Most liked posts in thread: Formation options

Some folk make me laugh, we have a bad game after two decent performances and the usual cries of 4-4-2 come rattling out of the woodwork. You can time it like clockwork. It's clear that Hughes favours posession and last night for large parts we kept the ball well.

 

400 games managed at premiership level, think that puts him 7th in the table of games managed at that level. But enough of that, just go 4-4-2.......

 

Hate being negative but playing the way we are now with all the possession and next to nothing created then it’s going to be a long hard season.
Interestingly probably our best performance against Hull was the only game we didn’t dominate possession. It’s no good having all the ball and creating very little. Our strikers are not missing loads of chances they are not being created.
Either a change of tactics needed or somehow a much faster tempo and movement.

 

I was impressed with Lewis's kicking from his hands reminded me very much of Pickford's time at Valley Parade.

 

Banks will be toothless shooting from the left, crosses fine, but his trademark bending shot in the far post is only effective when approaching from the right side.

 

We don't have the wingback options to make the 3-5-2 work so that one is a non starter. You just need to look at Wilson and Cadden last year for FGR to see the quality we need in those positions.

4-2-3-1 is still the best option imo. Problem is our best number 10 (walker) is injured and we're a natural wide player short with Chapman playing centrally and Osadebe and Eisa out.

 

Keep it as it is.

It would be beyond parody to spend so long training 4231 to just give up after a handful of games, especially when we've performed well in terms of possession and chance creation.

I think a more feeble manager might switch it up, but not MH.

 

You can't just play at possession. This idea of mixing it up is a myth, you either play play posession or you don't. I'm more than willing to see Hughes stick to his principles of trying to keep hold of the football. Once we have the attacking options back I think we will see the benefits of it. It's only the front four that is struggling at the moment, I've seen enough from the rest to suggest we have a strategy worth sticking with.

 

It's four games into the season. Hardly a time to forget your principles and start pumping it long.it will take time for players to get used to each other, don't listen to halfwits rattling on about extended pre season, it mean absolutely nothing.

 

Exactly. Liverpool have struggled first two games, FFS Jürgen get back to 4-4-2. I'll bet you Derek Adams isn't thinking about going posession based if his hoofball doesn't work.

 

It does amuse me when folk think you can just switch positions to suit a formation. Banks party piece is running at the corner of the box opening up the angle. You could switch him but you'd half his effectiveness.

 

Then Banks ain't primarily a winger, he's an attacking right sided midfielder

 

The 3-5-2 could create a strong 11.
It would still give a chance to dominate possession, whilst getting 2 up front.
I just cannot see it though. I think 4-2-3-1 all day for MH.

 

Be honest is this thread just an excuse to moan about us not using 442?

In all seriousness though them options do look useful, our biggest issue is both losses have come to late to consider a formation change. Doesn’t matter the formation you play if you give the same silly free kicks away and proceed in conceding.

 

Id say go 4-4-2. small quick attacker playing off a target man. Chapman back out on the wing.

In regards to 3 at the back though, Id rather have Foulds as the wing back. He has more energy an pace than Ridehalgh.

 

And Worrall and Benning at Port Vale who I thought were the best wing backs i saw all season.
They created so many outlets for the midfielders with their pace and movement.
Obviously also very confident in the mobility and pace of their 3 centre halves to cover the potential gaps as they pushed forward.

 

I think as a lady resort you could go 4-4-2 with Eisa or Osadebe when fit but I don't see Chapman as a wide player in a 4-4-2. Personally the 4-2-3-1 works when the right personel are fit.

 

Chance creation?

 

4-4-2 was fine when everyone else played it as you just had to win your individual battles for success. Now if you play 4-4-2 and your opponents have 4-5 midfield players you just don’t get the ball ,
and your wingers are stood out wide waiting in vain to get the ball as your 2 central midfield players are outnumbered.