Our Formation

[PhilM]

Ideally with our formation you’d have the full backs bombing on. One or both DM’s dropping in between the centre halves or covering the full back position. Then the front 3 tuck in to support the striker and create space outside for the full back.

Never happening with Cuco/Kenny and no DM to get the ball but also defend (N’Zonzi).

All that alongside a player in the centre of midfield who can at times carrying the ball forward, play an offensive pass and move on themselves.

To an extent, Rooney fulfilled the latter necessities when he was played deeper albeit with out much pace; nevertheless, there was creativity.

This isn't a criticism of Gueye, Schneiderlin or McCarthy but when they're played with each other there's nobody who will offer all of the above.

No wonder on so many occasions the ball has been simply lumped forward to bypass the midfield as they know it'll often not move on from there.

However, this is not a new issue at all as we had the same problem under Martinez and it wasn't resolved during Koeman's reign either!

Add to that, our full backs aren't bombing on to support our wide players so they (Bolasie for example) are often left isolated and can't lay it off.

 

[Nymzee]

All that alongside a player in the centre of midfield who can at times carrying the ball forward, play an offensive pass and move on themselves.

To an extent, Rooney fulfilled the latter necessities when he was played deeper albeit with out much pace; nevertheless, there was creativity.

This isn't a criticism of Gueye, Schneiderlin or McCarthy but when they're played with each other there's nobody who will offer all of the above.

No wonder on so many occasions the ball has been simply lumped forward to bypass the midfield as they know it'll often not move on from there.

However, this is not a new issue at all as we had the same problem under Martinez and it wasn't resolved during Koeman's reign either!

Add to that, our full backs aren't bombing on to support our wide players so they (Bolasie for example) are often left isolated and can't lay it off.

Barry could do what we needed.

 

[PhilM]

Barry could do what we needed.

That wasn't a criticism of Barry as I really liked him as a player and he often did his job well like the consummate professional that he is.

Nevertheless, you can't expect creativity when fielding a partnership such as Barry and McCarthy and it's pretty much the same as it is now.

Therefore, to expect our midfield to consistently move the ball and make chances is unrealistic when they're primarily defensive minded.

We need a defensive midfielder and someone, who while still can put in a tackle etc., is looking to link up with our forward players.

 

[messymascot]

Formation is not the problem it's the personnel. Kenny is an inexperienced right back so has not learned when to stay and when to go. Martina is playing on the wrong side so is not comfortable using his left foot to cross. Our attack is unbalanced with Sigurdsson on the left trying to cut inside all the time. Even if Baines was for it wouldn't solve the problem as he appears to have lost most of his pace and all of his confidence.
I would like to see them register Garbutt and go with this team next week in said 4-2-3-1 formation at least it would have some balance and pace.
Pickford
Kenny Holgate Williams Garbutt
Schneiderlin McCarthy
Lookman Sigurdsson Bolasie
Tosun

Robles Jagielka Martina Gueye Vlasic Rooney Calvert-Lewin

I would drop Gueye as I'm not convinced he is fully recovered from injury. I would take Rooney out as last time he was dropped for a few games he came back on fire having benefited from the rest. Play the 2 wingers on there natural side so when they beat their man they don't need to cut back inside. If we buy a left back midweek obviously play him but if not Garbutt would allow some balance and attacking was always his strength.

 

[PhilEFC]

Why oh Why oh Why are we STILL persisting with a 4-2-3-1 formation, 5 goddamned seasons after it was introduced and 4 seasons after every man and his dog saw through it? Is it something that was put in writing when Martinez was around that it must be used? Koeman was never known to play that way at Southampton yet still used it, Unsy never did and hasn't since at U23 level but felt the need to for the first team and now Fat Sam is persisting with it, even making it worse by playing 3 DMs in one game

Do we really need to be playing 2 DMs in any game, surely one should suffice (preferably Gana when fit) with a more central midfielder in front of him or even a back to basics 4-4-2 with two actual wingers and 2, yes two, strikers. Can't make thing any worse surely?

Agreed. We haven’t got the players who can play that formation, and whoever is in charge insists on playing players in the wrong position anyway.

It seems to be the fashionable thing to do at the moment, same as playing 5-3-2 was years ago.

 

[beachy]

The most important decision is Rooney or Sigurdsson but not both.

 

[Sy-]

Simplistically speaking: I think our formation is wrong because we have literally zero threat from full-back, Kenny doesn't proactively get forward, it's always passive with the rest of the unit. Martina literally has to stop and put his foot on the ball while he has a think if anyone so much as stands in his path.

We're hardly going to push forward via 2 DMs, when we try that, Rooney collects, then promtly loses the ball (while our proper ball playing no.10 is grafting thanklessly on the left wing). We are way too easy to shut out at the root, all we have left is for Pickford to punt it long and hope for the best.

The fact we haven't bought a proper LB by now is absolutely criminal from Walsh, that for me was actually more important than a striker.