What formation should we use to progress?

[Tomassi]

i personally think 4-4-2 against the weaker teams and 4-5-1 against the strong teams with hughes/williams becoming the support for the striker

[Frenzied]

I'm usually in favour of an attacking 3-5-2 formation, however, Levein's tactics during the Leeds game have changed my mind somewhat. We played a somewhat unorthodox 4-4-2. The back four is fairly straightforward, with two attack minded fullbacks and two solid central defenders.

It's the midfield that is slightly unusual. The tactic against Leeds was for an orthodox midfield except Hughes, who was on the right but played a kind of floating role where he'd pop up in the centre and the left regularly. He was able to do this because of the way he, Williams and Connolly interchanged, with Connolly often dropping back with one of the other two moving forward. I think this tactic would allow for at least one 10-goals a season midfielder.

Anyway, on the left you use a more orthodox style, with a left midfielder that can cross the ball well.

It's a formation that suits a high tempo approach, with quick short passing in the midfield. It worked against Leeds in that we should have been at least four up by half time.

[Fez of Mahrez]

I'm usually in favour of an attacking 3-5-2 formation, however, Levein's tactics during the Leeds game have changed my mind somewhat. We played a somewhat unorthodox 4-4-2. The back four is fairly straightforward, with two attack minded fullbacks and two solid central defenders.

It's the midfield that is slightly unusual. The tactic against Leeds was for an orthodox midfield except Hughes, who was on the right but played a kind of floating role where he'd pop up in the centre and the left regularly. He was able to do this because of the way he, Williams and Connolly interchanged, with Connolly often dropping back with one of the other two moving forward. I think this tactic would allow for at least one 10-goals a season midfielder.

Anyway, on the left you use a more orthodox style, with a left midfielder that can cross the ball well.

It's a formation that suits a high tempo approach, with quick short passing in the midfield. It worked against Leeds in that we should have been at least four up by half time.

106045[/snapback]

Our problem is that Tiatto plays like Gudjonsson should, Hughes and Williams are too similar and we have no right winger any more.

That'll be the whole midfield then.

[Frenzied]

I'm usually in favour of an attacking 3-5-2 formation, however, Levein's tactics during the Leeds game have changed my mind somewhat. We played a somewhat unorthodox 4-4-2. The back four is fairly straightforward, with two attack minded fullbacks and two solid central defenders.

It's the midfield that is slightly unusual. The tactic against Leeds was for an orthodox midfield except Hughes, who was on the right but played a kind of floating role where he'd pop up in the centre and the left regularly. He was able to do this because of the way he, Williams and Connolly interchanged, with Connolly often dropping back with one of the other two moving forward. I think this tactic would allow for at least one 10-goals a season midfielder.

Anyway, on the left you use a more orthodox style, with a left midfielder that can cross the ball well.

It's a formation that suits a high tempo approach, with quick short passing in the midfield. It worked against Leeds in that we should have been at least four up by half time.

106045[/snapback]

Our problem is that Tiatto plays like Gudjonsson should, Hughes and Williams are too similar and we have no right winger any more.

That'll be the whole midfield then.

106048[/snapback]

Not sure who I'd have in midfield on the left and would use Kisnorbo holding. But the point with attack minded fullbacks is that they get forward and provide crosses and link-up play with the midfield, so no need for a right winger. The cover would be provided by the holding midfielder.

[Kingy]

442 with narrow left and right midfielders allowing the two wing backs to get forward. need a holding man in the middle of the park and Stephen Hughes in the scholes hole !

I disagree with Tomassi. Id like to see us stay 442 even against the strong teams as when we put out a 451 we dont create enough

[evs_the_fox]

3-5-2 works with the players we have i think, we just need a couple of signings to fill the blanks.

new keeper

kenton/stearman?

mccarthy

______ new centre back

maybury rwb

tiatto lwb

_______ holding (kisnorbo maybe?)

williams md

hughes md

connolly

dublin

[Wellman]

wheres 0 0 10!!!!???? :S

[step]

0, 0, 10. what the fcuk are you on about.

We want 0, 0, 11

[Tomassi]

442 with narrow left and right midfielders allowing the two wing backs to get forward. need a holding man in the middle of the park and Stephen Hughes in the scholes hole !

I disagree with Tomassi. Id like to see us stay 442 even against the strong teams as when we put out a 451 we dont create enough

106079[/snapback]

against strong teams games are won in midfield... this showed against charlton where our extra midfielder counted with the striker winning free kicks (including the one dabizas scored from.

we matched blackburn only for the penalty

451 no we dont create enough but hell we sure keep em at bay.. works for everton they went into champs league.. works for greece they won european cup!

[shen]

Noticed my post in the 'williams' thread is probably more suited here:

"If CL's 4-3-3 formation against Plymouth is anything to go by, you could be on the right track. However with Sturm not signing, I think those plans are put on hold a bit.

----------------- GK ------------------

Maybury - McCarthy - CB - Stewart

-- Hughes - Kisnorbo - Tiatto -------

----- ST ---- Dublin - Connolly -----

That line-up could be possible... "

[Ric Flair]

I'm usually in favour of an attacking 3-5-2 formation, however, Levein's tactics during the Leeds game have changed my mind somewhat. We played a somewhat unorthodox 4-4-2. The back four is fairly straightforward, with two attack minded fullbacks and two solid central defenders.

It's the midfield that is slightly unusual. The tactic against Leeds was for an orthodox midfield except Hughes, who was on the right but played a kind of floating role where he'd pop up in the centre and the left regularly. He was able to do this because of the way he, Williams and Connolly interchanged, with Connolly often dropping back with one of the other two moving forward. I think this tactic would allow for at least one 10-goals a season midfielder.

Anyway, on the left you use a more orthodox style, with a left midfielder that can cross the ball well.

It's a formation that suits a high tempo approach, with quick short passing in the midfield. It worked against Leeds in that we should have been at least four up by half time.

106045[/snapback]

I like the look of that. The problem we have is that effectively we have 3 or 4 central midfielders playing when we play 4-4-2, but i've seen us play 3-5-2 and we've been poor when we have with the current crop of players. We play better when our full backs over lap, with 3-5-2 though you don't get that. But if we could adapt to wingbacks then it would be the best for the squad we have as we could play Williams, Hughes and Kisnorbo or Tiatto in the centre and also Paddy, Stearman and another defender at centre half.

It's going to be interesting to see what Levein thinks is best, it's abit of a dilemma we've had for a while and I don't want us dithering with both. Choose one and stick with it, otherwise doubts creep in about which is better and swapping and changing all th while isn't the answer.

[The Man With The Golden Grahams]

Agreed Hoof. I'm really looking forward to pre-season for once. Levein isn't dithering around when it comes to clearing out the cobwebs and rejigging his squad. I expect we'll see some signings within the next month or so and pre-season should give us time to find the best alternative.

Personally, I reckon Levein's got his eye on the 3-5-2 formation. For outfield players, he's stated he's after a striker and a couple of defenders, which is interesting as he's not mentioned anything about a right-winger. We haven't got one at the moment but we wouldn't need one if we played wing-backs like you suggested.

Having said that, if he's not after any more midfielders then why is Sylla training with us? I thought he was midfield? It'll be interesting to see how all this unfolds.

[Stuliasz]

I would stick with the 442, played Williams and Hughes against the lesser teams in the division, and either Williams or Hughes with a defensive midfielder probably Kisnorbo against the bigger sides to help contain them.

[Kingy]

Tommassi,

Its a bit boring to watch though - It'll work when we are in cup competitions against Premier teams but in the Championship at our level I think we should always go 4-4-2. otherwise it shows weakness as oppossed to tactical genius.

[shen]

[]...Having said that, if he's not after any more midfielders then why is Sylla training with us? I thought he was midfield? It'll be interesting to see how all this unfolds.

106671[/snapback]

Sylla is a very versatile player. Can play left or right wingback/fullback and can also be used to a lesser extent as a midfielder from what I've heard...

[Scow]

Levein has indicated he wants to play with one flank narrower than the other, so it seems a 4-4-2 with Hughes on the right with him drifting inside, allowing Maybury to overlap to provide the width, which is what we've seen in the games against Derby and Leeds.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Levein has indicated he wants to play with one flank narrower than the other, so it seems a 4-4-2 with Hughes on the right with him drifting inside, allowing Maybury to overlap to provide the width, which is what we've seen in the games against Derby and Leeds.

106827[/snapback]

From what he said on the phone-in I'd imagine Tiatto will be the narrow winger, with a new right-winger on the other side (perhaps Sylla, hopefully someone like Campbell-Ryce or McAnuff). Levein has said that Stephen Hughes will be, and I quote, "magnificent" next season, so I doubt he'll play him out of position somehow.

[step]

From what he said on the phone-in I'd imagine Tiatto will be the narrow winger,

A narrow short winger would have been a discreption

[Tomassi]

Tommassi,

Its a bit boring to watch though - It'll work when we are in cup competitions against Premier teams but in the Championship at our level I think we should always go 4-4-2. otherwise it shows weakness as oppossed to tactical genius.

106743[/snapback]

Boring to watch but gets results right?

mind u i didnt find Greece boring to watch.. dunno about everton tho..