I’m so fed up with this inconsistent formation. We’ve seen it for the past few years. By using it we should have possession of the ball, pressing as a team, retaining the ball and regaining it quickly. But our passing is poor and sloppy, Gana is the only real player who we depend on to break up the play or put pressure on a opponent. There’s no pace in our game slow and cumbersome. Giving the opposition time to regroup. When we can’t regain possession and are under a lot of pressure the midfield are forced back and compressed into a 4-5-1, Leaving the striker isolated with very little support. Making it harder for the kid who’s strongest position is on the Wing. The full-backs can also be trapped behind their midfielders unable to get forward like we’ve seen successful under Moyes. Playing it week in week out shouldn’t be an option it clearly doesn’t work away from home. We need to plan and adjust our side to exploit our opponents weaknesses. We’ve got another options on the bench to do that. What do you guys think?
Difficult to answer this briefly, its complexed with lots of issues.
Will try and make this as short as possible.
Starting point for me is whether to play Gana or not.
Going by performances over the season, he and Digne should be the first on the team sheet.
But he may also be the stumbling block to getting the team playing effectively.
Playing 4231 with Gana is plain stupid.
Gana does not have the skills and vision to control the play/dictate patterns and mvts - although he is getting better he is not a guy you are going to rely to do it at this level.
You end up relying on one player (Gomes) to do it all while Gana goes about doing what he is good at, positioning, covering and breaking down opposition play.
If its understood that the game is played just as much across the field as vertically then its not hard to see why Gana-Gomes can be easily exploited by opposition teams. I'm sure its the first thing opposition coaches look at.
Thats not to say Silva cant counter with tactics to make up for this. But it ends up restricting what the team can do and how it can play.
What is nonsensical about it is, to counter the opposition tactics Silva is moving further away from his own style of play.
That or he just loses the plot and throws more attackers on.
Against Chelsea Sig dropped into a more balanced 3 man mid. Defensively it was pretty sound. Certainly the CBs and Pickford had a much better sense of what to do. Even Lookman when he came knew what to do, how to maintain the balance and keep the structure of the team play.
Instead of using this as a foundation to build from - both in terms of moving up the pitch and attacking from deep; and in using that performance to build on during the season - Silva abandon it.
Instead of being patient he fell into the traps set by other coaches and played a looser, higher line.
Going by the matches since (with the derby being the exception), Silva has reeked of desperation and a false urge to impress.
To compete successfully in the EPL you need two exceptional all round players in a 2 man midfield; and a world class AM
There is no combination in the squad which gets us this 2 man midfield - so why bother?
With Gana.
There's only two ways to accomadate Gana's role - centre of a 3 man midfield or at the base of a midfield diamond (with a flat midfield four a defeatist, unattractive option)
Either way you need two ball playing mids, who are good with the ball under pressure, can play in tight spaces in combination with the wings, who are smart enough to keep the structure and balance in check, good vision, good passers and can do a lot of running. They need to form a partnership as the fulcrums of play and creativity; while covering each other and linking with Gana in defence. Atm we have Gomes, Sig, Bernard, Lookman, Davies.
I'd go with Bernard left and Gomes right. Ideally you bring on Sig for Bernard as he tires and the game opens up.
Two things need to then happen
1.Take time to get the defensive play sorted and second nature.
The potential weakness is whether Bernard will be able to handle get knocked around, cause he will be targeted.
But if he can, the potential benefits in possession are worth the risk. If Bernard can't adapt he goes back to being a wing or top of the diamond option with Sig starting.
One of the things that Silva hasn't been able to get his head around is that if you play the above Gana does not become part of the press.
That is transfered to Gomes and Bernard who will need to put pressure on the second and third forward balls.
2. Work out how the forward three play.
