Modric, can we fit him in to a 4-4-2?

[miles_64]

This is a question that has been bothering me for quite some time now and I wasn't able to find a thread on it when I searched.

Is there ANY way we could play Modric in a 4-4-2 with the players we've got? I just feel that we're lacking a bit of a goal threat with only one up front and as such we're not taking advantage of Bentley's and Lennon's (new-found) crossing ability. Obviously it makes us a wee bit lightweight if we put him in the middle of a 4-4-2 but maybe we could drop Bentley for O'Hara/Bale on the left to toughen up a bit?

Lennon--Jenas--Modric--O'Hara? With that line-up I always feel we're missing out on Hudd's talent and Bentley's balls in but we haven't done too well without JJ...

If necessary please suggest one 'buyable' player that would enable us to play Modric in a 4-4-2.

 

[riversmonkey]

To do so I think we would need to play a diamond four, and sign an enforcer to sit and let Modric play behind the front two. Maybe also narrowing the flanks slightly to let the full backs bomb on. The drawback to this would be losing the effectiveness of Lennon.

---------Enforcer-------------

RW-----------------------LW


---------Modric---------------

 

[engcanspur]

I would like to see Modric in a 2 man center mid with Jenas or Hudd or Zok. Just to see if it works...I don't see why he can't play that position.

Other teams play this formation (4-5-1) and the reason they score goals is because there wingers are pushed further forward. I think we need to do this, get Lennon and Bentley or whoever the wide players are pushed further forward, then we will score a few more goals. Also one of the other two center mids, most likely Jenas, needs to join in the attack more often. Chelsea are the perfect example of making this formation work. I think playing a 4-4-2 is more exciting though, and suits our team more, we just need to work Modric into that.

 

[ILS]

I think 4-3-3 is still the way to go but as the above post mentioned we need to play the two wide men further up the pitch and it also helps if you have a s top class striker down the middle.

Chelsea, United (last season) and Liverpool usually operate with a single striker but have the midfield to back it up and in United case had Tevez, Ronaldo and Rooney rotating.

Apart from Modric and Lennon and Jenas on occasions we are still seriously lacking in the attacking and midfield departments.

Also with 4-3-3 you need two attacking full backs and in Bale we have potentially a very good one and on the right side Hutton was looking like the answer until his injury pre season. I think Corluka should play centre half with King and Woody when they need a rest or are injured as he has been impressive in 99 per cent of the games this season.

We have about 7-8 top class players but at the moment we have about 15 good premiership players and we need to cut the later by half and have about 12-13 top class players and 7-8 good premiership players and until that changes i think we can ask for no more then 8th at best.

 

[Fervency]

This is a question that has been bothering me for quite some time now and I wasn't able to find a thread on it when I searched.

Is there ANY way we could play Modric in a 4-4-2 with the players we've got? I just feel that we're lacking a bit of a goal threat with only one up front and as such we're not taking advantage of Bentley's and Lennon's (new-found) crossing ability. Obviously it makes us a wee bit lightweight if we put him in the middle of a 4-4-2 but maybe we could drop Bentley for O'Hara/Bale on the left to toughen up a bit?

Lennon--Jenas--Modric--O'Hara? With that line-up I always feel we're missing out on Hudd's talent and Bentley's balls in but we haven't done too well without JJ...

If necessary please suggest one 'buyable' player that would enable us to play Modric in a 4-4-2.

The only way I can see us having 2 strikers and Modric is like this...

Bent.......Pav​

Mod​

Bale/Lennon................Bently/Lennon​

Hudd......Jenas​

King...Woody...Corluka​

Gomes​

But then theres gonna be a weakness at the back​

 

[ILS]

I have just said in another post if we signed a left sided attacker like Poldoski then the 4-3-3 would work a lot more effective then it does at the moment and we would still see the best of Modric behind the lone front men with two sitting midfielders like Liverpool do with Alonso and Mascherano.

 

[fazza]

He could play in the middle if we got in a proper strong rough cut of a leader to go alongside him, someone like JJ or Didi just won't be enough, we will get overun in midfield.

 

[jurgen]

in fairness though the last times he was playing in a 4-4-2, he was still finding his feet, the last few games him shrugging far bigger guys off the ball and tracking back and nipping at people, perhaps he is physically adjusting and can become more of the little general wenger thought he couldnt be - but you'd imagine jenas would be the only one who combines workrate tackling and passing enough to play with him still though

 

[TheVoiceofReason]

We would have to... drop Jenas.

And for some reason, we are forced to play him whenever he is fit.

 

[bill]

He could play in the middle if we got in a proper strong rough cut of a leader to go alongside him, someone like JJ or Didi just won't be enough, we will get overun in midfield.

It is a shame that Jamie o'H is just not mature enough as a footballer to do this role - give him a few years and this is just the sort of position he could undertake - allowing a gifted player like Modric to roam free.

 

[milkman]

Simple answer: YES

 

[dax]

our mids are simply THE SHIT except Modric so we are in the relegation ! mg:

 

[Kendall]

We would have to... drop Jenas.

And for some reason, we are forced to play him whenever he is fit.

because we're shit when he's not playing.

Modric is a special player but having to play him off the striker is limiting us.

 

[fazza]

because we're shit when he's not playing.

Modric is a special player but having to play him off the striker is limiting us.

JJ will have to retire one day Kendall, god knows what will happen to our performances then :grin:

 

[VegasII]

I think we'll know more once the window closes when hopefully Harry has the players he wants & the players we need.

 

[guy]

we could go with the BMJ model of 3 CMs and one winger. The LM could be Jenas but tucked in towards the centre, but with the ability to go out wide left to defend. Then zoko sitting deep and modric attacking and lennon wide right.

 

[piedpiper]

If Modric cannot play in cm midfield in a 4-4-2 formation then quite frankly he should be SOLD. to adapt the entire midfield and strikers around him is just stupid. Please note that i do recognize his qualities and what he brings to the current team.

I feel he must adapt to the system and not the team adapted to suit him. I am not a fan of the 4-5-1 system. we need wingers who would each score 8 plus prem goals a season as well as Modric scoring regularly with the lone striker. So if Modric cannot play in 4-4-2 then maybe he should be sold. Please note that i am being frank and realistic and taking all the emotions out of my assessment.

 

[van_Pommel]

Of course he can play in CM. The trouble is you would lose some of his creativity as he would have to hold back on some of his forward runs. However, if we had a top quality striker that wouldnt matter. I also think Modric would be effective on the left.

---Lennon---DM---Modric---Bale

I think this could work well. As ever though, the DM needs to be top top quality and we dont have one at the mo. Parker would probably do a good enough job there for a season or two.

---Lennon---Huddlestone---Zokora/DM---Modric---

This is what we should be doing this season if we want to play 2 strikers, which obviously we dont at the moment.

 

[MrWoolley]

I honestly think that Modric can play CM. I think he needs an 'enforcer' like alot of people have mentioned, but don't be fooled by Modric's appearence, he's a decent tackler and is quick to close down.

 

[TwoSaintsComeMarching]

He can if we play the diamond version. That is:

DM

Lennon ................................ Arshavin :wink:

Modric


Pavlyuchenko ...... Santa Cruz :wink:
​