Formation and Tactics Discussion

[Ollie 4,400]

4-4-2 doesn't necessarily have to keep 2 strikers far up the pitch. One striker can come deep and move around the pitch like a Rooney, Tevez figure. Even Torres did most of his best work a bit deeper last season with the ball creating chances and dribbling through defences. It could almost be like a 4-4-1-1. There's a lot more variation in a 4-4-2 than any other formation, it can be modified easily. 4-4-2 = 4-4-1-1 = 4-2-3-1. I like 4-4-2 anyway.

[Blue Armour 4,439]

Personally the 4-3-3 is my favourite formation but I don't think it is the correct formation for CFC. The personal just don't fit.

You can get a 4-3-3 from a 4-2-3-1:

[Blue Armour 4,439]

4-4-2 doesn't necessarily have to keep 2 strikers far up the pitch. One striker can come deep and move around the pitch like a Rooney, Tevez figure. Even Torres did most of his best work a bit deeper last season with the ball creating chances and dribbling through defences. It could almost be like a 4-4-1-1. There's a lot more variation in a 4-4-2 than any other formation, it can be modified easily. 4-4-2 = 4-4-1-1 = 4-2-3-1. I like 4-4-2 anyway.

Completely agree. It also means that the 2 in midfield don't often join in attack. Rather they stay behind and dictate play from the deep, setting up the wingers and full-backs. The end result is you'll have more attackers around the opposition area than a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1

[Kojo 4,676]

And before anyone gets angry, this isn't any kneejerk thread or any anger towards any previous matches.

Do you think we should keep this formation or change it?, i think we should change it. With our current players we cannot hold a good double pivot.

Lampard-Mikel not good enough, that will cause problems. Any other alternate decisions are still not good enough, probably our best one is...

Ramires-Mikel, still for me this isn't good enough but probably our best one.

Maybe it's time to change to a 4-3-3?.

Hazard-Torres-Marin

Mata/Oscar-Ramires

Mikel

Cole-Terry-Luiz-Ivanovic

Cech

I think we need to change the system and with our current players possibly our best line up there. But i think we definitely need a new DM, and you've heard it before from me i want Tiote. And people disagree and think Mikels good enough, fair enough if that's what you think.

But what do you think about 4-2-3-1?, is it wise to keep this formation?, or should we revert to 4-3-3?, or any different formation.

[communicate 2,703]

And before anyone gets angry, this isn't any kneejerk thread or any anger towards any previous matches.

Do you think we should keep this formation or change it?, i think we should change it. With our current players we cannot hold a good double pivot.

Lampard-Mikel not good enough, that will cause problems. Any other alternate decisions are still not good enough, probably our best one is...

Ramires-Mikel, still for me this isn't good enough but probably our best one.

Maybe it's time to change to a 4-3-3?.

Hazard-Torres-Marin

Mata/Oscar-Ramires

Mikel

Cole-Terry-Luiz-Ivanovic

Cech

I think we need to change the system and with our current players possibly our best line up there. But i think we definitely need a new DM, and you've heard it before from me i want Tiote. And people disagree and think Mikels good enough, fair enough if that's what you think.

But what do you think about 4-2-3-1?, is it wise to keep this formation?, or should we revert to 4-3-3?, or any different formation.

Hazard-Torres-Marin

Mata/Oscar-Ramires

Mikel

Cole-Terry-Luiz-Ivanovic

Cech

That's is 4-2-3-1 because mata/oscar will play in the hole

As long as we play with a no 10, we will play 4-2-3-1

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Basically if we can get the double pivot sorted out we should be ok and a new striker (Lewandowski please......... ) Oh and a right back, personally think Maicon would be better at RB than Branna simply because he has pace and is able to take people on when in advanced positions plus he is quick enough to recover when we loose the ball unlike Branna where he has been clearly caught out in pre-season. So what if its pre-season, we've got to be critical still!

[Hutcho 8,443]

I actually think it could well be time, to try out a 4-3-3, i don't think it will happen and we have had a completely full squad to try out the 4-2-3-1, with several attacking players missing, but i haven't been too impressed with Lampard Mikel either, but it is too soon to be definitate about it. Main advantage of the 4-3-3 is that it will suit a player like oscar as well as ramires which could well be good... Still could have similar problems, but there would be less of a strain on one DM.

Now whether we will change, i highly doubt, i think in theory the 4-2-3-1 looks ideal, and it may be hard to change it fully with only one preseason game left...

[Kojo 4,676]

Hazard-Torres-Marin

Mata/Oscar-Ramires

Mikel

Cole-Terry-Luiz-Ivanovic

Cech

That's is 4-2-3-1 because mata/oscar will play in the hole

As long as we play with a no 10, we will play 4-2-3-1

It isn't.

I discussed this in my new season thread, Mata can adapt into midfield ,more work rate more deeper. Obviously he's a free roam player but he can do it. Oscar even better for it in my opinion.

Where as 4-2-3-1 is 3 attackers, 3 midfielders would be much more suitable, because getting dominated in midfield is what could be our true weakness by buying all these attackers.

[Blu4Lyf 46]

People keep saying "let's play 4-3-3 with Mata/Oscar more forward than the other 2 midfielders" and it's terribly annoying. If you look at that alignment, it's the same fucking thing as a 4-2-3-1, except the wingers are pushed up a little higher, yet they would still be responsible for dropping back and playing defense. It's...the..same...thing.

[Leif 6,006]

I'd personally love for us to adopt a Brazil-like (or Arsenal-like) 4-2-3-1/4-3-3/4-2-1-3/whatever you want to call it.

It would get the best out of Oscar I assume, but unfortunately it would probably make Mata less prominent over on the left wing.

The 'double pivot' would then be altered slightly. Instead of having 2 defensive minded midfielders, we could go with 1 defensive + 1 box-to-box, or anything really.

[Kojo 4,676]

I actually think it could well be time, to try out a 4-3-3, i don't think it will happen and we have had a completely full squad to try out the 4-2-3-1, with several attacking players missing, but i haven't been too impressed with Lampard Mikel either, but it is too soon to be definitate about it. Main advantage of the 4-3-3 is that it will suit a player like oscar as well as ramires which could well be good... Still could have similar problems, but there would be less of a strain on one DM.

Now whether we will change, i highly doubt, i think in theory the 4-2-3-1 looks ideal, and it may be hard to change it fully with only one preseason game left...

It looks better because of the attack options we have definitley. But the double pivot looks a huge weakness it really does. And Cahill is still a new player, yes he has had a great 6 months and won two big trophies but he's still a new player and needs to get fully used to the whole team on a consistent basis.

I think it would be wise to get a DM, i think Ramires can play it however, he's also a very good alternate midfielder in the 4-3-3 (one of the best may i add).

[Spike 12,049]

Hazard - Torres - Marin

Ramires - Mata - Lampard

Ivan - Luiz - Terry - Cole

Cech

I don't know. Chelsea has so many good players, but I have no idea what formation they woud fit into.

[Henrique 9,133]

Marin and Hazard wont play together. The german needs to learn a lot before he turns into a starting XI for Chelsea.

[Kojo 4,676]

People keep saying "let's play 4-3-3 with Mata/Oscar more forward than the other 2 midfielders" and it's terribly annoying. If you look at that alignment, it's the same fucking thing as a 4-2-3-1, except the wingers are pushed up a little higher, yet they would still be responsible for dropping back and playing defense. It's...the..same...thing.

It isn't, no more stupid posts like this please. There's a difference. Mata and Oscar play deeper, and we rotate with the two midfielders who go forward, Ramires is good at going forward so let him have a go. It's a big difference, an extra attacker or an extra midfielder?, i would choose the 2nd option. Mata can convert to a midfielder, he wont be so much on free roam but he can do it with work rate. Look at David Silva, he even covers Yaya Toure and plays DM. Mata can do it too, just let him go at it.

[blu35_army 551]

Robbie haven't try Romeu-Oscar as double pivot!!! so,,i still hope the formation for the next game is...

Torres

Hazard - Mata - Marin

Oscar - Romeu

Cole - Terry - Cahill - Sam/New RB

Cech

[Rahul Haque 57]

no. don't be fooled by a poor pre season. we played mereiles as a no 10 for god's sake and lukaku was our main striker all pre season long. these are not players who will feature next season for our team. not crucially anyway.

when mata, oscar, sturridge comes back- you will notice the difference in pace and movement.

[Hutcho 8,443]

It looks better because of the attack options we have definitley. But the double pivot looks a huge weakness it really does. And Cahill is still a new player, yes he has had a great 6 months and won two big trophies but he's still a new player and needs to get fully used to the whole team on a consistent basis.

I think it would be wise to get a DM, i think Ramires can play it however, he's also a very good alternate midfielder in the 4-3-3 (one of the best may i add).

Ramires is definately more suited in a 4-3-3 as a box to box midfielder, but don't think it would be too wise to have him in there at DM, if thats what you meant. Atm the only 2 players we have who i think can play there are Mikel and Essien (which could be a bit risky after recently getting back).. Definately like tiote, who would be great there. Better organisation in the double pivot in a 4-2-3-1, could solve a lot of the problems, as lamps goes forwards and mikel is left alone as no one drops in... Still think mikel can do it, so a new DM isn't essential imo.

Also i forgot to add; a 4-3-3 would give us greater width as in the first half especially i thought we were slightly narrow at times...

[oman43 45]

We have brilliant attacking talent, but this doesn't mean they can/have to play at once. In modern day football 2 CDM is essential and with Mikel hitting form and Lampard adjusting to that role last season it seems logical to play them again! The team for me would be: In the 4-2-3-1

Torres

Hazard-Mata-Ramires

Lampard-Mikel

Cole-Terry-Cahill-Ivanovic

Cech

[Spike 12,049]

• Ramires is at his best in the midfield of the 4-3-3. With two other midfielders covering him, he can do his charges through the pitch; which is something I don't think he can do in the double pivot of a 4-2-3-1 .
  
• Mata is very restricted on the wings as he can't dictate play, but he is nonetheless capable. His main problem is his lack of pace.
  
• Mikel is an absolute beast when it comes to playing defensive football, one of the best players around for the 'catenaccio' approach. He seems over his head with an attacking philosophy.
  

[Blu4Lyf 46]

It isn't, no more stupid posts like this please. There's a difference. Mata and Oscar play deeper, and we rotate with the two midfielders who go forward, Ramires is good at going forward so let him have a go. It's a big difference, an extra attacker or an extra midfielder?, i would choose the 2nd option. Mata can convert to a midfielder, he wont be so much on free roam but he can do it with work rate. Look at David Silva, he even covers Yaya Toure and plays DM. Mata can do it too, just let him go at it.

Did you even read what I wrote? I'll take that as you not actually looking at the alignment. The wingers in both systems still have to drop back to play defense. Also, David Silva has absolutely nothing to do with Mata. Mata was useless on defense when Robbie took over. You want Mata to run protection for Ramires. AND YOU SAY MY POST WAS STUPID???? Jesus christ I haven't been on this board for long but you it's apparent you argue just to do something with your time.