After one game of Mikel as the lone holder flanked by Lampard and Ramires I'm ready to never look back at the 4-2-3-1 with its stale double-pivot slowing us down immeasurably. Today's 4-3-3 was fresh and it unleashed SFL. Are we done with the 4-2-3-1 double pivot? I guess we can't play Mikel every game.

Possibly.

My main concern with it prior to this game is that it could stifle Oscar, but if anything it unleashed him. It allowed the striker to be more involved in the link up play and let SFL and Ramires play to their strengths. Also it should suit the more direct Hazard, Schurrle and Willian

But remember it was only West Ham. We looked a lot better and a nice platform was built, it is just about seeing how it does against better teams. Basel will be a good test for it, perhaps test it with Essien to see if he can still do a job there.

Solid performance. Certainly made Frank more effective, and opened up Ramires to run with the ball more. 

 

However, we still have 8 million attacking midfielders and now all of a sudden we have one less spot to play them in.

 

Might help KdB though as he all of a sudden is in contention to play in one of the midfield roles (which from my understanding has been his best position)

We never played the double pivot properly in the first place, that was the problem with the formation. It was always the same player sitting and the other, attempting, to attack/create which made the whole system predictable and harder than necessary. 

 

I still think it will be the go to formation, we have too many attacking mids and not enough midfielders to start playing 433 regularly, but like the 352 it's a nice option to have.

Maybe in the prem because we have been very poor at it, it just doesn't suit the players we have i don't think. In Europe though i think we do ok with it. To be honest i wouln't mind if we done away with it for good, i hate the term double pivot and i hate the formation. For me it just packs the midfield too much.

Solid performance. Certainly made Frank more effective, and opened up Ramires to run with the ball more. 

 

However, we still have 8 million attacking midfielders and now all of a sudden we have one less spot to play them in.

 

Might help KdB though as he all of a sudden is in contention to play in one of the midfield roles (which from my understanding has been his best position)

 

Pretty much what i feel.Ramires and Lamps our much more suited to a 3 man midfield and also it gives the team more balance and we played really well today.But the problem with that is we have to put another attacking mid on the bench.As good as Oscar is playing i still would like to see him play deeper for example instead of Lampard with Ramires and Mikel and Mata with Hazard behind Eto'o.

Our problem with the double pivot was, and still is, the lack of two players who fit there naturally. Newcastle, for all their problems, have it sorted there, Cabaye pulls the strings and tiote breaks up the play, but both of them can get forward when they need to. We have the man to break up the play in mikel, but no one who is ideally suited to being our deep lying playmaker. I think it's the best formation in football for a team with a lot of creative talent (like ourselves) since it allows fluid build up play and a good combination of width and narrow play along with being able to control possession in midfield, but the problem lies in having two players who suit a defensive midfield position, because that's what it is. The double pivot isn't about about having two players who can bomb forward at will, but it's more about having players who can support in the build up when they are needed

Maybe opens the door to Mata playing in Lamps role at times as well. Could be good to go back to 4-3-3 for a little bit.

I dont think Oscar is suited for playing a wide man in a 4 3 3. If you go by todays game, he did well by operating through the centre. I feel, against the better teams, he would be completely subdued without a wide man stretching the defence.

 

We do have Schurrle, but i dont think hes good enough to be a nailed on starter in the wide role

I dont think Oscar is suited for playing a wide man in a 4 3 3.

Same, but today we played 4-3-2-1 which was perfect for Oscar evidently and I think today's system could give De Bruyne and Essien a way into the team, and like you said we have Schürrle to be our designated winger when we need one.

Agreed it was more 4321 than 433 a system we used lots under Carlo.Oscar and Hazard got into great positions behind there midfield time and time again.

If this happens then there's no room at the inn for Mata. His position will be gone.

Judging by the reports in the media tonight, it looks like Mata is gone already. He's fallen behind Schürrle and Willian in the pecking order with a loan move to Atletico a possibility.

I'm hoping but I'm wrong but something stuck out to me yesterday. When Oscar was on the floor looking like he'll have to come off due to injury, it was Schürlle who was warming up. Mata was sat still on the bench.

Oscar to play deeper in the midfield with Schurrle or Willian joining Hazard as a winger?

Not looking good for Mata again though is it?

Judging by the reports in the media tonight, it looks like Mata is gone already. He's fallen behind Schürrle and Willian in the pecking order with a loan move to Atletico a possibility.

I'm hoping but I'm wrong but something stuck out to me yesterday. When Oscar was on the floor looking like he'll have to come off due to injury, it was Schürlle who was warming up. Mata was sat still on the bench.

What a stupid piece of business that would be. If Jose is so against using Mata then really there would be several top clubs that would take him at a good price. If he is not going to play it would be much better for him to be allowed to leave and build a new foundation at another club and then Jose can sign somebody he would actually play, preferably a DM player.

It looks like we're going to have to set Mata free. It's heartbreaking that a player who clearly loves the club so much and has such immense talent is consigned to rot on the bench when inferior players like Schurrle get the nod ahead of him. I'd rather see him leave us and continue to be a world class talent than sit on our bench and waste away.

Oscar to play deeper in the midfield with Schurrle or Willian joining Hazard as a winger?

Not looking good for Mata again though is it?

 

No it isn't, and it sucks ass. If Mata does end up leaving it will be so hard to take. In only 2 seasons he has made a massive impact on the club. I would still prefer Oscar to play deeper and Mata to play more forward but it just doesn't seem to be in Mourinho's thoughts at all, it's a shame.

 

If he does end up leaving i don't see it happening in January, i think the papers are making up stories there, if anything it will be at the summer. Anyway i don't like to think about it too much, there is still plenty of the season left to go, hopefully Mourinho can fit him in somewhere, he's just too good to be playing for anyone else.

No it isn't, and it sucks ass. If Mata does end up leaving it will be so hard to take. In only 2 seasons he has made a massive impact on the club. I would still prefer Oscar to play deeper and Mata to play more forward but it just doesn't seem to be in Mourinho's thoughts at all, it's a shame.

If he does end up leaving i don't see it happening in January, i think the papers are making up stories there, if anything it will be at the summer. Anyway i don't like to think about it too much, there is still plenty of the season left to go, hopefully Mourinho can fit him in somewhere, he's just too good to be playing for anyone else.

Its kind of like Joe Cole a few years back for England, he was clearly good enough but just didn't fit the system/formation.

There is no questioning Mata's ability but playing him recently has seemed like shoehorning him into the side rather than it being without question that he plays.

What a stupid piece of business that would be. If Jose is so against using Mata then really there would be several top clubs that would take him at a good price. If he is not going to play it would be much better for him to be allowed to leave and build a new foundation at another club and then Jose can sign somebody he would actually play, preferably a DM player.

Agree complete; would rather sell both him & De Bruyne (an in the latter's case have the common sense to add a 1st option) and get whatever player fits into the manager's plan, than loan them out to some other clubs and keep picking up some of the tab.

If we carry on playing 3 in midfield id like to hopefully see

 

    Ramires   Mikel   Oscar

 

            Mata   Hazard

      

                 Eto'o

If we carry on playing 3 in midfield id like to hopefully see

 

    Ramires   Mikel   Oscar

 

            Mata   Hazard

      

                 Eto'o

Jose breaking out the Christmas tree just before December kicks in? What next he dons the red suit and white beard himself? lol

If we carry on playing 3 in midfield id like to hopefully see

 

    Ramires   Mikel   Oscar

 

            Mata   Hazard

      

                 Eto'o

I really like it. I hope we fit Mata into it and let hazard drift freely to either wing as well. But yeah seriously that is the formation I have liked most in so long

If we carry on playing 3 in midfield id like to hopefully see

 

    Ramires   Mikel   Oscar

 

            Mata   Hazard

      

                 Eto'o

 

I would love that, i think it could work really well.

I think our play lacks width at the best of times, a Christmas tree formation would only make us more narrow wouldn't it?

 

4-3-3 stretches the opposition defenses a little more and opens up space to play into. 

I think our play lacks width at the best of times, a Christmas tree formation would only make us more narrow wouldn't it?

 

 

 

its not a problem if you have quality fullbacks, and azpi is certainly one of them

 

shame he cant get a game in his natural position