Best Formation for current Chelsea Squad?

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

Because ramires prefers to play in a 3 man mifield, Mikel prefers to play in a 3 man midfield, Lamps prefers to play in a 3 man midfield (okay lamps won't be a first team player but he'll be used as a squad player)

A 3 man midfield would also make it easier to implement DeBruyne and Oscar into it. Because of this we wouldn't have to go and buy a DLP.

Also 4-3-3 offers a better defensive shape and if you look at our squad we have Mikel, Ramires, Lampard, Essien, Romeu. All 5 of them prefer to play in a 4-3-3 + there's already 5 of them without adding Oscar or DeBruyne + we're looking to add another midfielder. Like i said before only Mata would be effected negatively apart from that the 4-3-3 only has pro's for the rest of the team.

I'm sorry but common sense dictates you play to the strengths of your best player.

[Hutcho 8,443]

4-3-3, Puts Mata out wide, which isn't great.

4-3-2-1 On paper looks the way to go as we could utilise our best players positons, and not have the winger issue. But we all know we would be far too narrow, and whilst it may work against teams who actually play against us, against many teams who just sit in it would be extremely hard to break people down.

4-4-2. Doesn't utilise our best players postions and just makes no sense. Sure, it works on fifa but no point in real life as the default strategy.

3 at the back... Lets not even go there.

So 4-2-3-1 is pretty much all that is left that fits all our requirements, despite it having its own problems as well. 4-3-3 should be used as an alternate formation but i can't see it being used as our main one.

[Eggman 118]

I think Mata can play as the n° 10 in a 4-3-3 with two controlling midfielders behind him:

Cech

Azpi Terry Luiz Cole

Ramires Oscar

Mata

De Bruyne Hazard

Lukaku

In this system, the wingers do have a lot of defenisve work though which is counterproductive for Hazard. Also, you could swap Oscar with a more defensively minded player when necessary (and perhaps even with De Bruyne). De Bruyne, Lampard, Hazard and Oscar can also play on the n°10 (Mata's position).

Ideally, I would like to see them play with a 4-3-3 with only one (beast of a) defensive midfielder:

Cech

Azpi Terry Luiz Cole

<insert beast here>

Ramires

Oscar

Mata

Hazard

Lukaku

But this is, of course, a very offensive system.

[Drogzola 283]

I think this thread will prove why players that are able to play either in the center of midfield or out wide are valuable.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

We should play formation that allows you extra man, 12 players total.

[jmarlow 458]

as long as Mata is our best player we cant play 4-3-3 as Mata has to play as the number 10 and not out wide!

[22mek22 133]

We should not just have 1 formation. It totally depends on the opposition and the squad we start the season with.

The best thing about Jose was how flexible he is with his formations, mainly during the game.

We may start with a 4-2-3-1, however this can all change in the game

[1chelsea 864]

I see you guys reading into Jose mind hope u done anything ease from that.........you know

Sent from my iPhone using Genjutsu

[Leif 6,006]

A 4-3-3 doesn't always mean a defensive midfielder with 2 central midfielders. A 4-3-3 would work fine for us. Look at Arsenal's 4-3-3. They often have Arteta - Wilshere sitting, with Cazorla just slightly ahead of them in a deeper no'10 role (where Mata in theory would play). It's not a 4-2-3-1, but it's similar.

Really though, when you break it down, there isn't much difference between the 2 formations.

[English Freak 456]

A 4-3-3 doesn't always mean a defensive midfielder with 2 central midfielders. A 4-3-3 would work fine for us. Look at Arsenal's 4-3-3. They often have Arteta - Wilshere sitting, with Cazorla just slightly ahead of them in a deeper no'10 role (where Mata in theory would play). It's not a 4-2-3-1, but it's similar.

Really though, when you break it down, there isn't much difference between the 2 formations.

We could use something like:

Rambo ---- Oscar

-------- Mata ------

KDB ----Striker-----Hazard

[Hutcho 8,443]

If you play Mata as the AM in a 4-3-3 then its exactly the same as a 4-2-3-1.

Put it this way. If i was to say lets play 4-2-3-1 with this:

Oscar Ramires

KDB Mata Hazard

Whoever

Then i would get laughed off from people saying, that we have no defence, and would get raped on the counter.

So what difference is it if you play:

Oscar Ramires

Mata

KDB Whoever Hazard

None, as mata would play the exact same role currently as those formations are pretty much the same thing.

Whatever formation we play, we will need a defensive minded midfielder in there.

[Leif 6,006]

Defensive midfielders are a thing of the past IMO.

Neither Alonso or Khedira are holding midfielders. One's a playmaker, one is a box-to-box player.

Schweinsteiger is more like a playmaker who can tackle (Like Alonso) and although he goes forward much less than Khedira, Martinez ventures forward much more than what a blueprint of a defensive midfielder would.

Arteta and Wilshere are both playmakers who can tackle, which when combined with yet another playmaker right in front of them (Cazorla/Rosicky), makes them such a lovely team to watch.

Gundogan is a playmaker who can tackle, often paired with Bender who's certainly more of a box-to-box midfielder than a holding player; only he's told to restrict his runs forward clearly.

I don't want a Makelele type player anymore, I don't want a Mikel, I don't want a Busquets (even he acts like a playmaker often). We need to be more inventive or be 'hip' and follow the trend other teams are starting to take on.

Even United often play a 4-2-3-1 like us (It's a myth that they always play 4-4-2; a myth some idiots believe in), especially last season when it was like - Scholes, Carrick; Valencia, Rooney, Kagawa; RVP - and they do that without typical defensive midfielders. Both Scholes and Carrick are again playmakers.

It's no coincidence that these teams (or pairings) I've listed are probably the most devastating when it comes to attacking efficiency in world football and they don't use holding midfielders.

Even Juventus have a bloody playmaker deep in the form of Pirlo who's an average tackler which works since he has such hard working players around him. 0 defensive midfielders there.

We need to change our 4-2-3-1 if we stick to it and alter the 2 defense-minded player pairing drastically.

[Start 22]

Either 4231 or 433, I have a feeling Jose will play 433 (attacking) a lot, with Mata just behind whatever striker we have. Oscar will go deeper for sure this season I reckon.

Oscar - Ramires

Mata

Hazard - ST - KDB

----------------------

Oscar - Ramires

Hazard - Mata - KDB

ST

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

It's amazing how everyone thinks Oscar will play in the pivot. He is even less capable of that than KDB, both are CAMs that can play on the wing. Their defensive work is just not the standard a player in the double pivot at a top club should have.

Secondly Mata is not our best player. Hazard is. We should play a 4-3-3 cos it delivers him from defensive duties.

[Wiillowhobo 28]

If you play Mata as the AM in a 4-3-3 then its exactly the same as a 4-2-3-1.

Put it this way. If i was to say lets play 4-2-3-1 with this:

Oscar Ramires

KDB Mata Hazard

Whoever

Then i would get laughed off from people saying, that we have no defence, and would get raped on the counter.

So what difference is it if you play:

Oscar Ramires

Mata

KDB Whoever Hazard

None, as mata would play the exact same role currently as those formations are pretty much the same thing.

Whatever formation we play, we will need a defensive minded midfielder in there.

I feel the same way about that. I'm glad I finally found someone . Sometimes it's like a competition to put the most numbers in a definition of a formation (4-3-2-1, 4-1-2-1-2, 4-2-3-1,...just draw it out ffs, that would make things clear). Anyway, for me those numbers define the formation when the team has the ball (and even then it's all about fluidity). When not in possession, it can change, depending on how the opponent plays and the instructions you get (e.g. 10 falls back to central midfield, fullbacks give cover more upfield, wingers track back really far,...)

[nadavTKL 1,787]

because KDB and Oscar are both not too experience right now to play in the pivot, what about get back to a 4:3:3, for a start at least?

---De Rossi/x----

Oscar-----KDB----

Mata-----Hazard

----Cavani/x-----

Only problem is Mata not playing in the middle consistently.

[GhanaBoy 104]

because KDB and Oscar are both not too experience right now to play in the pivot, what about get back to a 4:3:3, for a start at least?

---De Rossi/x----

Oscar-----KDB----

Mata-----Hazard

----Cavani/x-----

Only problem is Mata not playing in the middle consistently.

and so. mata is a floater , and he is not our best player, Hazard is

because KDB and Oscar are both not too experience right now to play in the pivot, what about get back to a 4:3:3, for a start at least?

---De Rossi/x----

Oscar-----KDB----

Mata-----Hazard

----Cavani/x-----

Only problem is Mata not playing in the middle consistently.

.

because KDB and Oscar are both not too experience right now to play in the pivot, what about get back to a 4:3:3, for a start at least?

---De Rossi/x----

Oscar-----KDB----

Mata-----Hazard

----Cavani/x-----

Only problem is Mata not playing in the middle consistently.

because KDB and Oscar are both not too experience right now to play in the pivot, what about get back to a 4:3:3, for a start at least?

---De Rossi/x----

Oscar-----KDB----

Mata-----Hazard

----Cavani/x-----

Only problem is Mata not playing in the middle consistently.

AND SO. hazard is our best player, and we are Chelsea, if we are going to keep a formation on the notion that it benefits a single player in our side ( simply because he cant defend) then we are in trouble.

[YouNameIt 1,511]

Cech

Azpi - Iva - Terry - Cole

Luiz

Ramires - Oscar

Mata----------------------Hazard

Lukaku

[Marvin123 539]

any thoughts on a 4-4-1-1?

Cech

Azpo-----Luiz----Terry----Cole

------------------------------------

Schurlle-Ramires-Oscar-Hazard

----------------Mata-----------------

---------------Lukaku--------------

obviously with ramires and osca rhaving defensive duties alternatively,making runs forth and such

[Zinedine Iniesco 172]

Let me put my two cents here.

I really doubt Mourinho wont play a 4-2-3-1.

After the disastrous job he did with the Madrid midfield i hope he learned enough not to do the same mistakes in Chelsea.

Mourinho has such a great selection of players with Oscar, Mata, and Hazard, it will be very hard to fail if he makes the right moves.

One of the biggest problems with his formation of The madrid squad was that for the 3 years he didnt look for a proper right full back.

Arbeloa when good, was only good at defending and helped make the right side obsolete, while Ramos was meh at everything as RB.

On the left side, when on form, Marcelo was amazingly important, but the midfield was so bullshit, and ronaldo refused to track back so we were left looking real bad on both sides of the pitch.

It amazes me that he would go with the same double pivot for 3 years. Alonso was too immobile to be partnered with someone as immobile as Khedira. Someone like Ramires next to him, or now paulinho would have been better. If anything, a double pivot was always going to be dangerous with alonso's mobility, mourinho should have played a different formation, or a far superior partner than khedira.

Mourinho never fixed these problems.

The last problem was Ozil which doesnt have the stamina, or the work rate, or the resources to link up in the middle as well as someone like Isco now will for Madrid. Thats why Ozil should and probably will be put at the right flank.

So the .

. .

.

Of Khedira, Alonso, Ozil, was a disgrace.

Lets look at chelsea now.

With guys like Essien and Ramires, Mourinho has a DM styled player who is on his way out but can probably still give 1 or 2 more good years, while A good ramires could do a good job as his box to box player.

If mourinho doesnt find ramires to be apt in the defending side of the game, he could go for someone like luiz gustavo or paulinho as B2B players. But he would ideally team them up with a player that can hold him self defensively in the midfield as well such as the great spanish talent, Illaramendi.

That is the type of player chelsea should look for. Someone like thiago or modric would be irrelevant with such a player.

For them to work, they would need a DM. If Mourinho wants to go that way he would get a player like modric or thiago, but 90 percent sure he will get none of them. No way in hell, so who could he get?

Can you think of a similar talented player who can deliver?

None of the juventus midfielders would be available. Lets get serious here.

I wont scout what midfielders are availbe atm as i dont see many off the bat but there are the basics on the double pivot.

B2B and DLP/CDM

or

DM CM

I say he goes with the top choice. Thats what he tried in madrid but he didnt pick correctly. Khedira is far too immobile, and so is Alonso. He would have needed better partner, and or a better formation.

For the player infront of them he needs someone who can track back and help deep with ball retention. Ozil couldnt do that well enough.

Juan Mata isnt known for this either.

Can he get Oscar to be able to play an ACM role ala Iniesta/Isco? He will have to imo.

He also needs good work rate in his attackers and midfielders because cole is getting older and Azpilicueta is not the best rb out there in any regards. If he attacks he will need cover.

He will also need to purchase a better cb with good passing skills. Specially if he goes for A cm, so that the cb can spray balls from the back. Someone a CDM would do perfectly.

With Juan Mata's and Oscar's dubious work rate in place, he will need his front 3 to work as hard as possible. But i dont see it getting as bad as in madrid.

Coentrao should stay in madrid one more year while marcelo gets back on top. iF marcelo isnt on top, madrid cant afford to let go of someone like coentrao. Madrid need to know they can trust marcelo. Other wise id get coentrao for the future and present of chelsea.

He needs good work rate from everyone.

I dont see chelsea above P3 this year in the premier league. Behind city and united.

By next season this could be a good lineup.

Cech

Azpilicueta Luiz Hummels Coentrao

Ramires Illaramendi

Mata Oscar Hazard

Cavani

Id get more into the striker, considering you dont have ronaldo i see that a striker will be more important than it was for madrid. Cavani could be a supreme reference point. So could lewandowski but hes going to bayern.

That squad would be above what mourinho was able to produce in madrid. in 2 years atleast.

EDIT: Also you could go with a midfield of TWO CDMS such as...

Sven Bender and Illaramendi, but you would not see them go up towards the pitch too much though, it would be a very adequate and improved version of what mourinho tried in madrid to an extent.

You would need a VERY good link up ACM like Isco in there.

Mourinho needs oscar to be that role, and to improve on things like stamina and work rate. As does Mata.

Bender Illaramendi

Oscar

Mata Hazard

Cavani

Ideally you want a forward to lead the line and have great speed and aerial ability.

Haven't seen jovetic at all, but based on what ive heard, he could be good.