OB1 said:
Oh I think 4-3-3 can work fiine in England; after all, Mourinho used it at Chelsea.
I'd see width mainly coming from the wide men in the front three and the full backs. My particular vision would have the midfiled three being more like Madrid's than Barca's, much of the time. Silva would be Ozil and Yaya and A.N. other would be Khedira/ Alonso (ish). However, on occasion, a more Barca like set-up could see Silva as Ineista, Nasri as Silva and Yaya as, well, Yaya in his his Barca days.
I see Miner as a bit part utility player or at another club.
4-3-3 would be the base formation but you'd have to flex it depending on circumstances.
Not sure about 4-1-3-2: I'm not keen on two central strikers at the moment. 4-1-2-3 or, as Rammy referred to earlier, 4-2-3-1. I was happy with Bobby playing the latter formation and think he has struggled to better it. 4-1-2-3 / 4-2-1-3 might better describe the kind of formations that I have in mind but it all starts to get a bit OTT and 4-3-3 is easier to say and sounds more balanced.
Yes, I was thinking about Mou at Chelski when I posted that, and of course, you're quite correct about his success with it. However, I don't see Yaya as the same kind of fit as someone like Essien, and he turns the ball over more than Lampard, IMHO, by forcing the action with his powerful lumbering runs up the middle of the pitch.
Silva and Nasri would have to be dedicated in tracking back, I would think.
I understand your reservations about two-striker setups and agree that the 4-2-3-1 has been Bobby's most successful formation, by far. Which is why I've never understood why he's always complained about getting more and better strikers when his best formation with this squad features only one striker. I also think that Rodwell is the key player in our midfield, if he can only reach and maintain fitness.
-- Sun Apr 07, 2013 2:17 pm --
andyhinch said:
I've always been a bit middle of the road on this, been going for that long I well and truly understand change. Nearly called you a wumming **** but I'm a bit mellow tonight. What will be will be, but it's going to be an interesting summer I think.
Well, I guess you might as well have done exactly that... :-) I agree, however, that change, in one form or another, is coming this summer, and it will be fascinating, no matter what form it takes.