Favourite Formation

SantryRed

Completely different type of discussion here but I think it'd be very interesting. What is everyone's favourite formation? What way would they play it? Fluid? Or rigid holding out for 1nil wins?

Me personally, probably with being a goalkeeper, prefers 4-5-1/4-3-3.

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That'd be the way they'd line up. I'd encourage the team to play football. The two wingers would be skillful who are capable of beating their man. I'd like the front man to be a strong player who can hold the ball up. Counter attacking would be the way the team would play. Containing the other side and when getting the opportunity breaking fast and quickly with the front 5 players.

Just something different and a discussion about actual football instead of teams. So what's everyone elses?

CHD

Mourinho's tactics at Chelsea. Pretty much what you have described, that's my choice.

Peyton Manning

Whatever Barcelona play. Dont change a bloody thing!

ziggy

This post has been deleted.

That_Guy

When we played 4-3-3 for the last couple of games in the Premier League under Keegan we played unbelievably well. Wouldn't work too well now really with the squad we've got now.

Xavi6

4 - 4 - F*CKING - 2!!!!!

Seaneh

Milan's mad -4-3-2-1 xmass tree thingy is quite attractive with the wingbacks attack a lot.

_blank_

I like 2-2-1-2-2-1

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Two attacking full backs, NOT wing backs, and two centre halfs, one a ball player with pace, one a bruiser with guile.

you get a holding midfielder and two more attack minded CMs, but the three control the middle of the park

Then play with three forwards, old Outside Lefts and Rights, and a centre forward, ideally they'd all be interchangeable, but one very decent spearhead is also good.

Against weaker teams you'd sacrafice one of the CMs for an in-the-hole

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The_Kew_Tour

Great thread this.

Myself dont really have any as it depends on the team etc. The Ac Milan formation mentioned above is eXcellent alright

Remember the good old days of the Diamond 4-4-2 formation. Well gone now from days Man United won champions league in 99.

Frisbee

4-1-2-2-1

A la Arsenal and Barca.

But as Des says above, playing with inside forwards instead of wingers.

iregk

Such elegance Des is often lost in todays rigid game!

Ush1

Des wrote: »

I like 2-2-1-2-2-1

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Two attacking full backs, NOT wing backs, and two centre halfs, one a ball player with pace, one a bruiser with guile.

you get a holding midfielder and two more attack minded CMs, but the three control the middle of the park

Then play with three forwards, old Outside Lefts and Rights, and a centre forward, ideally they'd all be interchangeable, but one very decent spearhead is also good.

Against weaker teams you'd sacrafice one of the CMs for an in-the-hole

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ITH

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Otherwise known as Barcelona.

_blank_

Frisbee wrote: »

But as Des says above, playing with inside forwards instead of wingers.

No, I didn't mention inside forwards

I like proper widemen.

I suppose, if you start with a left footer on the left and a right footer on the right, they are outside forwards.

when they change wings, and naturally start to cut in, they then become inside forwards though.

Interesting.

iregk wrote: »

Such elegance Des is often lost in todays rigid game!

I don't think so actually, the type of system that I, and most people, have posted a version of is very fluid, you just need intelligent footballers to fit the system. (my system is basically 4-3-3 if we're totally honest about it)

Unfortunately, most English/Irish footballers are brought up in a world like Xavi6's post above.

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Interesting that most people have stuck to 4 defenders.

I think in the future we'll see a reversion to 3.

Or more like 2 centre backs, and three half backs

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Where the two centre backs remain as they are today, and full backs are done away with, and replaced by players like Evra, A. Cole and Glen Johnson, totally attack minded (70% attack 30% defending), providing the width that you lose by playing in-cutting wingers, leaving the CBs and the DMF to do the defending.

I actually think most modern-day managers are already playing a version of this.

How many natural wingers are in the game any more? More and more we are seeing players like Henry, C Ronaldo attacking from deep wide positions.

It negates the need for actual full backs, allowing you to push them further up the pitch.

I think in ten years time, the following will be the default way we see teams posted on TV coverage (today they still try to fit the eleven named players into a 4-4-2 for some reason)

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Dodgykeeper

Reverse Cowgirl!

Oooops you said formation, would have to be 4-4-2 with overlapping
full-backs!

dfx-

3-5-2 with fullbacks at the edge of the 5 adapting to 5-3-2 if necessary