2 up front

Lukaku'sLeftTesticle · August 8, 2015

If our wingers and attacking mids wont run beyond Rom then we do indeed need to play two up front

DZisMe · August 8, 2015

beachy said:
Rom cant do it on his own...

...but will be deadly with another striker alongside.

Agree 100%. Involves changing the base set-up and tactics. My fear w Martinez is his nearly blind obsession w 4231.

ilikecheese · August 8, 2015

4-3-3 for me

Groucho · August 8, 2015

Fearthainn said:
2 up front, is this going to be this year's version of 2 wingers. But I agree, with Lukaku playing in midfield half of the time it is clear we need someone else helping him. Won't happen.

I even made a "let's try the 4-4-2 again" thread last season. Anyway.

I'm going to sound like a nerd here but here goes: I'd play a straight 4-4-2 or at least a 4-1-4-1, with one of the two strikers as part of the second bank of four in a sort of Tim Cahill role, as an go-between for midfield and striker, probably better suited to Kone than Lukaku. Either way, a winger on each side.

This would also accommodate both of his beloved defensive midfielders in the one "attacking" team if he really thought it was necessary.

Basically, I'm glad the football's back, I was getting sick of transfer WUM's and people panicking about Stones.

Garrick · August 8, 2015

Groucho said:
I've been saying two up front since the start of last season.

People who talk about formations a lot told me to shut up.

Couldn't be arsed to vault myself right now, but I agreed with you then and I agree with you now.

Groucho · August 8, 2015

Garrick said:
Couldn't be arsed to vault myself right now, but I agreed with you then and I agree with you now.

I'd just hope this discussion isn't in vain and we see two up front more regularly.

ftk43 · August 8, 2015

It's a must for us really. But don't see Martinez doing it on a regular basis.

CahillsCornerFlag · August 8, 2015

Made a huge difference today, but he does seem to love playing two defensive mids.

Which would be fine but we concede loads of goals anyway so his reason for playing them is moot.

joger · August 8, 2015

Groucho said:
I've been saying two up front since the start of last season.

Look so much better with 2 strikers on the pitch. Some of our crosses looked deadly and we should probably have scored some of them, the other thing is that when we go about it this way it opens up A LOT of space for us in front of their defense, just take a look at barkleys goal!

AaronTheBlue · August 8, 2015

horses for courses, some games yes, some games no

Eggs · August 8, 2015

...not bothered about formation, just want us to have a go, create and be good to watch.

Jags · August 8, 2015

The obessession with formations has stopped one thing... an acceptance of lopsided formations. when they are written down, they are ALWAYS symmetrical. Barca circa 2009 played lopsided, and so did we in our good spell last year with Lennon much more tucked in than Mirallas, or Osman more tucked in than Lennon.

Joel
Coleman Stones Jags Leftback
-------------McCarthy
-----------Barkley------Cleverley
Mirallas -----------Kone
---------------Lukaku

Is kinda what I would play, with Kone much more tucked in than Mirallas/Deulofeu and Cleverley having a slightly wider role, exploiting the space left by Kone, whilst Barkley is left with all the space required in the middle of the park.

Joey66 · August 8, 2015

Keith Putnam said:
I said this in the matchday thread, but Lukaku cannot play as a lone striker. He's too slow and too clumsy. What he *is* is an excellent target man who can also score a fair amount of goals.
We should absolutely play two up top and find Lukaku a quick, aggressive, precise striking partner.

TBF he did not look 100% fit from the off today!