5 in the back

toffeestillidie · January 21, 2009

so a couple seasons ago, can't remember exactly but i think it might have been 06/07, our best formation seemed to be a 5-4-1.

in the last few games, i think baines has completely proven that he deserves to be in this squad what do you guys think of a lineup that looks something like:

howard
hibbert lescott yobo jags baines
neville
osman arteta pienaar
cahill

or
howard
neville lescott yobo jags baines
osman arteta pienaar
cahill anichebe

i'm not including suspended / injured players here just for simplicity sake, and i realize these are both incredibly defensive formations, but our defenders are great at getting forward (particularly baines) so i'm really not too worried about that. what do you think, is 5 in defense worth considering?

GrandOldTeam · January 21, 2009

If we were to play 5 defenders, I would want Neville and Baines flying up both flanks. Looks a well balanced team to be fair;

Howard

Yobo Jagielka Lescott
Neville................................Baines

Osman Fellaini Arteta Pienaar

Cahill

HalewoodBlue_ver.2.0 · January 21, 2009

toffeestillidie said:
so a couple seasons ago, can't remember exactly but i think it might have been 06/07, our best formation seemed to be a 5-4-1.

in the last few games, i think baines has completely proven that he deserves to be in this squad what do you guys think of a lineup that looks something like:

howard
hibbert lescott yobo jags baines
neville
osman arteta pienaar
cahill

or
howard
neville lescott yobo jags baines
osman arteta pienaar
cahill anichebe

i'm not including suspended / injured players here just for simplicity sake, and i realize these are both incredibly defensive formations, but our defenders are great at getting forward (particularly baines) so i'm really not too worried about that. what do you think, is 5 in defense worth considering?

Dont remember ever playing 5 at the back to be honest and i dont think it works anyway. Yobo will be brought back in as soon as he is fit and everyones new fav player Baines will drop out

Goat · January 21, 2009

I must admit, i dont ever remeber us playing 5 at the back, i think the way we are playing at the moment is wonderful tho, it works so well.

Dom1878 · January 21, 2009

Ive been saying this for Ages.

Advantaages - When defending - we have five at the back. However when attacking we have 3 at the back and 6 in midfield. We would have 3 center backs - which would be good for any counter attacks. It would also suit Baines's position perfectly.

So:

Defending:

Howard

Neville - Yobo - Jagielka - Lescott - Baines

Osman - Arteta - Pienaar

Fellaini

Cahill

Attacking:

Howard

Yobo - Jagielka - Lescott

Neville - Osman - Arteta - Pienaar - Baines

Fellaini

Cahill

And when posession is in the middle of the pitch:

Howard

Yobo - Jagielka - Lescott

Neville - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Baines

Osman - Arteta - Pienaar

Fellaini

Cahill

However it probably wouldnt work like that. Id want to try it, especially against the top 4 clubs, there doesnt seem to be a disadvantage, more in attack and more in defence. It also siuts our 3 defenders - rather than drop one.

But our formation is working now, and we should stick too it...

Goat · January 21, 2009

Another problem is the lack of cover we have as well, if the players get used to playing 5 at the back and 1 of the CBs picks up an injury, we lack cover to replace them.

But the way we are playing at the moment is the future, plus we are not leaking goals, so surely we have no need. Its attacking options we need in fairness, but im 100% happy with the tactics at the moment, its working a dream. We need a striker tho, if Cahill gets injured we are totally screwed.

ToxtethBlue · January 21, 2009

Portsmouth tried to play it earlier in the season, the first time they used it was against us at Goodison and won 3-0. The they used it at City and got battered, it didn’t work to well in other games either. I think there win at Goodison was mainly down to us being [Poor language removed] at the time.

Other than that I can’t think of any teams who have used it in the Premier League, Harry said that his players had trouble adapting to it and I think we would. If we used it through pre-season we might get to grips with it but not now.

I’m liking the formation where playing at the moment, 4-2-3-1 is the way forward in my opinion. Very effective formation and it suit’s the players we have.

Scottoffee · January 21, 2009

We're playing the best football we have done in donkey's and as much as I like Yobo, he's going to have to sit tight and wait for an injury / suspension (Lescott's on 4 yellows).

Apart from a few too many hoofed clearances, Hibbert's been in top form and I really like Neville in the middle at the moment, throwing himself about like he was at a Sepultura gig and allowing Arteta to work his magic...

On top of that, Baines' recent performances should get him an England call-up if Capello's got any sense.

I'm praying that Moyes doesn't screw around with a working formula.

Jamo Martinez · January 21, 2009

Someone, I think it was UKnightbreed, has been advocating the idea of playing wingbacks and 3 central defenders for some time now. Personally I like our recent formation. Neville looks ok next to Arteta and possibly Jags could do the same if Yobo comes back in with Neville replacing Hibbo.

Dom1878 · January 21, 2009

James Martin said:
Someone, I think it was UKnightbreed, has been advocating the idea of playing wingbacks and 3 central defenders for some time now. Personally I like our recent formation. Neville looks ok next to Arteta and possibly Jags could do the same if Yobo comes back in with Neville replacing Hibbo.

Ahem...

Bruce Wayne · January 21, 2009

Not in favour of this. I can't think of a single team in world football that lines up with 5 at the back and for us it'd be a case of changing the whole team formation simply because we have three good centre backs.

ToxtethBlue · January 21, 2009

I’m loving this 4-2-3-1 we are using at the moment, there’s no need to change it. It’s the way forward.b)

Arteta and Neville have been fantastic in the middle, both on and off the ball. They’ve given the defenders options and haven’t been scared to take the ball under pressure, they’ve protected the back four and they’ve interchanged well going forward. It isn’t just Neville freeing up Arteta, Arteta is also letting Neville get involved in advanced positions and to be fair to Neville his distribution and use of the ball has been very good.

We look far more solid than last year and there is now a link between defence and attack. Something we’ve lacked for a long time. Last season Carsley was the deepest midfielder with Osman playing slightly more advanced. There wasn’t really anyone with the ability or confidence to pick the ball up and start attacks.

Wizbit · January 21, 2009

ToxtethBlue said:
I’m loving this 4-2-3-1 we are using at the moment, there’s no need to change it. It’s the way forward.b)

We played our must attractive and most effective football last season playing that formation - and the same has happened this year. Definitely stay with it. It's a updated version of the 4-1-4-1 that we used in the 04/05 season

Basil Fawlty · January 21, 2009

I don't remember Everton playing 5 at the back and being successful with it, we tried it under Walter Smith. 4-5-1 has been Moyes formation for the last couple of years, before that 4-4-2

The formation works in Italy but very few English clubs have pulled it off to my memory

Robert Jarvis · January 21, 2009

Well lets try 10-0-0. Whats in a formation FFS, does it really matter if it is 4-4-2, 5-4-1, 4-3-3, and remember the old days 2-3-5, yes five forwards!!!