Ted Hughes wrote:I think 4-4-2 is an absolute fucking dire waste of time unless you 'do' crosses & headers. Seeing as we currently don't, (although it was a bit better v Blackpool tbf) all 4-4-2 does is make us look less solid defensively & imo changing to it cost Hughes his job. When we use it with Mancini the defence looks just as bad as it did under Hughes as people get pulled out of position.
If we want to get more attacking players into the team, I think variations of 4-3-3 (4-2-3-1/ 4-1-3-2/ 4-3-2-1/ 4-2-2-2) are the way to go. Front 3 could be a rotation between Tevez, Balotelli, Silva, AJ & Ade & could have one further forward with the other two tucked behind or two forward with one behind etc etc. Loads of options which can be tweaked during a game.
Midfield could be rotated between Milner, Barry, De Jong, Yaya, even SWP (who could also play in the front 3). You can still play 4-3-3 & be tight defensively if you pull 9 behind the ball when defending. You could have 3 holding midfielders & send the fullbacks forward or alternately get everyone forward when attacking & everyone back when defending. It's all about attitude & hard work to make it happen imo.
Agree with the sentiments and formations Ted, and not unexpected tbh given your recent comments about crosses etc. The formations as numbers dont present a problem, it is when i try to fill the numbers with players names that the headaches start.
We have good wide players, so as you suggest we need to have a central figure who can win headers, knock downs or cause confusion. That means Ade right now and possibly Balotelli when he is back. Im trying to imagine Silva, Tevez and Ade as the front 3 and it seems unbalanced.
Maybe resting Tevez and have AJ and Silva or Milner and Silva to support Ade.
Got any suggestions for a line up with all 3 of Silva, Tevez and Ade ?
[/center]
