The Time Has Come to Ditch The 4-4-2.

[zabbadabbado]

Time to Ditch The 4-4-2.

I am off the opinion that we are in a mini crisis, and that if we are not careful in the space off the next 3 weeks our season could be effectively all but over.

Accepted we are missing 3 influential players in Nasri,Aguero,Fernandinho.

Even more reason for Pellegrini to be pragmatic and show everyone we have a plan B. We field that same side we fielded on Wednesday night with that very same 4-4-2 formation against Chelsea in the FA Cup and then against Barcelona in the Champions League then I predict we will be knocked out the FA Cup and annihilated in the Champions League first leg.Demichelis is dog shit end off and he is not up to replacing Fernandinho in that key position.

I think we should change our style completely until players return from injury. It is important we beat Sunderland.I think we should go for a 5 man midfield in that game, with 1 striker up front, it will prepare us well for using that exact same system against Chelsea, and then in the Barcelona game. We need to fuck this stupid 4-4-2 off whilst we have a quality issue in key areas. No need to go like lambs to the slaughter with our glaring, easily exploited deficiencies.We cant afford any more blips.

[Breks]

Time to Ditch The 4-4-2.

I am off the opinion that we are in a mini crisis, and that if we are not careful in the space off the next 3 weeks our season could be effectively all but over.

Accepted we are missing 3 influential players in Nasri,Aguero,Fernandinho.

Even more reason for Pellegrini to be pragmatic and show everyone we have a plan B. We field that same side we fielded on Wednesday night with that very same 4-4-2 formation against Chelsea in the FA Cup and then against Barcelona in the Champions League then I predict we will be knocked out the FA Cup and annihilated in the Champions League first leg.Demichelis is dog shit end off and he is not up to replacing Fernandinho in that key position.

I think we should change our style completely until players return from injury. It is important we beat Sunderland.I think we should go for a 5 man midfield in that game, with 1 striker up front, it will prepare us well for using that exact same system against Chelsea, and then in the Barcelona game. We need to fuck this stupid 4-4-2 off whilst we have a quality issue in key areas. No need to go like lambs to the slaughter with our glaring, easily exploited deficiencies.We cant afford any more blips.

We don't play a traditional 4-4-2. Sometimes its like a 4-1-2-1-2. And sometimes it can be 4-2-3-1. Sky always show our formation as 4-4-2 but that's not our formation really.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

It doesn't matter what system you play if the key players targeted with scoring goals play crap and that's what we have just had for two games.They might not be the only ones who haven't performed but they are the key ones imo.We have let 1 goal in in 2 games and dropped 5 points.Normal service to be resumed v Sunderland.

[Lee_R]

It doesn't matter what system you play if the key players targeted with scoring goals play crap and that's what we have just had for two games.They might not be the only ones who haven't performed but they are the key ones imo.We have let 1 goal in in 2 games and dropped 5 points.Normal service to be resumed v Sunderland.

Agree.

Players look knackard though. Maybe they should rest up!

[zabbadabbado]

It doesn't matter what system you play if the key players targeted with scoring goals play crap and that's what we have just had for two games.They might not be the only ones who haven't performed but they are the key ones imo.We have let 1 goal in in 2 games and dropped 5 points.Normal service to be resumed v Sunderland.

Duplicate Apologies.

[zabbadabbado]

It doesn't matter what system you play if the key players targeted with scoring goals play crap and that's what we have just had for two games.They might not be the only ones who haven't performed but they are the key ones imo.We have let 1 goal in in 2 games and dropped 5 points.Normal service to be resumed v Sunderland.

Apparently Negredo is still carrying a niggle,Jovetic is still not match fit.Dzeko cant hit a barn door for toffee.

1 up front, and sure up the midfield is the best option with the fixtures we have coming up.
some fans including me, are now fearing we are going to get a good pasting on National Television.We really don't want that.

[Saul Goodman]

We played a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-1-3-1-1 vs Norwich

[sheblue]

Sometimes I think there is a little too much made of systems, we were just tired yesterday, it was evident in wayward passing and loosing possession too easily.
Of course Norwich defended well, and Sunderland will too. Let's hope the team takes a little breather next few days.

[Ted Hughes]

I think we have covered most of it there.

I would just add that; we need to beat Sunderland, not draw against them, so whichever system the Count feels is best for that job, will do for me.

The 'ridiculous' 4-4-2, has had us playing the best football anyone has ever seen in the Premier League (& as pointed out often is n't actually 4-4-2 anyway).

If the injuries are such that we can't beat Sunderland with our usual method of football, we ar unlikely to beat them with a different one.

And ABSOLUTELY NO WAY do we use this game as some kind of practice match for an FA Cup game.

[Hazy2]

If we draw Wed and the cunt wins at WBA the title will be over for me, our away games will hurt is later on in the season, we will not have a say in Chelsea's points total, they could even lose the odd one like the scum last season.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

A team has got to be tactically organised but, at the end of the day it's all about players and the philosophy and outlook of the Manager.

Two teams could line up against each other, ostensibly both in 4-4-2 formations but the way each approached the game could be entirely different; one 4-4-2 formation could be defensive in nature and set up to play purely on the counter, whilst the other could be completely aggressive i.e. with four defenders and six out and out attackers.

Mind you, pondering formations is a nice game to play in quiet (daft ??) moments.....I sometimes wonder if a side will ever contemplate playing a 3-2-3-2 set-up, using three full time defenders with two 'defensive' midfielders in front of them and then three creative players further forward, the entire system being topped off by two forwards. I know it's only a stone's throw away from 4-1-3-2 but having two holding midfielders might give more solidity in that area of the pitch.

As I said, pondering formations is a nice game to play, especially when nothing depends on it but, at the end of the day, it's all down to players.

[Ted Hughes]

A team has got to be tactically organised but, at the end of the day it's all about players and the philosophy and outlook of the Manager.

Two teams could line up against each other, ostensibly both in 4-4-2 formations but the way each approached the game could be entirely different; one 4-4-2 formation could be defensive in nature and set up to play purely on the counter, whilst the other could be completely aggressive i.e. with four defenders and six out and out attackers.

Mind you, pondering formations is a nice game to play in quiet (daft ??) moments.....I sometimes wonder if a side will ever contemplate playing a 3-2-3-2 set-up, using three full time defenders with two 'defensive' midfielders in front of them and then three creative players further forward, the entire system being topped off by two forwards. I know it's only a stone's throw away from 4-1-3-2 but having two holding midfielders might give more solidity in that area of the pitch.

As I said, pondering formations is a nice game to play, especially when nothing depends on it but, at the end of the day, it's all down to players.

Don't know about 3-2-3-2 but Jason Wilcox has apparently used 3-4-3 on occasion with the U16s, so added to that the fact that Pep used it sometimes at Barca, & Txiki is director of football; we may see something of that nature one day in the first team.

Edit: imagine a team full of City academy players switching to 343 & battering fuck out of Mourinho.

[mcfc93]

Fred is the key to why our 442 formation works. I know many would say that 433 would destroy a 442 in the middle due to an extra player in midfield. However...that would only be true if there are two static midfielders who only passed the ball around. The two in midfield would be man marked while the extra player sweeps up misplaced passes. Alternatively two could press one player and still there would be the spare player available to intercept the pass if by some miracle the ball managed to get through. Now what fred does for us is instead of making a pass under pressure...he takes the marker on with a dribble. Under such situations the extra man would have to make a decision help out or drop back. Either choice the opponent makes would result in space created for his midfield partner or the strikers ahead.

Therefore, it could be said that the 433 is meant to restrict space in the middle of the park. And the way to counter that isnt rocket science. U just have to create space...by taking ure man on.

[nottsblue]

Don't know about 3-2-3-2 but Jason Wilcox has apparently used 3-4-3 on occasion with the U16s, so added to that the fact that Pep used it sometimes at Barca, & Txiki is director of football; we may see something of that nature one day in the first team.

Edit: imagine a team full of City academy players switching to 343 & battering fuck out of Mourinho.

A beautiful thought. However this would be a few years away and Mourinho will be but a wank stain on English football by then

[Joeythelips]

Time to Ditch The 4-4-2. I am off the opinion that we are in a mini crisis, and that if we are not careful in the space off the next 3 weeks our season could be effectively all but over. Accepted we are missing 3 influential players in Nasri,Aguero,Fernandinho. Even more reason for Pellegrini to be pragmatic and show everyone we have a plan B. We field that same side we fielded on Wednesday night with that very same 4-4-2 formation against Chelsea in the FA Cup and then against Barcelona in the Champions League then I predict we will be knocked out the FA Cup and annihilated in the Champions League first leg.Demichelis is dog shit end off and he is not up to replacing Fernandinho in that key position. I think we should change our style completely until players return from injury. It is important we beat Sunderland.I think we should go for a 5 man midfield in that game, with 1 striker up front, it will prepare us well for using that exact same system against Chelsea, and then in the Barcelona game. We need to fuck this stupid 4-4-2 off whilst we have a quality issue in key areas. No need to go like lambs to the slaughter with our glaring, easily exploited deficiencies.We cant afford any more blips.

DONT PANIC!

[Ted Hughes]

Fred is the key to why our 442 formation works. I know many would say that 433 would destroy a 442 in the middle due to an extra player in midfield. However...that would only be true if there are two static midfielders who only passed the ball around. The two in midfield would be man marked while the extra player sweeps up misplaced passes. Alternatively two could press one player and still there would be the spare player available to intercept the pass if by some miracle the ball managed to get through. Now what fred does for us is instead of making a pass under pressure...he takes the marker on with a dribble. Under such situations the extra man would have to make a decision help out or drop back. Either choice the opponent makes would result in space created for his midfield partner or the strikers ahead.

Therefore, it could be said that the 433 is meant to restrict space in the middle of the park. And the way to counter that isnt rocket science. U just have to create space...by taking ure man on.

If we get Fred mkII from Porto, we could be covered for any formation, being able to use those two in a 4-3-3 with Yaya, or combos in a 4-4-2, or play both behind Yaya.

This season we are only warming up imo. Next season, when the Count gets more of his own team/squad, is going to be interesting.

Edit: also we are supposed to be signing the young lad from Argentina who is another player of that type.

[blues2win]

We often don't play 4-4-2 . When Aguero's playing he often drops a little off to find pockets of space; more like a 4-4-1-1. Sometimes it's 4-3-3 with Silva and Navas playing wide but dropping back if we haven't got the ball. The real problem comes in central midfield against top teams. We cannot play the Bayerns or the Barcas or the Chelsea's to be honest with two in central midfield. Yaya isn't disciplined enough to play as a true defensive midfielder and actually you lose a lot from him if you try to make him as we saw against Norwich yesterday. The trouble is that neither Garcia nor Rodwell have convinced in that role so if Fernandinho is injured we're fucked. For a side that's supposed to have the strongest squad in the Premiership that's ridiculous. Then we move on to centre back where we haven't got a decent first choice to play alongside Kompany. You can see why the club went for Fernando and Mangala. I can also see why we fucked them off. However, we may end up paying dear this season at least for that decision. Hopefully these weaknesses will be addressed in the close season.

[Saul Goodman]

Edit: also we are supposed to be signing the young lad from Argentina who is another player of that type.

What happened to this kid? I remember reading about him last year and then nothing...

[Breks]

If we draw Wed and the cunt wins at WBA the title will be over for me, our away games will hurt is later on in the season, we will not have a say in Chelsea's points total, they could even lose the odd one like the scum last season.

I'm of the same mind. Wednesday could be our most important game of the season so far.

[DoomMerchant]

I'm of the same mind. Wednesday could be our most important game of the season so far.

Until the next one. A lot of matches to play for.