Formation

[sco22y 280]

We seem to continue using the same Formarion under Gio as we did with SG. Surely it isn't a coincidence that this is the case. I would like to think that Gio has his own ideas as to how he wants us to play rather than continue with a team that was seen to be successful. If we choose to continue playing with one striker, I find it hard to believe we will win the league with what we have got. Alfie might come back in and play that central role but even he could struggle given the wide player's contribution and form.

(Waffle from here onwards in an attempt to come to terms with tonight's result) 

Could we benefit from a 442 formation? With Aribo, Kamara, Jack and Ramsay in midfield (if all fit) with Arfield, Kent, Diallo and Davis trying to get in whenever anyone of the starters don't perform. 

Upfront could have Alfie and any one of Kemar, Cedric or Sakala.

Defence could be... 

[mitre_mouldmaster 21,509]

3 minutes ago, sco22y said:

We seem to continue using the same Formarion under Gio as we did with SG. Surely it isn't a coincidence that this is the case. I would like to think that Gio has his own ideas as to how he wants us to play rather than continue with a team that was seen to be successful. If we choose to continue playing with one striker, I find it hard to believe we will win the league with what we have got. Alfie might come back in and play that central role but even he could struggle given the wide player's contribution and form.

(Waffle from here onwards in an attempt to come to terms with tonight's result) 

Could we benefit from a 442 formation? With Aribo, Kamara, Jack and Ramsay in midfield (if all fit) with Arfield, Kent, Diallo and Davis trying to get in whenever anyone of the starters don't perform. 

Upfront could have Alfie and any one of Kemar, Cedric or Sakala.

Defence could be... 

Just about every fucking club in world football plays some variety of this formation. 4-4-2 is fucking useless nowadays.

Only other formation that gets used is a 3 at the back with the wing backs pushing on, but that is pretty much not going to happen given we dont have the right type of CB and we have just brought in a winger that we need to play every game.

[rabc10000 5,061]

3 minutes ago, mitre_mouldmaster said:

Just about every fucking club in world football plays some variety of this formation. 4-4-2 is fucking useless nowadays.

Only other formation that gets used is a 3 at the back with the wing backs pushing on, but that is pretty much not going to happen given we dont have the right type of CB and we have just brought in a winger that we need to play every game.

442 or slight variations of it are not useless nowadays, far from it. Wasnt that long ago Leicester and atletico Madrid won titles with that formation and I'm pretty sure it's the most commonly used formation in Spain. That's before u add in lille last season. Teams like bayern and juve regularly used 442 to great effect u der previous managers as well. Man City as well have used it in the CL group stages. 

The 442 is a great, albeit defensive formation and is still viable in modern football 

[sco22y 280]

6 minutes ago, mitre_mouldmaster said:

Just about every fucking club in world football plays some variety of this formation. 4-4-2 is fucking useless nowadays.

Only other formation that gets used is a 3 at the back with the wing backs pushing on, but that is pretty much not going to happen given we dont have the right type of CB and we have just brought in a winger that we need to play every game.

The main focus is two up front who are able to link with each other with midfielders who can also contribute with goals. Hately + McCoist, Novo +Boyd etc. Just now our options upfront, especially lone strikers is not great. 

[rabc10000 5,061]

4 minutes ago, tm91 said:

We don't play the same way.

Under Gerrard, we played a 4-3-3 with attacking full-backs who provided width, a flat midfield 3, a false 9 who dropped deeper, and two 'number 10's' who played off the main striker. With the midfield 3, two more defensive minded players would cover the space left behind by the full-backs and recycle possession while the remaining midfielder tried to break the lines. The focus was on high pressing, interchanging of positions, and fluid-passing.

Under Gio, the full-backs are tucked in, the wingers play wider. We have 1 defensive midfielder (usually Kamara) and 2 more attacking midfielders who take turns breaking through the lines. It sometimes changes to a 4-2-3-1 with a midfielder (usually Aribo) in the number 10 role. The one striker is supposed to hold up play and be a focal point/target man. It's far more structured and the team sits deeper.

The fact that both managers use 4-3-3 means little. There's a reason every major team plays a variation of 4-3-3 - because it's the most effective formation. The days of 4-4-2  being common are long gone unless you're playing defensively and setting out to frustrate and counter attack.

And one of the reasons they use it is because they can afford to get players with the ability and brain to play that system, Something the smaller or lesser teams can't do 

[sco22y 280]

5 minutes ago, tm91 said:

We don't play the same way.

Under Gerrard, we played a 4-3-3 with attacking full-backs who provided width, a flat midfield 3, a false 9 who dropped deeper, and two 'number 10's' who played off the main striker. With the midfield 3, two more defensive minded players would cover the space left behind by the full-backs and recycle possession while the remaining midfielder tried to break the lines. The focus was on high pressing, interchanging of positions, and fluid-passing.

Under Gio, the full-backs are tucked in, the wingers play wider. We have 1 defensive midfielder (usually Kamara) and 2 more attacking midfielders who take turns breaking through the lines. It sometimes changes to a 4-2-3-1 with a midfielder (usually Aribo) in the number 10 role. The one striker is supposed to hold up play and be a focal point/target man. It's far more structured and the team sits deeper.

The fact that both managers use 4-3-3 means little. There's a reason every major team plays a variation of 4-3-3 - because it's the most effective formation. The days of 4-4-2  being common are long gone unless you're playing defensively and setting out to frustrate and counter attack.i totally 

I totally agree with your analysis of how we used to play and how we now play using the 433 is different. Gio's tactical change hasn't been great and it might need a change in formation similar to what we seen in the last from managers like Walter and Eck who played with McCoist and Hately and Boyd and Novo, only to name a few. 

[bluenoz 31,076]

We have nullified Tav & Borna's strengths which is going forward and tried to make them defend more which is their biggest weakness.

[STEPPS BOY 74,671]

Until he gets the players in to fit in his preferred system then he’s got to go back to the 4-3-3 or a variation.

Jack and Kamara as 6 and 8 with Ramsey or Aribo in tougher games and Kamara can drop out in easier games.

Get the full backs attacking again and Morelos, Amad and Sakala up top

[sco22y 280]

Tav and Borna looked liked lost wee boys tonight. Sad when you think one is our captain and the other has represented a nation when it was rated the 4th best in the world. 

[sco22y 280]

2 minutes ago, STEPPS BOY said:

Until he gets the players in to fit in his preferred system then he’s got to go back to the 4-3-3 or a variation.

Jack and Kamara as 6 and 8 with Ramsey or Aribo in tougher games and Kamara can drop out in easier games.

Get the full backs attacking again and Morelos, Amad and Sakala up top

Yip-as my original suggestion. Aribo, Jack Kamara and Ramsey should be our midfield. If our wingers aren't winging, why play them. 

[crazy bob swollenbaws 1,891]

43 minutes ago, tm91 said:

We don't play the same way.

Under Gerrard, we played a 4-3-3 with attacking full-backs who provided width, a flat midfield 3, a false 9 who dropped deeper, and two 'number 10's' who played off the main striker. With the midfield 3, two more defensive minded players would cover the space left behind by the full-backs and recycle possession while the remaining midfielder tried to break the lines. The focus was on high pressing, interchanging of positions, and fluid-passing.

Under Gio, the full-backs are tucked in, the wingers play wider. We have 1 defensive midfielder (usually Kamara) and 2 more attacking midfielders who take turns breaking through the lines. It sometimes changes to a 4-2-3-1 with a midfielder (usually Aribo) in the number 10 role. The one striker is supposed to hold up play and be a focal point/target man. It's far more structured and the team sits deeper.

The fact that both managers use 4-3-3 means little. There's a reason every major team plays a variation of 4-3-3 - because it's the most effective formation. The days of 4-4-2  being common are long gone unless you're playing defensively and setting out to frustrate and counter attack.

Tbf in the first half we were playing very defensively. Just not well.