MC Prussian Posted 2 July 2006 Posted 2 July 2006 I saw plenty of good forward play. To name one who was outstanding in his own right .. Torres. It does seem that the defending has been of a high standard though and that most nations have approached the game in an extremely cautious way. Klose... 5 goals in 5 matches Crespo... 3 goals in 4 matches, out in the quarters Torres... 3 goals in 4 matches, out in the first playoff round Podolski... 3 goals in 5 matches Henry... 3 goals in 5 matches Ronaldo... 3 goals in 5 matches, out in the quarters These are this tournament's top scorers and among the Top 15, there are 12 strikers (albeit from only 9 different national squads). More than 20 squads and their strikers have failed to score. If that doesn't prove a general lack of striking power, then what? In 60 games, only 138 goals were scored (or an average 2,23). In the last 16 years, only Italy 1990 had a lower average (2,21) and should there be less or no real goals scored in the last 4 games of this tournament, this previous "record" could be surpassed. 4-5-1 is killing the game and the team managers/coaches are to blame for playing such cautious tactics. That goes especially for the after-group games stage, with such "wonderful" displays like Argentina - Mexico, Germany-Argentina, Switzerland - Ukraine, Portugal - England, Netherlands - Portugal, England - Ecuador or Italy - Australia.
davieG Posted 2 July 2006 Posted 2 July 2006 Klose... 5 goals in 5 matches Crespo... 3 goals in 4 matches, out in the quarters Torres... 3 goals in 4 matches, out in the first playoff round Podolski... 3 goals in 5 matches Henry... 3 goals in 5 matches Ronaldo... 3 goals in 5 matches, out in the quarters These are this tournament's top scorers and among the Top 15, there are 12 strikers (albeit from only 9 different national squads). More than 20 squads and their strikers have failed to score. If that doesn't prove a general lack of striking power, then what? In 60 games, only 138 goals were scored (or an average 2,23). In the last 16 years, only Italy 1990 had a lower average (2,21) and should there be less or no real goals scored in the last 4 games of this tournament, this previous "record" could be surpassed. 4-5-1 is killing the game and the team managers/coaches are to blame for playing such cautious tactics. That goes especially for the after-group games stage, with such "wonderful" displays like Argentina - Mexico, Germany-Argentina, Switzerland - Ukraine, Portugal - England, Netherlands - Portugal, England - Ecuador or Italy - Australia. Not that I disagree but I do remember them saying the same thing about Alf Ramsey when he changed from 235 to 442/443 for the 66 World Cup, killing the game without true wingers they said now we've reached a level where 442 is seen as an entirely acceptable attacking formation.
MC Prussian Posted 2 July 2006 Posted 2 July 2006 Technically the formation is 4-1-4-1 not 4-5-1 Still doesn't change the fact that the managers use five midfielders and take away one real striker up front.
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