Time for 4-4-2 (2 Viewers)

[BlueSkiesForever]

I think after that dismal performance we need to change something. Changing Robins right now isn’t the answer, he deserves at least the season, and we can’t change players as the window is obviously over, so I think one of the few things we can change is the formation and the starting 11.

I remember at the start of last season I was calling for us to change from 5 to 4 at the back and I think that helped significantly, however with the amount of attackers we’ve got and the lack of decent midfielders we’ve got, I think we should move to a 4-4-2. Use the ample wingers we’ve got to provide width and take the pressure of us having to feed everything through the midfield centrally. Currently it’s not working and with having less midfielders for rotation (either tiredness or injuries) we should use less midfielders and more of our wide players.

Dovin
Van Ewijk, Lati/Thomas, Binks, Bidwell
Saka, Torp, Sheaf/Eccles, Mason-Clark
Simms, Wright

 

---

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I think after that dismal performance we need to change something. Changing Robins right now isn’t the answer, he deserves at least the season, and we can’t change players as the window is obviously over, so I think one of the few things we can change is the formation and the starting 11.

I remember at the start of last season I was calling for us to change from 5 to 4 at the back and I think that helped significantly, however with the amount of attackers we’ve got and the lack of decent midfielders we’ve got, I think we should move to a 4-4-2. Use the ample wingers we’ve got to provide width and take the pressure of us having to feed everything through the midfield centrally. Currently it’s not working and with having less midfielders for rotation (either tiredness or injuries) we should use less midfielders and more wide players.

Dovin
Van Ewijk, Lati/Thomas, Binks, Bidwell
Saka, Torp, Sheaf/Eccles, Mason-Clark
Simms, Wright

The shape is not as big a factor as the instructions being given to the team and individual players. The ball is being played at too slow a tempo, players are not moving much off the ball, and if there is supposed to be a press from the front, only Bassette got the memo.

 

[SeaSeeEffCee]

Our midfield would get even more over-run in 4-4-2

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

The shape is not as big a factor as the instructions being given to the team and individual players. The ball is being played at too slow a tempo, players are not moving much off the ball, and if there is supposed to be a press from the front, only Bassette got the memo.

I agree but I think the formation is definitely a component of why we’re performing poorly, it’s not the only factor but clearly not clicking for us atm and I think we should at least try a formation change to see if it helps. There’s a big disconnect between our wingers and midfield and I think having more of an outlet in a LM and RM could help, maybe.

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

Our midfield would get even more over-run in 4-4-2

But maybe our attacks would be much more frequent so the opposition wouldn’t have so much time to do what they liked on the ball? I’m not saying I know 4-4-2 is the answer but I’m a big believer in giving something a go before dismissing it.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

I’ve been after this since pre-season. Think it would work wonders to compact us but we’d have to play more direct and use our runners to get into teams.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I agree but I think the formation is definitely a component of why we’re performing poorly, it’s not the only factor but clearly not clicking for us atm and I think we should at least try a formation change to see if it helps. There’s a big disconnect between our wingers and midfield and I think having more of an outlet in a LM and RM could help, maybe.

You could see briefly when it went 4-2-2-2 today that Eccles and Torp got completely overrun. I could see 4-4-2 being an option out of possession to keep things more solid, but the shape isn't why so much is out of kilter I feel

 

[clint van damme]

I think after that dismal performance we need to change something. Changing Robins right now isn’t the answer, he deserves at least the season, and we can’t change players as the window is obviously over, so I think one of the few things we can change is the formation and the starting 11.

I remember at the start of last season I was calling for us to change from 5 to 4 at the back and I think that helped significantly, however with the amount of attackers we’ve got and the lack of decent midfielders we’ve got, I think we should move to a 4-4-2. Use the ample wingers we’ve got to provide width and take the pressure of us having to feed everything through the midfield centrally. Currently it’s not working and with having less midfielders for rotation (either tiredness or injuries) we should use less midfielders and more of our wide players.

Dovin
Van Ewijk, Lati/Thomas, Binks, Bidwell
Saka, Torp, Sheaf/Eccles, Mason-Clark
Simms, Wright

Here we go again

 

[edgy]

Yep let's make a weak midfield, even weaker. Great plan.

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

Here we go again

Let’s not both go there again Clint

 

[pusbccfc]

Please no. Even with Sheaf and Rudi as a 2, we'd be ran ragged.

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

Yep let's make a weak midfield, even weaker. Great plan.

No let’s take pressure off a weak midfield by adding width and using the many wingers we’ve got. We could play 7 in midfield but I’m sure it’d be just as wank as it currently is. Our trouble is having an outlet and linking up our play better, having a wider and more basic shape like a 4-4-2 may help.

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

I think after that dismal performance we need to change something. Changing Robins right now isn’t the answer, he deserves at least the season, and we can’t change players as the window is obviously over, so I think one of the few things we can change is the formation and the starting 11.

I remember at the start of last season I was calling for us to change from 5 to 4 at the back and I think that helped significantly, however with the amount of attackers we’ve got and the lack of decent midfielders we’ve got, I think we should move to a 4-4-2. Use the ample wingers we’ve got to provide width and take the pressure of us having to feed everything through the midfield centrally. Currently it’s not working and with having less midfielders for rotation (either tiredness or injuries) we should use less midfielders and more of our wide players.

Dovin
Van Ewijk, Lati/Thomas, Binks, Bidwell
Saka, Torp, Sheaf/Eccles, Mason-Clark
Simms, Wright

Torp a guaranteed starter and Rudoni already discarded?

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

 

[2024/25 League 1 Champs?]

No let’s take pressure off a weak midfield by adding width and using the many wingers we’ve got. We could play 7 in midfield but I’m sure it’d be just as wank as it currently is. Our trouble is having an outlet and linking up our play better, having a wider and more basic shape like a 4-4-2 may help.

a) why does Robins deserve the season? if he’s not performing he should go, like any other manager or other professional - no room for sentiment in football (I’m not saying he needs to go now by the way)

b) we don’t have ‘many wingers’, we’ve got maybe Tats and Raphael, and at a push EMC, who is more of a left sided forward in my eyes.

 

[Gibbo]

4 4 2 was my thought. It could accommodate our most potent threats - Haji and EMC. The latter was one of the bright spots tiday

 

[pusbccfc]

4 4 2 was my thought. It could accommodate our most potent threats - Haji and EMC. The latter was one of the bright spots tiday

Haji is far better as a LW than a striker.

Equally, I don't think playing Haji as a left midfielder in a 4-4-2 works either.

 

[Saddlebrains]

Flat 433 for me when everyone's fit

Dovin

Milan
Thomas
Kitching
DaSilva

Sheaf - the more deep lying player cutting out attacks and making tackles, starting moves
Eccles - him and Sheaf just work well together
Rudoni / Torp- the one with licence to drift in between the lines and make things happen, slot back in when defending

EMC - Tats is missing something at the mo, I know LW is his best position but he can do well enough on the right
Simms
Wright

 

[stupot07]

No let’s take pressure off a weak midfield by adding width and using the many wingers we’ve got. We could play 7 in midfield but I’m sure it’d be just as wank as it currently is. Our trouble is having an outlet and linking up our play better, having a wider and more basic shape like a 4-4-2 may help.

We have loads of width, when we have possession we are literally touchline to touchline. There are loads of outlets, we just have too many touches and are too slow in possession.

It would also help if all of the attackers didn't run away from the ball all of the time.

 

[pusbccfc]

Flat 433 for me when everyone's fit

Dovin

Milan
Thomas
Kitching
DaSilva

Sheaf - the more deep lying player cutting out attacks and making tackles, starting moves
Eccles - him and Sheaf just work well together
Rudoni / Torp- the one with licence to drift in between the lines and make things happen, slot back in when defending

EMC - Tats is missing something at the mo, I know LW is his best position but he can do well enough on the right
Simms
Wright

Spot on. This is a good side.

We just need Sheaf back. Torp and Rudi will be far better with him alongside.

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

Torp a guaranteed starter and Rudoni already discarded?

I like Rudoni, maybe he could fit into a 4-4-2 somehow, but we can’t fit all our best players into any formation we play, some players will inevitably have to drop out.

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

We have loads of width, when we have possession we are literally touchline to touchline. There are loads of outlets, we just have too many touches and are too slow in possession.

It would also help if all of the attackers didn't run away from the ball all of the time.

I know what you mean but I think we’re slow in possession because of the lack of options going forward, players umming and ahhing too much. I think having more space could allow players to be more confident and progressive with their passing, our midfield is too congested at times.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I know what you mean but I think we’re slow in possession because of the lack of options going forward, players umming and ahhing too much. I think having more space could allow players to be more confident and progressive with their passing, our midfield is too congested at times.

I think that comes down to lack of confidence, or MR instructing them to slow it down. Not sure which of those I hope it is

 

[Frostie]

Absolutely not.

When we switched to a variant of it today we looked absolutely lost. It completely took Wright out of the game. We didn't have to worry about Norwich nullifying our threats, we did it to ourselves.

 

[napolimp]

Robins needs to sort the team out tactically, and get them performing consistently and precisely, where every player knows what they should be doing. The formation is irrelevant right now, and he'd better hope Sheaf stays relatively fit and he doesn't lose more than 1 midfielder at a time.

Also, Tats needs to be dropped. He clearly has no confidence right now.

 

[Terry_dactyl]

Unless I’m mistaken we went to 442 today, and looked worse.

 

[ccfc1234]

Please no. Even with Sheaf and Rudi as a 2, we'd be ran ragged.

I think that is a bit harsh and 442 is not the worst about given the limited options in midfield. If sheaf and Rudoni could develop an understanding and dictate the tempo from midfield it could work. Personally I would play hadji on the last and Ellis and Bassette up top.

Dovin
MWE Thomas Kitching JDS
Saka Rudoni Sheaf Wright
Simms Bassette

 

[pusbccfc]

I think that is a bit harsh and 442 is not the worst about given the limited options in midfield. If sheaf and Rudoni could develop an understanding and dictate the tempo from midfield it could work. Personally I would play hadji on the last and Ellis and Bassette up top.

Dovin
MWE Thomas Kitching JDS
Saka Rudoni Sheaf Wright
Simms Bassette

Wright left midfield wouldn't work.

 

[DrPoolittle]

We don’t have a midfield, so let’s by pass it.

 

[The watchmaker]

I think after that dismal performance we need to change something. Changing Robins right now isn’t the answer, he deserves at least the season, and we can’t change players as the window is obviously over, so I think one of the few things we can change is the formation and the starting 11.

I remember at the start of last season I was calling for us to change from 5 to 4 at the back and I think that helped significantly, however with the amount of attackers we’ve got and the lack of decent midfielders we’ve got, I think we should move to a 4-4-2. Use the ample wingers we’ve got to provide width and take the pressure of us having to feed everything through the midfield centrally. Currently it’s not working and with having less midfielders for rotation (either tiredness or injuries) we should use less midfielders and more of our wide players.

Dovin
Van Ewijk, Lati/Thomas, Binks, Bidwell
Saka, Torp, Sheaf/Eccles, Mason-Clark
Simms, Wright

This is eminently sensible suggestion. Not sure I follow the arguement that a 4-2-3-1 = more midfielders than a 4-4-2 and people are overlooking our defensive fraility on the left in a 4-2-3-1 with Wright.

I favour SB's 4-3-3 but that came with the caveat 'when everyone is fit' which isn't currently applicable. Whether Rudoni and EMC would suit a 4 is questionable but on paper your suggested team accommodates all our big signings and may address some of the issues.

Ultimately though, is about more than formations and Sheaf's fitness is key.

 

[SkyBlueAndy1979]

4-3-3 would work better getting an extra man in midfield. Only problem is which front 3 would work best in that formation?

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

This is eminently sensible suggestion. Not sure I follow the arguement that a 4-2-3-1 = more midfielders than a 4-4-2 and people are overlooking our defensive fraility on the left in a 4-2-3-1 with Wright.

I favour SB's 4-3-3 but that came with the caveat 'when everyone is fit' which isn't currently applicable. Whether Rudoni and EMC would suit a 4 is questionable but on paper your suggested team accommodates all our big signings and may address some of the issues.

Ultimately though, is about more than formations and Sheaf's fitness is key.

This is what I was thinking, a 4-4-2 let’s us play to our strengths, which is our attacking players, trying to concentrate on a midfield that is so lacking when we’re sacrificing our attack for it seems odd to me.

Just let Sheaf and Torp/Eccles sit in midfield and then have 4 attacking options around them in Saka, EMC, Haji and Simms, rather than everything having to go through Rudoni all the time, it becomes too condensed and predictable.

 

[Monty]

Based on current player availability I think a 3412 would work
Back 3 Thomas Binks Kitching
Then MVE Eccles Torp Dasilva
The 1 can then be Rudoni or EMC it would allow for floating around a little always been available for the ball and the front 2 Simms and Wright, nothing to stop Wright pulling wider.
When Sheaf back he drops in for Eccles or Torp, Saka can cover the MVE role, BTA and Bassette cover the forward role.

Et voila more solid but still leaving creativity

 

[Hobo]

Our midfield would get even more over-run in 4-4-2

Especially if the two wide players in the 4 were out and out wingers.

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

Our best players are in the final third of the pitch this season. Our weakest area is the middle third.

We have to get the ball as quickly as possible with quality into Wright, Simms, Sakamoto or EMC, Bassette, BTA where they have the space to do things. And try and minimise the amount we mess about in the middle third with Eccles and Torp 'play making' and 'pulling the strings'

When the play is slow and the onus is on torp and eccles to play passes to break down the opposition is when the play starts breaking down and we look like we are running out of ideas.