Last week away at Cambridge is a recent example of where they were comfortable with the formation.Dukes wrote:If players are in a formation that does not work and they are not comfortable with then frustration sets in and mistakes are made.
In 4-4-2 there’s only two of them so they would have been out numbered anyway.Plus yesterday, Gateshead played 5 in midfield at times, against our 3 - meaning we were closed down and out fought, we rushed passes before their challenges came in. Our defence then resorted to long balls in the air to bypass the midfield which their CB's ate up.
Following on from above, I note you’re ignoring that we can switch to 4-5-1 from 4-3-3 whilst on the defensive or winning back possession, a point made to you by JE at the forum.As good as Mills, Power and Porter (England Captain) are, there are just 3 of them so facing 4-4-2 they were outnumbered and certainly overrun with 4-5-1.
Long ball was happening because there wasn’t much movement off the ball and when there were opportunities to play it short or out wide, it was not taken. A lot of long ball occurred from the back when the players had time on the ball.That's why we made mistakes and it took a long time to get the ball back and then the opposition closed us down, regained possession and our players come under pressure again.
The 2nd goal also occurred because Curtis did not get back to follow up and clear it before the scorer got there. He’s got the pace to get back, he’s choosing to wobble back. Had he bust a gut to get back, he would have cleared it. He also didn’t close down the guy who nearly made it 3-0 with a free header. Millsy actually had a go at him not long after.Sloppy defending for the for the 2nd goal came because, yet again we were chasing the game, they had 10 players behind the ball and we got caught out on the break.
It also helps if you close down your man to stop him getting in a cross in the first place instead of wandering away and watching. Osano does the basics of defending, the cross doesn’t go in with no pressure and there is no goal.
The first was an own goal that was unfortunate but can happen any time whether we are in form or not.
Agreed about football being about opinions. Formations are important but we also need to be prepared to evolve beyond the traditional ways of playing. There has been a distinct move beyond 4-4-2 in the last twenty years in this country towards trying out different formations and the game is constantly changing. As you say, we would still be playing 10 –1 otherwise.I don't have all the answers, far from it, but I hope that that goes somewhere to answering your question MD
As we all say, football is as much about opinions as anything else and I appreciate an argument an exchange of views. No I don't think 4-4-2 or any choice of system is 'crap' because if formations weren't important, we'd play 1 - 10 like they did in the pig's bladder chasing days of the Middle Ages
Enough said, time to go. ;)
