Well, if you're trying to stamp your style on a squad, you need to stick to one base system and then vary, rather than causing confusion by using too many formations.No wonder there had been nothing but 4-2-3-1. Too hard and heavy to change.
Two clean sheets, funnily enough with the much maligned Fazio
What happens if our "philosophy" isn't working? Do we just not bother coming out for the second half?
I was fairly frustrated with the rigid formation used...
Superb explanation of the system. I think our young players, including Lamela, will have learnt a heck of a lot from this season. In fact, in the last game DM's explanation of the midfield was evident. We also saw how the introduction of Stambouli plugged up leaks that were appearing in midfield and as a result our defence looked more secure, even with novice fullbacks.But it isn't a 'rigid formation'. It's a formation that he uses in every match, so you could argue that Pochettino's style of management is rigid, but the formation itself is anything but rigid.
There isn't a dedicated defensive midfielder. The double pivot, which usually means Mason & Bentaleb, are supposed to take turns covering for each other. Some of us don't think that's ideal, but it isn't rigid.
Then the three attacking midfielders are supposed to rotate and switch positions to destabilise and confuse the opposition defence. That's the opposite of rigid: the players are constantly found in new positions.
And the main striker, irrespective of whether it is Kane or Soldado, has been given licence to drop back into midfield or toward the flanks, so that one of the attacking midfield trio (usually Chadli, sometimes Lamela or Eriksen) can make a run into the box. A rigid formation would have the no. 9 in a less mobile position, centrally and near the penalty box, to act as a target man.
In defence, the fullbacks are expected to play high up the pitch and then hare back when we lose the ball. In the absence of a fit-and-in-form Walker, this hasn't worked well and has been one of the reasons why our defence so often looks ill-disciplined, but it isn't rigid, it's fluid.
And the goalkeeper acts as a near-sweeper. Not rigid.
A whole season may seem a long time, but you have to place that against two seasons of changing styles. I hope that if we sort out our defence, we can really go places next year.Ok, sure - the positions are meant to be fluid. But there were a number of occasions where I thought he may alter the personnel selected and thus the formation, rather than go for the "double pivot" and "fluid three" behind our striker for particular opposition. The way Van Gaal did quite well during the season and Mourinho is a master of.
But we didn't and often became predictable and actually easy to defend against. Also, there were times when the likes of Chadli, Eriksen and Lamela did move about, they didn't seem to do so in a coordinated fashion, leaving gaps on the wings where we then had no options.
Granted it was our first time sticking to this, but after a whole season using it, I wasn't convinced we had quite managed what perhaps MP had been striving for. I hope he either identifies the personnel that might help him achieve this, or consider alternative.
But it isn't a 'rigid formation'. It's a formation that he uses in every match, so you could argue that Pochettino's style of management is rigid, but the formation itself is anything but rigid.
There isn't a dedicated defensive midfielder. The double pivot, which usually means Mason & Bentaleb, are supposed to take turns covering for each other. Some of us don't think that's ideal, but it isn't rigid.
Then the three attacking midfielders are supposed to rotate and switch positions to destabilise and confuse the opposition defence. That's the opposite of rigid: the players are constantly found in new positions.
And the main striker, irrespective of whether it is Kane or Soldado, has been given licence to drop back into midfield or toward the flanks, so that one of the attacking midfield trio (usually Chadli, sometimes Lamela or Eriksen) can make a run into the box. A rigid formation would have the no. 9 in a less mobile position, centrally and near the penalty box, to act as a target man.
In defence, the fullbacks are expected to play high up the pitch and then hare back when we lose the ball. In the absence of a fit-and-in-form Walker, this hasn't worked well and has been one of the reasons why our defence so often looks ill-disciplined, but it isn't rigid, it's fluid.
And the goalkeeper acts as a near-sweeper. Not rigid.
Fuck me, someone actually gets it.
4231 is modular and the most flexible shape you can play imo as you can transition through other shapes, fluidly, throughout a game (if so desired).
It offers the most scope, dynamically, and once we're running like a swiss watch it'll be lovely to watch us in motion.
Despite the above paragraph, Rose had done exceptionally well; very much above what was expected of him when last season began.the fullbacks are expected to play high up the pitch and then hare back when we lose the ball. In the absence of a fit-and-in-form Walker, this hasn't worked well and has been one of the reasons why our defence so often looks ill-disciplined, but it isn't rigid, it's fluid.