are we going to play 442 now ?

[Magic8Ball]

With the capture of Torres looking more and more likely thoughts begin to wonder how we are going to play next season

 

Given the number of midfielders to most it looks a cert that we are a 4231 team in the making, yet something about the strikers looks traditional 442

 

Voronin and Torres both seem like link strikers who can play up front alone but are better as the creative forcce for an in the box striker

 

Kuyt and Crouch both seems capable of scoring 20+ goals a season if they spend more time in the box

 

so I wonder, is Rafa thinking of playing 442 rather than 4231 ?

[c00p]

Poshibilities.

[abc]

I'm not a huge fan of Kuyt right now, but I have confidence that if he spent more time in the box he'd be our (at least) 15 league goals-a-season man. Not what purists would call a natural goalscorer, but definitely a very competent one in my opinion.

[Knox_Harrington]

More and more the only part of the numerical formation equation that matters is the first number. The rest is movement.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

we have played mostly 4-4-2 even since masch came in. Don't think that is gonna change. We'd need some much better players on the flanks if we are going to do that longterm.

[HK]

Voronin and Torres both seem like link strikers who can play up front alone but are better as the creative forcce for an in the box striker

 

I never get why people would think that about Torres. He hardly ever played as link striker in Athletico. Nor the Spanish National team.

Not saying that he can't be a link striker but just curious why many seem to accept that as a given.

[koppper]

I was going to say the same - isn't Torres used to playing on his own up front, and not as a link striker? He also played on the wing this season due to injuries, so a bit like Henry possibly?

[floyd the barber]

---------------------reina-----------------

finnan-------carra------agger---?????--

--------------------------------------------

-gerrard--alonso----masch--kewell---

--------kuyt--------torres----------------

 

 

every club needs a first choice line up.....for sure, a left back will come in also..

[Falconhoof]

Sell Kuyt and Bellamy and buy Ronaldinho for the left of midfield.

[fred milne]

---------------------reina-----------------

finnan-------carra------agger---?????--

--------------------------------------------

-gerrard--alonso----masch--kewell---

--------kuyt--------torres----------------

every club needs a first choice line up.....for sure, a left back will come in also..

Looks promising but I would have thought a new LM is even more likely given the departure of Gonzalez, Zenden and Garcia and the injury track record of Kewell.

[floyd the barber]

well gonzo hasnt gone yet, plus we have riise,aurillio and kewell......of course im not 100% about any of those, so yeah we definetly need a left mid.....but cant see one coming in UNLESS of the current 3 are sold.

[Cheesecake]

I think we need a dedicated LW and RW and then used SG in his best position - advanced in midfield. He may be more than capable on the right wing but if we had the wingers I think we could get so much more out of SG by playing him in this advanced midfield role - bursting forward into the box, supporting the front two (or one in some games). He's got a great stike on him and tons of energy and while he does a job on the wing (does it well mind you) I'd prefer to see him more central. For this reason I cant agree with a preferred formation that puts him RW.

[Guest DanTheDaggerman]

---------------------reina-----------------

finnan-------carra------agger---?????--

--------------------------------------------

-gerrard--alonso----masch--kewell---

--------kuyt--------torres----------------

every club needs a first choice line up.....for sure, a left back will come in also..

I don't know about that formation. I can see its uses (tough away games?), but it looks too defensive for home games/easier aways. Unless it is more like this:

 

---------------------reina-----------------

finnan-------carra------agger---?????--

--------------------masch-----------------

-gerrard-----------alonso-------kewell---

--------kuyt--------torres----------------

 

Where we can finally see Alonso in a more advanced role.

 

In any case, I think the problem is less about formations and more about movement from the midfielders.

[fred milne]

well gonzo hasnt gone yet, plus we have riise,aurillio and kewell......of course im not 100% about any of those, so yeah we definetly need a left mid.....but cant see one coming in UNLESS of the current 3 are sold.

I think Rafa sees Riise and Aurelio predominantly as LBs, he's told Gonzalez to find another club and Kewell's fitness can't be relied on.

 

I'd be staggered if a new LM isn't the priority now that Torres is in the bag.

[John am Rhein]

More and more the only part of the numerical formation equation that matters is the first number. The rest is movement.

 

I agree with that. As long as it begins with 4 then it's fine. It's when managers try and outthink themselves and come up with hare-brained schemes beginning with a 3 or a 5 that they get into a mess.

[Stevie H]

I think Rafa sees Riise and Aurelio predominantly as LBs, he's told Gonzalez to find another club and Kewell's fitness can't be relied on.

 

I'd be staggered if a new LM isn't the priority now that Torres is in the bag.

aye. it's the only position with a question mark over it now isn't it?

[Dog]

It's kinda painful.

 

Formation boll*x

 

It will get worse too. Once we have completed any signings, there will be the usual plefora of posts with neatly arranged team layouts of how those individuals see the team lineup and each players position and how it would work.

 

 

I rest my case.