POLL - Which formation for you?

[MaineRoadMemories]

We have played a lot of formations this season including 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, 4-4-2, and most recently 4-5-1 against Liverpool in the first half. I think it's only the 3-5-2 and diamond formation we haven't adopted yet!

Been able to play many different formations with different personnel and be able to change the game as it happens is the stuff of dreams but I want to know what your favourite is regardless of opposition.

So with a fully fit squad, with every player in form, what tactic would you employ (vote) and what players would you play in said tactic (post)

It's a tough decision to make but after much thinking I've decided to go for this...

--------------------------GIVEN-----------------------------

--ZABALETA-----TOURE------LESCOTT------BRIDGE----

-------------------------DE JONG---------------------------
-----------JOHNSON--------------IRELAND-----------------

------TEVEZ--------------------------------ROBINHO-------
------------------------ADEBAYOR--------------------------

I think a fully fit and injury free Johnson would revel in the allrounder midfield position and would displace both Barry and SWP from the team with his superb passing and finishing.

I took forever to decide if I would go with Tevez, SWP or Bellamy in the front 3. I was also thinking that an on form Kompany would dislodge De Jong but still went with him.

[FA cup winners 2006]

i went for a 433, but as mentioned in another thread i would like to see a flat midfield 3 with ireland and barry covering and protecting the wings instead of dropping our forwards back there. ireland and barry are simply better at it and it keeps our forward players where they are most dangerous.

--------------------------Given

Zabba--------Toure------------Lescott--------Bridge

---Ireland-------------De jong--------------Barry

---------------Tevez-----------Robinho

--------------------------Ade

with the midfield 3 playing flat it should be easier to move across the field and protect the defence. going forward ireland and barry would have to attack on the wings with the other hovering outside the box arriving late.

with Ade, tevez and robbie waiting up front and with ireland and barry breaking fast on the counter no team will fancy putting too many men forward.

when we play 451 come 433 with bellemy and SWP wide, they are too far away from each other and from Ade, if we keep them central they can play of each other and drop deep and pull the cb's all over the place

[Twobob]

--------------------------GIVEN-----------------------------

--ZABALETA-----TOURE------LESCOTT------BRIDGE----

-------------------------DE JONG---------------------------
-----------JOHNSON--------------IRELAND-----------------

------TEVEZ--------------------------------ROBINHO-------
------------------------ADEBAYOR--------------------------

When if Jonno's fit and Barry's going through this 'purple' patch this is the formation I'd have!

Essentially a 4-3-3 ... we dont have a winger (apart from Petrov) that can put good enough crosses in the box for a formation that relies on its wingers...

[Vhero]

I went for classic 442 I like it a lot but that's for me which is what the question asked. What's for City on the other hand? Most people put 4-3-3 which is probably right but dare we say its wrong because we really haven't tried much else in a long time?

[Original Dub]

Swap Robinho for Bellers and the same formation and players we played against Liverpool after we went a goal down.

If someone could help, that'd be great because I could then cast my vote...

Formations...... indeed.

[Vhero]

Swap Robinho for Bellers and the same formation and players we played against Liverpool after we went a goal down.

If someone could help, that'd be great because I could then cast my vote...

Formations...... indeed.

If we could just play like we played like we did after going a goal down every game...

[Original Dub]

Swap Robinho for Bellers and the same formation and players we played against Liverpool after we went a goal down.

If someone could help, that'd be great because I could then cast my vote...

Formations...... indeed.

If we could just play like we played like we did after going a goal down every game...

You said it. I have been very impressed overall with our formation and player changes whenever we've needed to make them... its just a shame that

1) we needed to make them
2) we don't start like that

Baffling.

[Dronny]

I went for 4-2-3-1, its tough trying to squeeze everyone you want in but that's how it should be. Every player should be kept on their toes and as it's been said in other threads we are nearly in the position of having two players for every birth in the 1st XI....exciting times!

Given

Zabs Toure Lescott Bridge

De Jong Ireland

Tevez Robbie Bellers

Ade

Bellers and Tevez have the responsibility of shoring up the midfield and as some said after last weeks game they'd be interested to see Tevez in a midfield role. Robbie gets the freedom of the park but gets to play just behind Ade. From there he will be pulling the CB's into places they'll hate going leaving gaps for Bellers and Tevez to exploit. If Hughes plays this on Saturday and it works I'll ask for his job.....simples!!

[paulh]

4 3 3

[Lee_Kinda]

--------------------------GIVEN-----------------------------

--XXXXXXXXX-----TOURE------LESCOTT------BRIDGE----

-------------------------DE JONG---------------------------
---------------Ireland--------------Barry-----------------

------TEVEZ--------------------------------ROBINHO-------
------------------------ADEBAYOR--------------------------

Maybe SWP for NDJ at home against crap teams n go a sort of 442 with Rob and SWP as wings, Ireland in middle, barry droppping back
Bellamy for Robinho at bad weather away games in a 433
And I cant decide who I prefer at RB, would love someone new in the window if I am honest

Maybe Kompany in for Lescott, toure or de jong depending on form
Obviosly SWP can swich with Tevez when needed
Cruz with Adebayor when needed
Petrov or Bellamy with robinho
Johnson in for Ireland or Barry when needed

Lots of depth and changing around without having to change the formation too much.

[Esky]

At the moment there's definitely a case for dropping Barry and SWP. A week ago though, few would've had Tevez in their line up over Bellamy/SWP/Petrov/Robinho - it's amazing what half an hour of great form can do. Hopefully Barry does the same soon.

Were everyone fit:

--------------------------GIVEN-----------------------------
---ZABALETA-----TOURE------LESCOTT------BRIDGE---
-------------------------DE JONG---------------------------
--------------------------BARRY-----------------------------
-------------------------IRELAND----------------------------
------ROBINHO--------------------------------BELLAMY----
------------------------ADEBAYOR--------------------------

Subs: Taylor, Onuoha, Kompany, Johnson, SWP, Petrov, Tevez, (RSC), (Weiss), (Richards), (Sylvinho).

For this weekend though I'd probably rest Barry and Bellamy like most of you.

Question; if/when Adebayor gets injured/leaves for Africa, do we slot RSC in at the front or reshuffle between Tevez/Bellamy/Robbie? So nice to have choices in the squad.

[sandman]

[center]Maybe 5-5-4...


Given

Zab Onouha Lescott Toure Bridge

SWP De Jong Ireland Barry Petrov

Tevez Ade Bellamy Robinho

:o)[/center]

[avoidconfusion]

The one we played against United

4-1-2-2-1 I believe?

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

There's many formations I'd like to see and it's all about mentality (you can play 4-5-1 for instance in so many ways). However I voted for 4-4-2 diamond as I've always been big fan of that system.

[mr_nool]

There's many formations I'd like to see and it's all about mentality (you can play 4-5-1 for instance in so many ways). However I voted for 4-4-2 diamond as I've always been big fan of that system.

It's quite 10 years ago, but I went for the same option. If every one is fit and our defence has gelled, there should be no need for two holding midfielders. Should Johnson come back to his old form and develope even more, I'd love to see him at the base of the diamond and Ireland at the top, but for now I'd go with Barry.

Ned/Zabba - Lescott- Toure - Bridge
Barry
Tevez/SWP - Ireland - Robbie/Petrov
Ade - Bellamy/Tevez

[Martinez]

--------------Given--------------
Zab----Toure----Lescott--Bridge
--------NdJ------Barry----------
Tevez-----Ireland-----Robson
---------------Ade---------------

That's what I would go for today, quite a balanced setup imo, mainly designed to get max out of Stevie. The choice between Tevez, Bellers, Robbie and SWP is just a matter of taste really, I've chosen the perhaps softest setup but that's how I'd want to play. Should be quite easy to do combinations with Ireland dropping/ Tevez & Robbie pushing forward to form a 451 or 433 depending on how the game is going.

Would love to involve Jonno but not sure if he's close to a starting berth just yet

[john@staustell]

Haven't voted because to me, with the players available this season, it depends on the opposition and location. I would hope Hull home is different to Liverpool away for example.

This Saturday I would go for 442, something like:

Given
Mad Zaba Toure Lescott Bridge
SWP DeJong Ireland Robinho
Tevez Adebayor


I'm resting Bellamy's knees and Barry's legs (and form) but I guess you could swap Bellamy for SWP or Barry for DeJong, although in my opinion that was part of the cock-up against Burnley.

[Blue Blood]

I voted for a 4-4-2 Diamond like ole svennis used to play for England.

Ade does a great job upfront on his own, but i just feel if we had two sitting solidly up front it would take more pressure off our defense as teams would be more hesitant to attack us knowing we have more outlets up top.

The trouble with the current system is the current runners (Bellamy/SWP/Tevez) sit too deep. By the time ade has held the ball up he has to wait to pick a pass to one of the runners by which time the opposition has got back into a solid defensive formation. If we played a 4-4-2 diamond however in theory Ade should be be able to quickly release the ball to his partner up top when we break and then both the forwards should be quickly supported by the attacking midfielder, and with the quality we have going forward, this sort of sharp quick breaking should cause some chaos for the opposition.

Well thats my thoughts anyhoo.