The case for 4-2-3-1

[Bergen Blade]

Peck in a 2 without a genuine ball winner like Souza behind him

Also Burrows/Mccallum and Seriki in a 4 without more mobile defenders besides them..

I understand concerns regarding individual players, but I think some of it is based on the evidence of the unbalanced sides which we've seen this season. I'll simplify it a bit. We've seen Selles' defensively poor 4-1-5 formation fail. And now Wilder's reactional 5-2-3 formation has failed in terms of creating and scoring.

It is time to try a balanced line up that works as a unit defensively and offensively. A team that creates chances and gets the odd goal. It may make things easier defensively as well, and help us regain confidence.

The suggested team has pretty much all players in their favoured position and role. The availability of Davies may be a huge help for Peck. Them two playmaking and having the creativity and skill of Hamer and Marsh to look for could help us create. In Campbell and Ogbene we have two pacey players in the forward line to help us stretch teams (not one of them playing wing back). Seriki would add to that. There is a lot of potential for good combination play in that team. Some coming short, others bombing into space, better width with a pair on each side, it may force the opposition to chase us around, rather than just waiting and easily stopping us as we get near their box.

It is difficult to get a lot of height in the side and we may struggle at set pieces. Most are not rubbish in the air though. It's quite an athletic side.

 

[TJB.]

Not entirely relevant but do you remember when Adkins used to talk formations to the press and always gave the goalkeeper a number?

What a fucking pudding.

 

[cooperblade]

Totally agree we have to get back to 4-2-3-1. I hope Chris is working with them over the break on a back 4, not tying us to 5 at the back for the season.

The back 5 hasn’t made us any more solid and we’re not scoring goals.

I can’t understand the amount of people saying it’s got to be “2 up top”. When has throwing more strikers on the pitch has ever helped us score more goals? Creating chances is about building momentum, dominating midfield, playing forward quickly and crossing with quality. Players can arrive in the box at the right moment once we are creating chances, having 2 stuck up front getting no service and isolated doesn’t work.
Almost nobody else plays 2 forwards in the modern game.

My concern with 4-2-3-1 is that I can't see which of our current players are going to arrive at the right time to score goals. At Hull particularly, the lack of runs into the box was really noticeable. Hopefully we can coach that into some of the midfielders but I do worry that none of them have the right combination of physical tools and instincts.

 

[SharpAsAblade]

Perhaps our recent results actually highlights how important jacky Robinson was to the back 4 despite his faults