4 5 1 at Ibrox and no one moans

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

We played 451 on sat against dumfermline at home and yet no one moaned. It looked like it was set up for a 442 with bendikson up front with Jelavic but that lad comes so deep he was often the one taking the ball from the defenders. .... And I loved it. Aluko and Wylde wide bendikson in a free role ! Now it's early days in the first team for bendikson but that 451 was so attack minded it was good to see. Perhaps not our best performance but a formation with a lot of promise IMHO. 451 way to go lol

[Jimfanciesthedude 24,767]

it reminds me of a certain Mr le guen's 4-2-3-1

[trueblueal 2,117]

451 with a playmaker and width is fine. It's when we play a stodgy formation with Papac in midfield and Edu next to McCulloch that it failed to bits. It requires players with instincts to support the striker.

[marmalade1872 40]

the pupils just carrying on watties legacy,half term report--------must do better.

[gunslinger 270]

We played 451 on sat against dumfermline at home and yet no one moaned. It looked like it was set up for a 442 with bendikson up front with Jelavic but that lad comes so deep he was often the one taking the ball from the defenders. .... And I loved it. Aluko and Wylde wide bendikson in a free role ! Now it's early days in the first team for bendikson but that 451 was so attack minded it was good to see. Perhaps not our best performance but a formation with a lot of promise IMHO. 451 way to go lol

it was 433.

[JograBear 1,074]

451 with a playmaker and width is fine. It's when we play a stodgy formation with Papac in midfield and Edu next to McCulloch that it failed to bits. It requires players with instincts to support the striker.

Totally agree. With the right players in that formation it can be good to watch.

[loch71 10]

It's the 4-5-1 system that is the problem, it's the personel thats adopted to play it. For example, you simply cannot expect a positive outcome with this system if you start with Edu, McCulloch and Papac in the midfield. You need pace, width and adaptibility among at least 4 of the 5 being asked to play this way

[ORCHARD LOYAL 119]

A decent formation with plenty of width in the team which I like to see. Totally stormed the first half of the game with a great performance. However, this system leaves you open to the counter attack which happened on Saturday with the Pars goal, even though our defending was amateurish for us. Whittaker posted missing and Goian's attempt at a tackle was embarassing. Another downside was when we dropped off in the last 20 mins, it left Jela isolated who had a stinker of a match. Our final delivery into the box was poor on so many occassions with Wylde the main culprit who has so much promise because he gets himself into really good postions. Hopefully his final ball wlll improve. Aluko on the other side was awesome and made a fantastic home debut. This guy is good. More of the same with Jela & Davis on form

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

it was 433.

433 451 4231 - it was still one up front at home - and it looked a decent attacking formation.

[Shetland 76]

it was 433.

Definitely, wasn't set up like 4-5-1 at all

[loch71 10]

it was 433.

The fact that you said that makes me think if it was inteneded to be a 4-5-1 it then it was successful. Surely the point of a good 4-5-1 is the ability to turn it into an attacking formation very quickly

[RFC55 109,703]

Its a 451 done properly! 2 pacey wude men one behind a striker who is good technically and 2 actual cms playing in cm! It works when the right play! When attacking you go 433 and defending its a 451! Nearly all the best teams use it and that's because its so interchangeable! But you have to play the correct players imo

[gunslinger 270]

433 451 4231 - it was still one up front at home - and it looked a decent attacking formation.

that's because only morons worry about numbers when its players and tactics that count.

formations are not negative. players and tactics are. people who call it 451 merely give a glimpse at their psych.

[loch71 10]

that's because only morons worry about numbers when its players and tactics that count.

formations are not negative. players and tactics are. people who call it 451 merely give a glimpse at their psych.

Agree mate. Man Utd won the EPL 3 times on the bounce with Rooney up front on his own for many of the games and even then he isn't even a conventional striker. I think the key lies in having 4/5 of the midfield to front players being able to create and also do some damage.

[Edmiston Drive 3,846]

2-3-5 end of!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Senna 735]

Call it whatever number you like. The personnel make a 4-5-1/4-3-3-/4-3-2-1 work, not the numbers.

Jig, Edu and Davis in CM would almost nullify Laudrup and Cooper on the wings in that formation.

[StuartM6 279]

4-3-3/4-5-1/4-2-3-1 wahtever it is it works and is much better than a flat 4-4-2. I'd like to see:

Mcgregor

Mcmillan goian boca papac

Davis edu

Aluko bendikson whittaker

Jelavic

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

that's because only morons worry about numbers when its players and tactics that count.

formations are not negative. players and tactics are. people who call it 451 merely give a glimpse at their psych.

My point exactly - All these people who come on and say we should ONLY play 442 at home or in the SPL as we should fear no one and never play 451 dont seem to understand modern ways (Edit: We should fear no one in the spl - but we dont have to set up a 442 to show no fear!)

[BlueSuedeSambas 54,213]

No complaints from me.

A 4-2-3-1/4-5-1/4-3-3 hybrid is far more flexible than a 4-4-2. Been saying that for years.

[docspiderman 1,248]

I prefer the 4-3-3 but it needs players,flexibility,ambition,energy,effort,high work rate, tempo,passing ability and movement to work

just like every other system. We still have not scored from open play despite the promise shown on saturday.

[Creampuff 22,628]

A 4-5-1, 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 are very, very similar formations - it's the roles the players play within the system that make the difference.

[FlippinEck 3,717]

Weve played a 4-3-3/4-5-1 with Adam and Whittaker either side of Boyd before and it was never outstanding. When its deployed with the right players then we all know its a formation that works. Still think it would work even better if Jelavic was playing well.

[Ryan_1 1,136]

No complaints from me.

A 4-2-3-1/4-5-1/4-3-3 hybrid is far more flexible than a 4-4-2. Been saying that for years.

Completely agree, 4-4-2 is dead in football.

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

Completely agree, 4-4-2 is dead in football.

Well it also has its place but it certainly is not the be all and end all that some would make it out to be - the whole point of this thread is that tactical flexibility is the modern way and dependant upon players available and opposition being played. A defensive 451 has its place (away in Europe to Barca / ManU say) a 433 at box at home etc. etc. but there is no fixed way to set out - its not a case of we play 442 all the time or 451 or 433 is flexibility we are looking for based on opposition and players available

[Colonel Mustard 380]

I think we played a 4-2-4.