A Change in Formation?

[Syn_13]

Is it just me, or does it feel like we're not stuck playing this boring, rigid 4-2-3-1 anymore?

I've had a lot of grief with the way we've played that system in recent years. It's been very turgid and lacklustre. Strikers have often been left isolated and midfielders tend not to have a bloody clue what their role is. It's amazing what how round pegs in round holes, and a manager whose ideas players can buy into, will do.

Having a dedicated defensive midfielder in Dier has been just what we needed to set up the midfield properly. It's allows Dembele and Alli to really get out there, be physical, and stamp their authority on the game. It is so much more like watching a 4-3-3 than anything else. It also lets crafty players like Eriksen ghost in and out play, and gives freedom to the likes of Son to support Kane so that he isn't isolated. Everyone puts a shift in and it's becoming a joy to watch.

For years teams like Bayern and Barca have dominated playing a formation where their midfield is set up to win that ball as quick as possible and allow the other team no respite, and it's great to see us employ a little more physicality and energy into our game.

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

It's still a 4-2-3-1, a formation that nothing is fundamentally wrong with. It's simply that this is the first time we are witnessing a 4-2-3-1 done right, with great coaching and suitable players.

 

[Syn_13]

It's still a 4-2-3-1, a formation that nothing is fundamentally wrong with. It's simply that this is the first time we are witnessing a 4-2-3-1 done right, with great coaching and suitable players.

You may be right there. It's a bit of a semantics game really, I guess, but I do think the fact that Dembele being in the fray has created a bit of stability in the middle of the pitch. Him, Dier and Alli are really clicking at the moment, which is why it feels like a 3 man midfield. At the end of the day, I'm just happy that we're not looking like the same boring shit we had under AvB.

 

[Trix]

It's a very fluid 4-2-3-1. Dier drops back as a CB at times, Dembele pushes forward allowing one of the 3 behind Kane to get beyond him at times. Then the 3 behind Kane often switch positions and also become forwards when we are on the front foot. It's about the least rigid system I can remember seeing us play in the Prem when we have the ball imo. It's all about having the right players to play it and a full pre season to learn and understand it properly. Why it is working so well though, is because we are able to transition between the fluid with the ball system, and the rigid everyone know their role defensive one.

 

[guy]

IMO we are not seeing the double pivot anymore, there's a more distinct 4-1-? rather than 4-2-3 with dier always sitting deeper than his CM partner, which is what most people wanted and is working wonders.

The fluidity between the front 5 is great too, anyone from kane, dembele, alli, son, lamela, eriksen can be the pushed the furthest up the pitch during a game, which makes it so hard to defend against with runners coming from everywhere

 

[Shadydan]

It's not really a 4-2-3-1 though really is it, we don't have a formation, we are just fluid all over the pitch and players don't have set positions.

 

[Larryjanta]

We've been playing a sort of 4-4-2 diamond 4-3-3 hybrid all season. I called it after two games this season. Dier patrols the are of the pitch in front of the centre backs (the full width) and rarely gets beyond there. The two CM's (Alli and Dembele) largely play on one side of the pitch each whilst the front three all revolve around Kane, linking play or moving into the Chanels. It's not a 4-2-3-1 for the simple reason that Dier does not play anything like a CM in a CM2.

Eriksen and Lamela/Son take it in turns to be the number 10 and the wide forward with one of the two CM (Alli and Dembele) either linking play, supporting the full back or getting beyond Kane.

It's actually a bit of a fudge to describe it as any formation, really, as it isn't. Each player has a set of distinct roles and, as they are learning what each needs to do and how they need to react to the moves others are making, we're getting better and better. It's the reason we're now much more equipped to score against teams who park the bus as we're learning and committing more men forward (all down to Dier covering everyone's fucking arse). It's glorious to watch

 

[thinktank]

We've been playing a sort of 4-4-2 diamond 4-3-3 hybrid all season. I called it after two games this season. Dier patrols the are of the pitch in front of the centre backs (the full width) and rarely gets beyond there. The two CM's (Alli and Dembele) largely play on one side of the pitch each whilst the front three all revolve around Kane, linking play or moving into the Chanels. It's not a 4-2-3-1 for the simple reason that Dier does not play anything like a CM in a CM2.

Eriksen and Lamela/Son take it in turns to be the number 10 and the wide forward with one of the two CM (Alli and Dembele) either linking play, supporting the full back or getting beyond Kane.

It's actually a bit of a fudge to describe it as any formation, really, as it isn't. Each player has a set of distinct roles and, as they are learning what each needs to do and how they need to react to the moves others are making, we're getting better and better. It's the reason we're now much more equipped to score against teams who park the bus as we're learning and committing more men forward (all down to Dier covering everyone's fucking arse). It's glorious to watch

It's 4231...fluidity is indeed the essence of 4231.

Like I've said countless times, it's a modular shape and is the most flexible of all the formations imo, which is why it's so prevalent in the game now.

 

[Larryjanta]

It's 4231...the fluidity is indeed the essence of 4231.

Like I've said countless times, it's a modular shape and is the most flexible of all the formations imo, which is why it's so prevalent in the game now.

Nope, you're wrong. Dier is not a CM, nothing like one. He's a DM, pure and simple and ruins your modular bollocks

 

[thinktank]

Nope, you're wrong. Dier is not a CM, nothing like one. He's a DM, pure and simple and ruins your modular bollocks

Ok, mate.

 

[raggy]

It was amusing when Kyle Walker suddenly popped up by their left hand corner flag working with Danny Rose on an attack. Best part of that though is Dembele just instinctively dropped back into his position and covered excellently. The entire team still has a formation when we have the ball it's just the players that have full permission to trade positions if they feel like joining an attack.

 

[tobi]

Does anyone here listen to the Jalen and Jacoby podcast?

How does positionless football sound?

 

[Trees]

How will Bentaleb (our best midfielder in last two seasons) and Chadli get back in the team ?

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

We've been playing a sort of 4-4-2 diamond 4-3-3 hybrid all season. I called it after two games this season. Dier patrols the are of the pitch in front of the centre backs (the full width) and rarely gets beyond there. The two CM's (Alli and Dembele) largely play on one side of the pitch each whilst the front three all revolve around Kane, linking play or moving into the Chanels. It's not a 4-2-3-1 for the simple reason that Dier does not play anything like a CM in a CM2.

Eriksen and Lamela/Son take it in turns to be the number 10 and the wide forward with one of the two CM (Alli and Dembele) either linking play, supporting the full back or getting beyond Kane.

It's actually a bit of a fudge to describe it as any formation, really, as it isn't. Each player has a set of distinct roles and, as they are learning what each needs to do and how they need to react to the moves others are making, we're getting better and better. It's the reason we're now much more equipped to score against teams who park the bus as we're learning and committing more men forward (all down to Dier covering everyone's fucking arse). It's glorious to watch

When we don't have the ball, it's clearly a 4-2-3-1. When we do, it evolves and shifts into whatever the fuck we want it to. This is 4-2-3-1, and this is modern football. Do not judge a formation by unsuccessful attempts at playing it.

 

[spursfan77]

I just think it's evident, at last, that what we must be working on in training is now working on the pitch. It just seems to have all clicked. That Mason goal against Sunderland was the game where it happened and probably gave the players the belief that what they were working on every day would actually work on the pitch.

 

[Hoops]

It's 4231...fluidity is indeed the essence of 4231.

Like I've said countless times, it's a modular shape and is the most flexible of all the formations imo, which is why it's so prevalent in the game now.

Is that you Andre?

 

[SPURSFANfrance]

How will Bentaleb (our best midfielder in last two seasons) and Chadli get back in the team ?

Nabil he's over I think there is better than him now I don't see him in the middle (perhaps it will he go to find game time?)
Nacer rest and will return to the team i'm sure

 

[SPURSFANfrance]

good team very good team now

ENJOY!

 

[ebzrascal]

How will Bentaleb (our best midfielder in last two seasons) and Chadli get back in the team ?

They will get their chance as will Towsend and Njie and what ideally should happen is there should be no drop in the level of team performance. I thought Mason looked sharp when he came on which is a good sign.. I actually think we have a squad of players which with a few exceptions can be rotated with replacements with someone of a similar level...

 

[maglajz]

Does anyone here listen to the Jalen and Jacoby podcast?

How does positionless football sound?

I miss Grantland