FAN ARTICLES
We're already playing 4-4-2!!
Comments (33) : Now from what I'm gathering, and please correct me if I'm wrong, the majority of ToffeeWebbers believe we are playing 4-5-1 as Cahill is playing midfield. Then we see people wanting to play 4-4-2 as 4-5-1 is too defensive and this can be true because we're not scoring enough this season. Fair enough...
But I don't think we are playing 4-5-1 at all. Cahill is playing as a striker and only comes back into the front of the midfield when we are defending. I mean if anyone watched the Sunderland game, this is clear and a lot of times Cahill was in front of Saha. We played exactly the same tactics as Sunderland did where Welbeck dropped deep the same as Cahill did. The only difference is they had a striker in Bent who looked dangerous and stayed forward all the time so they always had somebody there rather than Saha who was anonymous, even strayed into the wings at times! I think the problem is more our strikers are not good enough rather than the formation being why we are not scoring.
So what can we do? Well, at the moment, stick with it. It's clear we are creating chances, the chances missed in the last four games are unbeliavable. We could have drawn against Arsenal and beat Sunderland and Blackpool when perhaps the draw against Bolton was the fair result.
We need to drop Saha, as he is not the kind of striker to focus all of our attacks on, he's more of the Cahill type who creates more problems when he goes deep. Play Yakubu (I don't even know why he was dropped anyway) to hold up the ball and who actually stays FORWARD. Yes, he's not scoring but he provides some balance in our attacking play, and any genius can work out he will find his scoring boots again soon.
Now with the formation, and hopefully this can be sorted by at least the start of next season, we should try and change to 4-5-1/4-3-3, basically the way Chelsea play it. We can't do that at the moment because we don't have natural, quick wingers to play in it.
Also, this focuses on our central midfielders (our strongest position by a mile). So play Rodwell, Arteta and Fellaini there. Osman, Pienaar, Heitinga as back up. This looks very strong.
Now our wingers are a problem. I think Anichebe could do a job there on the right as maybe Bily could on the left, but it's still not strong enough. My plan would be to sell Heitinga in January, buy some third cover centre back (i.e Wheater or Taylor) and spend it on a decent winger. Donovan on loan would be nice. That Djalo too would be good because I saw him against us for Sporting last season, he came on and was excellent in the second half.
Basically sell Heitinga (I value him at £8-10 mil) who is sellable and would not get into our best side at the moment because Jags and Distin are too good, and buy some decent wingers!!
Reader Comments (33)
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
2 Posted 24/11/2010 at 13:55:27
Mikel is our best player but maybe he knows that so dropping him might just get a reaction from him. Every player has a bad run and in fairness this is the first time in 5/6 years he does deserve to be dropped. Maybe it would only take one game out for him to buck up. Bloody hope so.
3 Posted 24/11/2010 at 14:17:44
I think our midfielders don't have enough shots on goal... quite often its from the rebounds in which the strikers can poach a goal.
4 Posted 24/11/2010 at 14:26:28
5 Posted 24/11/2010 at 14:19:19
The problem isn't the formation ? it's the personnel and like everyone I'm mystified as to why the Yak was dropped just when he was starting to look a good player again. We've dominated most games (Newcastle debacle excepted) and anything like a decent chance conversion ratio and we'd be easily in the top six.
The problem now is you can see the frustration creeping in on the field and when this happens play becomes tense and players make mistakes or play safety first. Like you, I'd bring back Fellaini and Rodwell who are both fresh and are confident players by nature. Arteta's a difficult one, out of form but still a great talent so like you I'd persevere, although give Bainesy more dead-ball kicks.
6 Posted 24/11/2010 at 14:45:49
We've played it for about 15 minutes this season and caused havok each time.
If Cahill came back to midfield as he did against Sunderland with Arteta and Johnny, leaving Pienaar and Coleman eitherside of Saha, it's possible to inflict it on the opposition sporadically through the game.
Though the 4-5-1 is good for us, perhaps it's been sussed and teams can now feel confident in quelling our goal threats, so changing between the two would cause all kinds of problems... or have I gone all Football Mananger?
7 Posted 24/11/2010 at 15:15:43
Now, when Moyes plays Yak and Beckford together... THAT'S 4-4-2.
8 Posted 24/11/2010 at 15:27:07
9 Posted 24/11/2010 at 16:17:00
In that case we must be playing 6-3-1 cos Heitinga and Coleman are defenders!!
10 Posted 24/11/2010 at 16:34:13
11 Posted 24/11/2010 at 16:49:26
It's the same old issue, you see Cahill's name on the teamsheet and you automatically think 4-5-1. I'm with Ben.
12 Posted 24/11/2010 at 16:23:41
"No delusion is greater than the notion that method and industry can make up for lack of mother-wit, either in science or in practical life " (Thomas Huxley).
Too many playing Football Manager computer games.
13 Posted 24/11/2010 at 17:05:09
14 Posted 24/11/2010 at 17:08:06
Watch the game you 4-5-1ers. How on earth can you believe he helps make up a five-strong midfield?
It's just another stick for the Moyes haters to beat him with - and is quite ridiculous.
If anything, with Arteta playing so deep, we play 5-3-2!
15 Posted 24/11/2010 at 17:12:23
He may be the primary link-up man with the boy up top ? but that doesn't mean he's playing as a striker.
16 Posted 24/11/2010 at 17:36:43
17 Posted 24/11/2010 at 17:56:22
18 Posted 24/11/2010 at 18:34:42
19 Posted 24/11/2010 at 18:37:43
20 Posted 24/11/2010 at 19:06:06
Chill all. The Ashes starts in a few hours. As an Aussie, I have to believe that the little urn stays here. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.
21 Posted 24/11/2010 at 19:07:27
I remember cringing when I heard Steve Round state in a pre-match press conference (the derby game??) that 4-4-2 was outdated and no longer effective in the Premier League. He stated that Everton, like most teams, played a "fluid 4-5-1" and would do for the forseeable future. He was at pains to stress this was not a negative formation though because the midfielders were encouraged to get forward and support the striker. Striker ? not strikers.
Now I know Steve Round seems like a total cock but, as assistant manager, you would presume he knows how the team is being sent out to play. Then again....
22 Posted 24/11/2010 at 19:29:03
24 Posted 24/11/2010 at 21:55:48
/>Angelina ? Ashes time ? bring it on...!!
25 Posted 24/11/2010 at 23:02:35
26 Posted 24/11/2010 at 23:07:29
Currently he has to do two, sometimes three jobs whereas Saha and the Yak are struggling to do just one. One can only imagine how dangerous he could be if we had another lethal striker to share the load.
27 Posted 25/11/2010 at 00:14:46
That said, when everybody's healthy, I'd love to see us playing the same kind of 4-2-3-1 that I saw in several Uefa Cup games this week. With Rodwell and Fellaini as the two in front of the backline, the attacking midfielders would be free from any defensive responsibilities. As to who the four attackers should be... well, there wouldn't be a place for Arteta right now, that's for sure.
28 Posted 25/11/2010 at 02:26:37
It's only when we fall behind or when we are drawing at home that we commit men into the box and when we do this we look a threat and it's no coincidence that we have scored so many late goals as we finally get some support to the strikers.
Our approach play is good but, until Moyes decides that attack is a better form of defence than caution, then we will continue to get fustrated. Many managers in the league are now taking a more positive approach yet we are still stuck with the 'back to the wall' cautious tactics.
I admire Moyes for what he has achieved at Everton with basically no support from the Chairman / Board. He is a good manager but he is also totally inflexible and his recent decision to drop Yakubu just as he seemed to be coming into form is totally mystifying.
One other thing: whilst I am in no way advocating Moyes going, to those that always say 'If Moyes goes, who would we get?' ? well, has anyone noticed how Owen Coyle has transformed Bolton from kick and rush to a decent footballing side? I imagine we would look a better team at the moment with Coyle's tactics as opposed to David's...
29 Posted 25/11/2010 at 08:02:55
30 Posted 25/11/2010 at 12:09:10
Yakubu often ends up out wide on the right of the field ? does that make him a right winger? No, he's trying to get the ball.
Baines usually finds his way up to the by-line ? does that make him a left winger? No, he's a wing back.
Cahill gets into the box and scores mostly with his head ? so that makes him a stiker? No, it means our current strikers are NOT playing well and he's making up (very well) for their lack of input.
Cahill doesn't play well in a typical 4-5-1 because he gets lost in the midfield and in a typical 4-4-2 Cahill is isolated. What he does so well is to fill the gap between the front man and midfield in a 4-5-1.
If you want to "open your eyes and your mind" ? *roles eyes* ? try viewing it as 4-4-1-1. That's what is really being played.
31 Posted 25/11/2010 at 14:43:05
If Saha or Yakubu play together or Saha and Beckford do, then watch the difference between Saha's and Cahill's movement. There wouldn't be much because Saha is a second striker as is Cahill at the moment!!
The whole point of the article is we don't need to change the formation now, just hope the strikers get their scoring boots on, but wait till the summer for some decent wingers so we can play a 4-3-3.
At least people realise now that the current problem now ain't the formation. It's strange how people don't mention to play 4-4-2 just after this thread has been created.
32 Posted 25/11/2010 at 16:08:46
Apart from the current mailbag thread entitled "Go 4-4-2"!
33 Posted 25/11/2010 at 20:26:25
He doesn't play right up against the centre back so he can be easily marked but he's still far more 'up front' than he is 'in midfield'.
34 Posted 27/11/2010 at 00:11:48
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.
Top of the Page
1 Posted 24/11/2010 at 13:52:20
Once Fellaini is back, I think we will start up again as Arteta seems to be dropping way too deep to have any effect on the game and Heitinga is a centre back not a defensive midfielder ? last season with him and Lucas Neill at the back we seemed really quite solid!!