30-07-2010, 13:49
The formation I was getting at is Hodgson's tried and tested 4-4-1-1.
---------GK--------
DF---DF---DF---DF
----------CM-------
WM--CM-------WM
-----------AM------
-------ST-----------
That's about the best representation I can give of it, without a pen and paper I'm afraid. It relies on having two central midfielders, one of whom is expected to do little except break up opposition play and sits very deep, while the other is deployed further forward as a playmaker with fewer positional responsibilities. Two wingers, often playing on the "wrong" wing (right footer on the left and vice versa), only one of whom is expected to play a purely attacking game in any given attack, the other is expected to tuck in from the wing and provide cover against opposition breaks with the two central midfielders. Of the two forwards, one is an out and out striker and the other is expected to float around a little deeper, moving to the opposite flank to whichever side the attack is built from, i.e. if Cole is the one building play on the left, the split striker would go to the right flank. If it's Maxi from the right, he would go left side.
When it's written down, it sounds counter-intuitive and complicated, but when used in a match it's a very fluid and well organised system, which Hodgson (amongst others, including Sacchi, Lippi, Cappello, Ferguson in the 90's, George Graham, Steve McLaren and Sven) has deployed successfully throughout his career, except at Blackburn, where a bunch of players with huge egos weren't willing to accept his methods. The primary problems with it are that it requires players do hours of positional drills in training everyday, which many players find dull, and requires a small, well drilled squad, combined with the facts that only one player in the system is given any real freedom to roam at will and players are expected to be able to switch into any other role in their given area, as active play or tactical requirement demands. Most players aren't happy being cogs in a machine these days. I find it hard to believe Gerrard would go back to being a world class disciplined midfield playmaker (by far his best position, where he's one of the best in the world), after years of Rafa allowing him free reign to be a slightly above average loose forward (where he's effective, but no better than 10 or 15 other players in the EPL alone). The same with Carragher. His positional awareness means he can play anywhere in the back four or as a holding midfielder, but he gets stroppy if he's not deployed as a centre back. Torres may not be 100% happy spending most of a match running down channels to make space for the other two designated attackers within the system.
As for a Mascherano replacement, De Jong is a better like for like replacement, but Flamini has the advantage of being able to fill in competently at either full back position should the situation arise. It's a case of choosing specialist who excels in one role, or having a player who's fractionally worse in the holding role, but provides multiple tactical options. In an ideal world, it would be both of course, with Lucas being moved on as well. Being a United fan, I would prefer that not to happen. Anything which keeps Lucas in the Liverpool team is fine by me.
---------GK--------
DF---DF---DF---DF
----------CM-------
WM--CM-------WM
-----------AM------
-------ST-----------
That's about the best representation I can give of it, without a pen and paper I'm afraid. It relies on having two central midfielders, one of whom is expected to do little except break up opposition play and sits very deep, while the other is deployed further forward as a playmaker with fewer positional responsibilities. Two wingers, often playing on the "wrong" wing (right footer on the left and vice versa), only one of whom is expected to play a purely attacking game in any given attack, the other is expected to tuck in from the wing and provide cover against opposition breaks with the two central midfielders. Of the two forwards, one is an out and out striker and the other is expected to float around a little deeper, moving to the opposite flank to whichever side the attack is built from, i.e. if Cole is the one building play on the left, the split striker would go to the right flank. If it's Maxi from the right, he would go left side.
When it's written down, it sounds counter-intuitive and complicated, but when used in a match it's a very fluid and well organised system, which Hodgson (amongst others, including Sacchi, Lippi, Cappello, Ferguson in the 90's, George Graham, Steve McLaren and Sven) has deployed successfully throughout his career, except at Blackburn, where a bunch of players with huge egos weren't willing to accept his methods. The primary problems with it are that it requires players do hours of positional drills in training everyday, which many players find dull, and requires a small, well drilled squad, combined with the facts that only one player in the system is given any real freedom to roam at will and players are expected to be able to switch into any other role in their given area, as active play or tactical requirement demands. Most players aren't happy being cogs in a machine these days. I find it hard to believe Gerrard would go back to being a world class disciplined midfield playmaker (by far his best position, where he's one of the best in the world), after years of Rafa allowing him free reign to be a slightly above average loose forward (where he's effective, but no better than 10 or 15 other players in the EPL alone). The same with Carragher. His positional awareness means he can play anywhere in the back four or as a holding midfielder, but he gets stroppy if he's not deployed as a centre back. Torres may not be 100% happy spending most of a match running down channels to make space for the other two designated attackers within the system.
As for a Mascherano replacement, De Jong is a better like for like replacement, but Flamini has the advantage of being able to fill in competently at either full back position should the situation arise. It's a case of choosing specialist who excels in one role, or having a player who's fractionally worse in the holding role, but provides multiple tactical options. In an ideal world, it would be both of course, with Lucas being moved on as well. Being a United fan, I would prefer that not to happen. Anything which keeps Lucas in the Liverpool team is fine by me.
Considering your in this thread i didn't expect that, there for i disagree with every thing you say!!!
i will not accept this!!!