An curious to see what other fans think about our current formation and whether they want to see it change.

Personally I would like to see us go back to 2 strikers for next season, the single striker gets covered by defenders and can't find a good position, therefore gets no service, that means we are reliant on our 3 attacking mids making it happen, but from too deep, and not all of these 3 have fantastic finishing, so far to often the attacks go nowhere. In my opinion we need a playmaker in cm whose capable of long range shooting and awesome through balls (kroos or someone similar), fast wingers with good crossing and cutting in, Matic in DM and 2 strikers, a powerhouse and a skill striker. So:-

---------Matic--------------------

-------------------kroos-------------

Schurle-------------------hazard

---------costa-----lukaku-------

I imagine in the big changes we see to chelsea over the summer we will see a change in formation, Jose has inherited a team that have been through so many managers recently and have ended up with the 4-2-3-1 just because the in-balance in the team and the crazy amount of attacking mids we accumulated, now change needs to happen, but I can see that Jose is waiting for the right time to buy the right players and integrate the change. I don't know whether the formation will end up like how I guessed, but I'll be surprised if we carry on seeing the 4-2-3-1 next season.

Would be interested in seeing other fans thoughts.

The 4-2-3-1 just doesn't seem to work as much anymore, it's a very possession based tactic, but the Everton game today, we finished the first half with about 45% possession and not many good chances. Fair enough, Everton are a difficult team generally, but we aren't making the most of our chances, like with west ham and That just shows that we can't exactly be a consistent squad with our chances.

I think we should do what city are doing with 4-4-2 like what you've put, with a playmaker running riot in the middle whilst we have Matic covering at the back. Hazard nd Schurrle would be a lethal duo if Schurrle could find his feet, so for now Willian is probably our best option there, even though he isn't the most attacking minded player. Then I really hope we sign Costa or someone of his calibre to go alongside Lukaku when he comes back.

The 4-2-3-1 is fine and we'd need a big overhaul if we wanted to switch to a 2 strikers formation

 

People are making a big deal out of our blip(s) in form. We are top of the league with terrible options at CF.

You're right, it isn't a massive deal, it's just I think the 4-2-3-1 drowns out the striker a bit, which means the striker would have to be world class or on having a really good day to contribute really well. And since it drowns them out, I think we should change, so we can still have a playmaker and the flanks, but it also adds some more shooting power since ours are misfiring a bit.

Plus it adds a bit more English tradition to our side being 4-4-2 :P

Not a fan of it. Bring back the 4-3-3 with counter attacking, rapid wingers.

Nothing wrong with 4231 and get use to it because thats the formation we will carry on playing hence Mourinho saying next season they want 6 attacking mids.Put good attacking fullbacks,a decent striker and a technical central midfielder player- Kroos for example in to this team and we will look better.

If we had a genuine world class striker then it wouldn't be a problem.

Next season we sould be ok hopefully when one comes in and Ba, Torrex and Eto'o are hopefully shipped out with Lukaku coming back.

The 4-2-3-1 just doesn't seem to work as much anymore, it's a very possession based tactic, but the Everton game today, we finished the first half with about 45% possession and not many good chances. Fair enough, Everton are a difficult team generally, but we aren't making the most of our chances, like with west ham and That just shows that we can't exactly be a consistent squad with our chances.

I think we should do what city are doing with 4-4-2 like what you've put, with a playmaker running riot in the middle whilst we have Matic covering at the back. Hazard nd Schurrle would be a lethal duo if Schurrle could find his feet, so for now Willian is probably our best option there, even though he isn't the most attacking minded player. Then I really hope we sign Costa or someone of his calibre to go alongside Lukaku when he comes back.

 

We created better chances than Everton did.

I think we need to go 442 or back to 433. I'm liking 4231 for the control it gives us but I believe any future striker will get screwed over in that formation and 3 attackers always have to produce the goals. If we don't want the likes of Costa to look like a flop, we need to have a partnership of some sort up front. Even a diamond midfield, relying on full backs for width would be worth trying.

Why the hell do people think we should go to a 442?

 

Is it because we have so many quality strikers and we have to put them all on the field?

 

Or is it because our wingers like to hug the touchline?

I think we need to go 442 or back to 433. I'm liking 4231 for the control it gives us but I believe any future striker will get screwed over in that formation and 3 attackers always have to produce the goals. If we don't want the likes of Costa to look like a flop, we need to have a partnership of some sort up front. Even a diamond midfield, relying on full backs for width would be worth trying.

 

So bye bye Willian,Oscar,Schurrle,Salah?. There is nothing wrong with 4231, its just our team is unbalanced at times and some players aren't playing at there best.

We played better today in the second half when we switched to 4-3-3

4-2-3-1 is clearly failing us and we need to ditch it. For a team with our resources it's disgraceful that we're mid table and couldn't get out of the CL qualifying stages. This club needs an overhaul if we are to get back to being competitive.

We played better today in the second half when we switched to 4-3-3

I think the 4-3-3 would also make a good option and it is a much easier transformation. However I don't think willian would be any good as one of the front 3. Hazard, costa, shurle/salah would do a good job up there, but I think you'd need 1 more attacking winger, maybe piazon. As for the midfield. Kroos or a similar player would need to be brought in, willian or Oscar would play in behind the front 3 with kroos/? In CM and Matic just behind. This formation may work well, but I'd say if we don't get a new cm and Ramires plays there the front 3 won't get the service they require. But having said that, you never know van ginkel may well turn out to be the player we need.

In recent history, we've always played with one striker, it's unlikely to change. Interesting how our formation evolved though, the 4-5-1 in Jose's early tenure, 4-3-3 in Scolari and Hiddink--Carlo tried the diamond, we had decent results but we really started smashing teams with the 4-3-3. AVB continued that 4-3-3 with Sturridge as an inside forward but that high line was suicidal. 

 

Anyway, one thing that is evident from our evolution is the powerful midfielders we had at our disposal, Makelele, Essien, Ballack, younger Lampard. We need to start playing powerful midfielders again, Ramires and Matic area start but I think the midfield is an area that needs focus (Mikel isn't going to cut it) before we even buy a striker. Hopefully, young Marco comes back stronger, but we need a solid midfielder this summer. Kroos, Schweinsteiger, or anyone that can fulfill the role as a deep-lying playmaker. 

 

Anyway, one thing that is evident from our evolution is the powerful midfielders we had at our disposal, Makelele, Essien, Ballack, younger Lampard. We need to start playing powerful midfielders again, Ramires and Matic area start but I think the midfield is an area that needs focus (Mikel isn't going to cut it) before we even buy a striker. Hopefully, young Marco comes back stronger, but we need a solid midfielder this summer. Kroos, Schweinsteiger, or anyone that can fulfill the role as a deep-lying playmaker. 

Would it be wildly optimistic to suggest McEachran?

4-2-3-1 is clearly failing us and we need to ditch it. For a team with our resources it's disgraceful that we're mid table and couldn't get out of the CL qualifying stages. This club needs an overhaul if we are to get back to being competitive.

 

Don't be too critical, remember that we are still first place in the league.

 

But I'm not going to be a twat about it and I do see your point if I'm perfectly honest. Remember about 4 years ago there was all these rumours about Roman wanting 'sexy' football? I didn't know if they were true or what, but it's looking like that isn't it. The past few years we have taken the counter attacking and strong physical element out of our game and we are now starting to form this fluid attacking team with one-two attacks and sometimes needless first touch football.

 

An overhaul is a bit too drastic, we can't completely change the system, we have put too much funding into this side to just completely scrap it and start again. If we don't win the title this season that will mean we haven't won the title in 4 years, that's a long time for a club that can near enough buy any player in the world. But as I previously said to you don't be too critical on this, we have nowhere near been the best side this season, we probably have the most quality in the league bar City but we do not play good football and we have been riding our luck a lot. Give it another season and I'm sure Jose will know what to do, who knows we might even look solid.

 

One approach that has been really solid by Jose is that the whole team is working hard and grafting, I am delighted that he's doing this. Getting rid of Juan Mata was a statement that if you don't work your heart out every game then we are getting rid of you doesn't matter who you are. Because of this we might become a force rather than just a poor mans Barcelona where we buy the quality instead of just bringing it through the youth. Or even another Madrid where we will have some players working hard and some not, in this team we all have to work hard and not let the opposition have the ball for two seconds.  I expect us to be twice the team we are now next season I really do, keeping Jose is a must.

Edited February 24, 201412 yr by Slawth

Slawth, I suspect you didn't pick up on the healthy portions of sarcasm in my post

Slawth, I suspect you didn't pick up on the healthy portions of sarcasm in my post

We REALLY need a sarcasm smiley on this here forum.