Alternative formations

[danielneeds]

I'd love us to go for a proper 433 too. Give the wingers less defensive responsibity, with the midfield more compact and hard to play through.

Lloris
Naughton Dier Vertonghen Davies
Stambouli
Mason Paulinho
Lamela Kane Townsend​

 

[Leoparden]

I cant really understand what people have seen that has been so impressive from Stambouli yet, to have him push Capoue out of the holding midfield spot?

Lloris
Walker Fazio Verthongen Rose
Paulinho Capoue Dembele
Lennon Kane Eriksen

 

[danielneeds]

I cant really understand what people have seen that has been so impressive from Stambouli yet, to have him push Capoue out of the holding midfield spot?

Lloris
Walker Fazio Verthongen Rose
Paulinho Capoue Dembele
Lennon Kane Eriksen

It's not what Stambouli has shown, I just don't think Capoue is really a defensive midfielder.

 

[EQP]

I'd love us to go for a proper 433 too. Give the wingers less defensive responsibity, with the midfield more compact and hard to play through.

Lloris
Naughton Dier Vertonghen Davies
Stambouli
Mason Paulinho
Lamela Kane Townsend​

I dig this formation. Only change would be Nabil for Paulinho. I fully believe that Mason and Nabil playing as Box to Box mids and Stambouli as an anchor would serve us well.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Lloris

Naughton Dier Vertonghen Rose

Mason Capoue Bentaleb

Lamela Soldado Eriksen​

 

[Strikeb4ck]

I think some of the best football we've ever played at Spurs was the 442 under Redknapp where a striker dropped back to help in defense. The other keys were LM cutting in and creating while the LB supported and gave width, and then the right side (midfield/fullback) was all pace/wing play. We created when controlling but were also lethal on the break.

Pav-Defoe
Kranjcar-Modric-Palacios-Lennon
BAE-King-Dawson-Walker
Gomes

I think this could be recreated with:

Adebayor-Kane
Townsend-Eriksen-Capoue-Lamela
Rose-Verts-Kaboul-Walker
Lloris

Obviously in this one it is Lamela cutting inside on his favored foot and creating, and the left side being the strictly pace/wing play.
I like Soldado but not sure he runs enough to offer the defensive support necessary. If he played (and ran) then Dembele instead of Eriksen for a bit more midfield power with Soldado supplying the creativity Eriksen no longer would.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Looking at different formations is fun, but raises a bigger question - should Pochettino adopt a new philosophy to match the players on the current roster?

Its an interesting question (with no right answer - but various degrees of different answers). On one hand, Pochettino was hired with the understanding that he was bringing his 4-2-3-1, pressing, high-line philosophy to Spurs. Its not his fault that Spurs don't have the personnel to run that system effectively (and make no mistake - we do not have the right players). Pochettino has seemingly been given time to implement his philosophy - which, logic dictates, includes time to bring in appropriate players.

But, we see impatience from many supporters (read any match thread here for examples). Those supporters want to win now - and want to adjust tactics to fit existing players. Presumably, the reason is that a good manager should be able to adapt to his team. There is also an expectation from many supporters (despite saying to the contrary) that Spurs achieve top-4, win all cups, and Europa.

The question though is, how realistic is it for a manager like Pochettino to focus on his long-term plans of transforming Spurs to match his philosophy, while shifting short-term approaches to generate results now? It seems to me, that Pochettino has identified a philosophy that he thinks will result in long-term success at the club. If that is the case, then he should be focused only on developing and implementing that philosophy - even if it means we take a step back this year. Pochettino should not acquiesce in calls to play with a different philosophy. I think it hurts the efforts to move in and out of tactics/philosophies just because we do not have the right players - its better to drill that philosophy into the fabric of the squad from first team, down to every team at the academy. Then, as we acquire or promote the right players everything starts to fall in place.

For me - that is the approach, I would like to see - spend this entire season finding out who can fit into this system, and shipping out anyone who is not going to fit. I like winning as much as anyone here - but if the cost of winning is that we are further away from our long-term goal of having a self-sustaining team that plays an attractive brand of football, then I can live with the process. But that means a real commitment to Pochettino - we simply can't afford to keep changing coaches/managers every time the wind changes direction - fans must learn to be patient, and understand this is a process, not an over-night cure.

Long way of saying - I don't think we should adjust the tactics to fit existing players - I think we should find players who are capable of playing this style.

 

[Syn_13]

I think some of the best football we've ever played at Spurs was the 442 under Redknapp where a striker dropped back to help in defense. The other keys were LM cutting in and creating while the LB supported and gave width, and then the right side (midfield/fullback) was all pace/wing play. We created when controlling but were also lethal on the break.

Pav-Defoe
Kranjcar-Modric-Palacios-Lennon
BAE-King-Dawson-Walker
Gomes

I think this could be recreated with:

Adebayor-Kane
Townsend-Eriksen-Capoue-Lamela
Rose-Verts-Kaboul-Walker
Lloris

Obviously in this one it is Lamela cutting inside on his favored foot and creating, and the left side being the strictly pace/wing play.
I like Soldado but not sure he runs enough to offer the defensive support necessary. If he played (and ran) then Dembele instead of Eriksen for a bit more midfield power with Soldado supplying the creativity Eriksen no longer would.

I like the idea behind it but I think it wouldn't work, in reality. Modric and his partners over the years were very physical players that had a great blend of talents. Modric himself, for a small bloke, is not afraid to get stuck in and won his fair share of tackles. He was a bloody livewire and always kept that ball ticking. I have no doubt that Eriksen can play the creative side to Modric's game, and keep that ball ticking, but he's just not physical enough. He doesn't get stuck in. It's not just about physical attributes, but mental ones too. He isn't as aggressive. He's a typical luxury player, a fantasista, a classic number 10. He'll provide moments of magic but you can't expect him to put a 90 minute shift in, getting stuck in, like Modric did.

Also, just an observation, but I've never been impressed with Ade and Kane together. To think, at one point we had an in form Adebayor partnering Van der Vaart, with Modric and Parker sitting behind. Good times.

 

[arunspurs]

If we get Yedlin in Jan, then I would look at 3-4-1-2 with Yedlin & Townsend as wing backs.

Lloris,
Dier, Kaboul, Vertonghen,
Yedlin, Dembele, Mason,Townsend,
Lamela/Eriksen,
Soldado, Kane

 

[SpursManChris]

I like the 4-1-4-1 formation. I like to refer to it as a "double diamond." The range of passing is fantastic and the potential for link up play seems endless. It allows you to have a nice big 4 man midfield with a DM covering the back 4. The lone striker just seems so much better supported than a 4-2-3-1.

 

[Hotspur33]

Looking at different formations is fun, but raises a bigger question - should Pochettino adopt a new philosophy to match the players on the current roster?

Its an interesting question (with no right answer - but various degrees of different answers). On one hand, Pochettino was hired with the understanding that he was bringing his 4-2-3-1, pressing, high-line philosophy to Spurs. Its not his fault that Spurs don't have the personnel to run that system effectively (and make no mistake - we do not have the right players). Pochettino has seemingly been given time to implement his philosophy - which, logic dictates, includes time to bring in appropriate players.

But, we see impatience from many supporters (read any match thread here for examples). Those supporters want to win now - and want to adjust tactics to fit existing players. Presumably, the reason is that a good manager should be able to adapt to his team. There is also an expectation from many supporters (despite saying to the contrary) that Spurs achieve top-4, win all cups, and Europa.

The question though is, how realistic is it for a manager like Pochettino to focus on his long-term plans of transforming Spurs to match his philosophy, while shifting short-term approaches to generate results now? It seems to me, that Pochettino has identified a philosophy that he thinks will result in long-term success at the club. If that is the case, then he should be focused only on developing and implementing that philosophy - even if it means we take a step back this year. Pochettino should not acquiesce in calls to play with a different philosophy. I think it hurts the efforts to move in and out of tactics/philosophies just because we do not have the right players - its better to drill that philosophy into the fabric of the squad from first team, down to every team at the academy. Then, as we acquire or promote the right players everything starts to fall in place.

For me - that is the approach, I would like to see - spend this entire season finding out who can fit into this system, and shipping out anyone who is not going to fit. I like winning as much as anyone here - but if the cost of winning is that we are further away from our long-term goal of having a self-sustaining team that plays an attractive brand of football, then I can live with the process. But that means a real commitment to Pochettino - we simply can't afford to keep changing coaches/managers every time the wind changes direction - fans must learn to be patient, and understand this is a process, not an over-night cure.

Long way of saying - I don't think we should adjust the tactics to fit existing players - I think we should find players who are capable of playing this style.

Whilst this is a good post, and I agree with a lot of it, there are 2 issues I have.

1) It is all well and good having a 'philosophy' but to be so rigid makes you predictable. Teams figured us out very quickly last season.

2) Pochettino would be taking a huge risk believing he will be given time. Or enough time at least. If we finish below 7th this season and gets off to a poor start to next season, history would suggest he will be out.

But as you say there is no right or wrong answer, there needs to be a balance between educating the players he trusts and getting the best possible results with the tools he currently has.

 

[Hotspur33]

I like the 4-1-4-1 formation. I like to refer to it as a "double diamond." The range of passing is fantastic and the potential for link up play seems endless. It allows you to have a nice big 4 man midfield with a DM covering the back 4. The lone striker just seems so much better supported than a 4-2-3-1.

View attachment 16216​

Hugo
Walker Faz Verts Davies
Stambouliboulibouli
Lamela Mason Eriksen Townsend
Kane​

 

[SpursManChris]

Hugo
Walker Faz Verts Davies
Stambouliboulibouli
Lamela Mason Eriksen Townsend
Kane​

What's with the additional "bouli's" and what's with dropping Rose?