MJ
Well-Known Member
Playing 1 in front of the back four with 5 very attacking players in front is only going to happen at home against weaker teams that open up (e.g. Pompey, Hull). Maybe the following is about as close as we'll get to a 4-1-4-1 in this case - more like a 4-3-3 (assuming we'll get kaka and a couple of others being mentioned):
-----------------Given--------------------
Zabaleta----Kompany----Dunne-----Bridge
-----SWP-------De Jong-----Ireland-------
---------Kaka------------Robinho---------
--------------Santa Cruz-----------------
Even if we can score a ton every match, this isn't going to work against most teams in this league - or any away games. The 4-2-3-1 is likely to be the mainstay for a few years to come - something like this:
------------------Given-------------------
Zabaleta----Kompany----Dunne-----Bridge
-------Palacios-------------De Jong-------
--SWP----------Kaka------------Robinho--
-----------------Santa Cruz---------------
What's unfortunate here is how does Ireland fit in? Other option is to use Kaka as an out-and-out striker:
-----------------Given--------------------
Zabaleta----Kompany----Dunne-----Bridge
-------Palacios-------------De Jong-------
--SWP----------Ireland------------Robinho--
--------------------Kaka------------------
Whatever the formation, you wonder about how to fit Petrov in when he's back? Will Sturridge get a game? And doesn't Robinho like playing where Kaka plays too - will he stay happy on the left?
-----------------Given--------------------
Zabaleta----Kompany----Dunne-----Bridge
-----SWP-------De Jong-----Ireland-------
---------Kaka------------Robinho---------
--------------Santa Cruz-----------------
Even if we can score a ton every match, this isn't going to work against most teams in this league - or any away games. The 4-2-3-1 is likely to be the mainstay for a few years to come - something like this:
------------------Given-------------------
Zabaleta----Kompany----Dunne-----Bridge
-------Palacios-------------De Jong-------
--SWP----------Kaka------------Robinho--
-----------------Santa Cruz---------------
What's unfortunate here is how does Ireland fit in? Other option is to use Kaka as an out-and-out striker:
-----------------Given--------------------
Zabaleta----Kompany----Dunne-----Bridge
-------Palacios-------------De Jong-------
--SWP----------Ireland------------Robinho--
--------------------Kaka------------------
Whatever the formation, you wonder about how to fit Petrov in when he's back? Will Sturridge get a game? And doesn't Robinho like playing where Kaka plays too - will he stay happy on the left?