----Berba-----\/------\/--
--------------------------------------

Does this make any sense at all?

The 2 defensive mids will cover the full backs as and when required. When the full backs are not forward Lennon and Keane have the option to move out wider.

P.S I predict Bale will turn into an alcoholic next season and be drunk at most of our matches, hence the wonky run.

Keane Lennon and an attacking Midfielder all in the center? abit too much :lol: though you did say they could pull wide, but then the fullbacks are coming up as well!might again be a bit too attacking, would leave ourselves abit open IMO, not far off though, just change it 3 in CM and an attacking midfielder roaming infrount of them, but still have at least one of the CM player moving forward to suport but alos tracking back to defend

 

[mendesstormer]

OK. It's a relatively quiet Friday afternoon, I'll have one final attempt at persuading you lot that I'm a tactical genius and not a tactical nutter.
Points in favour of my system:
It plays to the strengths of the players - i.e. DZ as hybrid CB/DM. Think it's been the one position he's excelled in so far. Bale and Hutton as attacking full-backs - no doubt about it, this is what they're good at. King and Woody in a flexible back line (i.e. one that goes from 3-man to 5-man according to whether we're defending or attacking) - both have shown the intelligence and positional sense to be able to adapt to this. Hudd and JJ in a 3-man central midfield where neither of them have the main responsibility for breaking up play. Keane and Berba of course just carry on doing what they've been doing all season.
For those who don't like DZ's role, go on then, swap him for Dawson or Kaboul and just think of them as a flat back 3(personally I think you'll get more out of Zokora at the moment).
I think the virtue of having 3 in the middle (and a 5-man midfield when Bale and Hutton are included) is obvious against some of the top sides who favour a 5-man midfield. Occasionally I think we've been outnumbered in there, so this system protects against that without the drawback of losing a striker.

Another plus point is we've only got to secure one top-class player in the summer (DM), plus probably a goalie, unless Robbo is deemed good enough. Given what we've spent in the last couple of years, and the amount of changes in the team/squad, would it not be a good time to consolidate? I'm not saying don't go looking for a world-class wide midfielder, but it may not be a necessity and we can wait until the right person is available.

The point to remember is that 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 is exactly that - a very flexible system which can be very attacking at one minute and very defensive the next. It just needs two wing-backs who are very fit, good attackers, decent defenders and prepared to run the full length of the line for 90 minutes. Sounds like Bale and Hutton? Well it does to me.

Points against my system:












Well, I'm not going to give you more ammunition, am I?