Is there a better system?

[Alioune DVToure]

For me, the system Pellegrini is trying to get up and running would only work with two natural widemen on the pitch. Today, we didn't even play the only one we've got.

What do you think would be the best system to employ with our current personnel?

I'd like to see more of a 4-3-3 with two of Rodwell, Fernandinho, Milner and García sitting slightly and Yaya allowed to push on. The distance between midfield and attack today was ludicrous.

Up top I'd like to see either Negredo or Dzeko as the central focal point with two of Silva, Aguero, Nasri, Jovetic and Navas playing off the main striker, running the channels.

We can still play the high-up-the-pitch pressing game when lined up like that and I feel the team would have a lot more balance. We seem so lopsided when Navas starts wide right.

Who else is enough of a fucking know-all that they think they know better than the boss? Let's hear your ideas...

[Wonderwall]

As long as the people on the pitch know the game plan 100% I am not too bothered what system we play. The massive issue I had with mancini last season was his kneejerk reaction to change the system mid game to something the players to on the pitch were clueless about.

[getdressedmctavish]

What system have we got?Seriously. I'm fecked if I can see one.

[Im_Spartacus]

I think it just boils down to the total lack of variation of pace.

We dont play counter attacking, so cant exploit the pace of the likes of aguero, and we will not, under any circumstances attept to run at a player.

Just watching the real madrid game, and villareal have caused panic to madrid by getting the ball and trying to beat the first man every other time they get the ball. As a result madrid dont onow whether to commit to the player or pick up the runners. In our case, they know just to pick up runners, as the player will never ever take it upon himself to run with the ball.

Its a bizarre tactic given some of the quality in the side, and even more bizarre that pellegrini is persisting with it despite the blind alleys we went down with mancini last year with this approach.

[MilnersJaw]

Yeah upgrade to windows 8, it's the bomb.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

To me it's as boring as mancinis slowest days of 4231, yet with none of the defensive toughness in the middle.

Bring back Barry!

[Blue Since 92]

Kind of have to agree the system isn't as effective without a left sided wideman as it does mean the opposition can throw a few extra of there back 10 to their left to counter.

[Michael Brookes]

Copy and pasted from the match thread as relevant:

About 442 not working:


The incredible thing is that we don't even try to play as a proper 442... I mean I know that's our formation but;
- with a 442 you need wingers. We have one, and he doesn't stay wide.
- Then you you need to b2b midfielders who are dynamic in support and attack, we play yaya as a holding DMC which isn't a position that exists in a 442.
- you need to play direct and with a quick tempo... 2 banks of 4 sweeping forward stretching their defence... We are actively looking to slow the game down, often to a strolling pace trying to make 4-5 passes to move 5 yards forward.

I agree, either ditch 442 or play it properly

[zabbadabbado]

As a side i think we are very slow.

This attacking game Pellegrini wants is lacking the personnel,it is a bit of a contradiction to want to play a fast paced game whilst accommodating the lazy YaYa Toure in the side.A great player when he can be bothered,did not see him make one lung bursting run today but he was still blowing out of his arse sitting in front of the defense.Our midfield needs sorting as a matter of urgency.

[ashton287]

I liked the old system. It just needed a bit more firepower.

Pellers and his system can fuck off. They are both shit.

[Yaya Toure is a LAD]

4-4-1-1?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Is it really about systems or are we (individuals and the team) playing poorly. Some individual defending today which gave them big chances was dreadful and yet again we were made to look ordinary by a team that closed us down quickly.Is Pellegrini surprised by teams that seem to have endless energy and desire?I hope not and I hope that he sorts things out quickly.

I think if we play really well with any system we win games like this.I am sure the boss knew how tough today would be but he needs to realise every game will be the same.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

Is it really about systems or are we (individuals and the team) playing poorly. Some individual defending today which gave them big chances was dreadful and yet again we were made to look ordinary by a team that closed us down quickly.Is Pellegrini surprised by teams that seem to have endless energy and desire?I hope not and I hope that he sorts things out quickly.

I think if we play really well with any system we win games like this.I am sure the boss knew how tough today would be but he needs to realise every game will be the same.

But of both for me Doug.

The loss of Barry in the middle has seen us carved open again and again. Whether people call that a personnel or system issue is up to them, but he's either expecting not to need that type of player and has the system wrong, or expecting others to cover it and has the people wrong.

[getdressedmctavish]

I watched RM and Barca in La Liga today.. a totally different game, almost five a side like in intensity.This may be one of the problems. Seems ridiculous but there is something definitely wrong in the lack of momentum. Like a few I think building the team around Ya Ya's slow short passing game is hurting us as it did under Mancini in games away against poor but dogged teams..cue some thick cunt shouting "what about his important goals for us". Exactly!My guess is too much faith has been put in the Barca men. One problem we have is our owner and chief exec have no experience against which to judge what they are told...they think if they hire "the best" they will get the best. Unfortunately football isn't as simple as that.Anyway, I think we'll beat the rags who were dogshite v 11 mugs today.

[AG7]

I am for some reason still pissed at letting Kolo Toure go for free, not offer him even an year's extension and then letting Barry go on loan for the final year of his contract ... these two are what we really need right now ... someone in the midfield covering defense and someone, well, backup central defender ... and we had both right here and we are not seeing it ... Yes getting Navas and JoJo and Negredo up front is all fine but wasn't this equally important?

[Ted Hughes]

Is it really about systems or are we (individuals and the team) playing poorly. Some individual defending today which gave them big chances was dreadful and yet again we were made to look ordinary by a team that closed us down quickly.Is Pellegrini surprised by teams that seem to have endless energy and desire?I hope not and I hope that he sorts things out quickly.

I think if we play really well with any system we win games like this.I am sure the boss knew how tough today would be but he needs to realise every game will be the same.

I think that this kind of system needs exceptional centre backs & the right kind of centre mids in order to work.

Vinny at his best is exceptional, but imo our best cb on average has been Lescott & he lacks pace & is getting slower. Nastasic lacks pace & aerial ability. DeMichelis is even slower.

Ferguson went for pace & exceptional roughouse defenders when the rags were at their best but they were still vulnerable to getting turned over.

I would like to see some of Pellegrini's ideas but used in a more 'Mancini' formation. I like 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. I don't think we were as good when Mancini changed from that.

[MilnersJaw]

I'm not a fan of 442. It's too raggish to England we don't know what the fuck we are doing. As so
Rome has already said, I don't think we have the players for it, or at least don't play them like that.

[Alioune DVToure]

I wonder whether the two central midfielders will play a bit higher up the pitch once Vinny is back. The distance between midfield and attack is a big problem at the minute, but I can't help but wonder whether Pellegrini is aware of our vulnerability at CB and is making the two CMs sit to provide a bit of protection.

[Ted Hughes]

I wonder whether the two central midfielders will play a bit higher up the pitch once Vinny is back. The distance between midfield and attack is a big problem at the minute, but I can't help but wonder whether Pellegrini is aware of our vulnerability at CB and is making the two CMs sit to provide a bit of protection.

Tbh, even against Newcastle, I think we had problems with a lack of protection there.

I don't think we can hack it without doing something about that; either an extra body in there or the whole team needs to work back 50% better.

[Alioune DVToure]

I wonder whether the two central midfielders will play a bit higher up the pitch once Vinny is back. The distance between midfield and attack is a big problem at the minute, but I can't help but wonder whether Pellegrini is aware of our vulnerability at CB and is making the two CMs sit to provide a bit of protection.

Tbh, even against Newcastle, I think we had problems with a lack of protection there.

I don't think we can hack it without doing something about that; either an extra body in there or the whole team needs to work back 50% better.

It clearly isn't working, as you say (look at the early opportunities Hull carved out), but I think that's the intention.