Formation change?

[Sim]

With our current dip in form and injures too, does anyone think that possibly a change in formation could help. Given that our midfield has been weak, and defence not keeping them goals out, how about trying a 3-5-2:

----------Howard
----------Stubbs
-----Yobo-----Lescott
Hibbert-------------Baines
--Arteta--Carsley--Pienaar
-----McFadden--Yakubu

Advantages:
1. We play Stubbs in a sort of sweeper role, bringing the best out of his experience while playing both Yobo and Lescott get to mark the pacy strikers with Stubbs providing cover.
2. Hibbo and Baines are pretty good as wing backs allowing them to play further up the field.
3. Arteta, Carsley and Pienar could concentrate on controlling midfield without worrying about having to look after the flanks. Thereby swamping midfield with players and keeping control of the game.
4. Arteta and Pienaar have a more free role allowing them to come in and out of the flanks without having to play as out and out wingers.

Whats your thoughts?

 

[Dylan]

With our current dip in form and injures too, does anyone think that possibly a change in formation could help. Given that our midfield has been weak, and defence not keeping them goals out, how about trying a 3-5-2:

----------Howard
----------Stubbs
-----Yobo-----Lescott
Hibbert-------------Baines
--Arteta--Carsley--Pienaar
-----McFadden--Yakubu

Advantages:
1. We play Stubbs in a sort of sweeper role, bringing the best out of his experience while playing both Yobo and Lescott get to mark the pacy strikers with Stubbs providing cover.
2. Hibbo and Baines are pretty good as wing backs allowing them to play further up the field.
3. Arteta, Carsley and Pienar could concentrate on controlling midfield without worrying about having to look after the flanks. Thereby swamping midfield with players and keeping control of the game.
4. Arteta and Pienaar have a more free role allowing them to come in and out of the flanks without having to play as out and out wingers.

Whats your thoughts?

Good idea except Hibbo is like an AK-47 on Full-auto. If he hits the target, it is on accident. Otherwise, not a bad idea, sadly just don't see Moyes doing it.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Not many teams seem to play 5-3-2 these days. Not being a coach I don't know quite why but I presume there is a good reason?

 

[zero]

Not many teams seem to play 5-3-2 these days. Not being a coach I don't know quite why but I presume there is a good reason?

It invites pressure onto us and gives them the numerical advantage in the middle of the park?

 

[Sim]

Not many teams seem to play 5-3-2 these days. Not being a coach I don't know quite why but I presume there is a good reason?

I was thinking more along the lines of a 3-5-2, with Baines and Hibbo (or Neville come to think of it) more as wing-backs/wingers.

But your right though Bruce, 442 or 451 seems to be the flavour of the day. Although its good to see less teams, including us, using 451 this year. At one point it seemed everyone was fielding a variation of it.

 

[FCConnecticut]

Anything we can do to get a grip on the middle third of the field would be great! I like the idea of a 3-5-2, I'm assuming the middle shap would be 2 central holding, 2 wide and 1 central attacking. One of those two strikerswill have to track while the other sets up camp in the circle.

 

[Sim]

Anything we can do to get a grip on the middle third of the field would be great! I like the idea of a 3-5-2, I'm assuming the middle shap would be 2 central holding, 2 wide and 1 central attacking. One of those two strikerswill have to track while the other sets up camp in the circle.

That would allow us to field Cahill in his most dangerous role, attacking from centre of midfield. Nice.

 

[FCConnecticut]

right now everyone is dribble right through the middle third on us like it is a practice session. We're not pressuring the ball until it is in our third.

We did do a lot of head scratching over how to accomadate 2 strikers and our midfielders for a while on this board. The 3-5-2 is certainly an option but if I were a gambling man I'd put money on a return of the 4-5-1.

 

[Sim]

Well I dont think 451 should be used at home, but away against superior opposition fair enough.

 

[TX Bill]

I like it.

I'd like to see us try it.

 

[Dom1878]

With our current dip in form and injures too, does anyone think that possibly a change in formation could help. Given that our midfield has been weak, and defence not keeping them goals out, how about trying a 3-5-2:

----------Howard
----------Stubbs
-----Yobo-----Lescott
Hibbert-------------Baines
--Arteta--Carsley--Pienaar
-----McFadden--Yakubu

Advantages:
1. We play Stubbs in a sort of sweeper role, bringing the best out of his experience while playing both Yobo and Lescott get to mark the pacy strikers with Stubbs providing cover.
2. Hibbo and Baines are pretty good as wing backs allowing them to play further up the field.
3. Arteta, Carsley and Pienar could concentrate on controlling midfield without worrying about having to look after the flanks. Thereby swamping midfield with players and keeping control of the game.
4. Arteta and Pienaar have a more free role allowing them to come in and out of the flanks without having to play as out and out wingers.

Whats your thoughts?

The defence, imo is bad becasue now the full backs are pushing up alot more that last year. Baines is a more attackign full back and will lie to get up into the oppositions area/ corner falg and put hte passes and crosses in. Same on the right. This means there is two central defenders in the centre which have to spread out in the absence of the full backs. A solution to this is play a 5-3-2 formation, with 3 centre backs, and the two full backs pushing up the wings even more than they do now, allowing more freedom in the defence. Suggestion when all is fit:

- - - - - - - - - Howard- - - - - - - - - -

- - - - -Yobo - Stubbs - Lescott - - - - -

Hibbert - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Baines

- - - - - - - Arteta - Gravesen - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - Cahill - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - Anichebe - Yakubu/Mcfadden

Basically 5-3-2, but can easily change into a 3-5-2

This enables a good defence, but still a good attacking force, also with playing five at the back you dont really need to play a defensive mid. This enables gravesen and arteta to play in the centre which is best for them, and cahill to play aswell. Becasue arteta is in the centre with gravesen the delivery to the attackers will be improved.

Problem Solved

Ahem...i believe i came up with this first... - or atleast 5-3-2, but its basically the same shape!

But anyway i love this fromaiton...

even though there are 5 at the back the midfield would have no defensive mid so therefore would make this formation attacking and well defended.

But Sim, with your formaiton, if your going to put five at teh back you dont want a def. Mid in the midfield, put gravesen arteta nad cahill in hte centre, to feed the passes through. It also gives arteta to play in the middle which is where he is best!!

 

[Robert Jarvis]

Does not matter if it is 532, 451, 442, 433, We need some class players in the middle not formation dancers.

 

[Dom1878]

with a 5-3-2 you would have a class midfield, with gravesen arteta and cahill...

 

[Dylan]

Dom! how could you leave Neville out of that!?!?!?!?

 

[Philw]

if you're playing a sweeper it shouldnt be stubbs, surely someone with a bit of pace, so that if they have to cover a mistake by one of the other centre halves they can do so quickly, not get left behind?!?