4-3-3

[Tals-biggest-fan]

I don't even think we need to play 433 I think if we were to put mavies inbetween the midfield and attack he could cause some problems!

Jussi
Steinsson_Cahill_Boyata_Robbo
Petrov_Holden_Tuncay
Mavies
Ngog_Klasnic

and then if we need to defend we bring on Coker,Pratley instead of Mavies

[BWFC_Insane]

Bloody hell DSB are you prepping to rival 'arry for the England job?

[Choppers]

There's two important things about current squad to bare in mind when discussing any formations or tactics.

Kevin Davies is captain, and won't be dropped.

Zat Knight appears to be vice-captain, and won't be dropped.

DOOMED.

EDIT: Actually, a third factor of importance is the fact that Coyle is obsessed with 4-4-2, despite the opposition.

[boltonboris]

There's two important things about current squad to bare in mind when discussing any formations or tactics.

Kevin Davies is captain, and won't be dropped.

Zat Knight appears to be vice-captain, and won't be dropped.

DOOMED.

EDIT: Actually, a third factor of importance is the fact that Coyle is obsessed with 4-4-2, despite the opposition.

I keep saying it.. 4-4-2 means you have 4 players in your midfield. We don't. We have 2

This season so far we've played a 4-2-4

[bobo the clown]

I don't even think we need to play 433 I think if we were to put mavies inbetween the midfield and attack he could cause some problems!

Jussi
Steinsson_Cahill_Boyata_Robbo
Petrov_Holden_Tuncay
Mavies
Ngog_Klasnic

and then if we need to defend we bring on Coker,Pratley instead of Mavies

there would certainly be some problems caused if that team was put out ! Mostly for ourselves, but hey ...

Re the "if we need to defend" - it's not American Football, so we can't wheel defensive midfielders on & off. & by the Lord would we be in need of some defending with that lot starting.

[thebish]

I don't even think we need to play 433 I think if we were to put mavies inbetween the midfield and attack he could cause some problems!

Jussi
Steinsson_Cahill_Boyata_Robbo
Petrov_Holden_Tuncay
Mavies
Ngog_Klasnic

and then if we need to defend we bring on Coker,Pratley instead of Mavies

there would certainly be some problems caused if that team was put out ! Mostly for ourselves, but hey ...

Re the "if we need to defend" - it's not American Football, so we can't wheel defensive midfielders on & off. & by the Lord would we be in need of some defending with that lot starting.

simple - don't give Norwich the ball....

[Holden midfielder]

Then how can we call them "On the ball City" ....

I'll get me coat ....

[Prufrock]

I agree with Insane that 433 is narrow,

Personally, I couldn't agree less!

The wide forwards provide the width. Plus it's more flexible than a 4-4-2. We never struggled for width when we had Stelios and Diouf in these positions. I'd argue that with Petrov, Lee (when fit) and Tuncay, we actually have more ability than we did back then

In fairness, I read that as 'I agree with BWFCi- that 433 is narrow', meaning the actual line-up yon mon went with. I've always been of the opinion that for a well-oiled, coherent 4-4-2 to beat a well oiled, coherent 4-5-1- (be in 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-4-1/4-1-2-2-1) the 4-4-2 needs better players. It is just a better system, defensively, attacking, and in transition.

[Worthy4England]

This isn't much different that the 4-5-1 conversation we had with HWSNBN in charge.

The formation actually matters fook all, so it's a bit pointless Champ Manning it forever.

It's either effective and can translate defence into attack and vice-versa or it can't.

Under HWSNBN, we we're shit at defending and generally struggled to convert it into attack. Under OC, we're not too bad at attacking, but our defence is shit, and there ain't too many teams managed to stay up for significant periods withourt having the defence sorted and building from there...

[BWFC_Insane]

This isn't much different that the 4-5-1 conversation we had with HWSNBN in charge.

The formation actually matters fook all, so it's a bit pointless Champ Manning it forever.

It's either effective and can translate defence into attack and vice-versa or it can't.

Under HWSNBN, we we're shit at defending and generally struggled to convert it into attack. Under OC, we're not too bad at attacking, but our defence is shit, and there ain't too many teams managed to stay up for significant periods withourt having the defence sorted and building from there...

Aye we could put our players into a nice 4-5-1/4-3-3 system, and I'm betting it'd change the sum total of feck all! Its all about the managers mentality.

Allardyce was all about organisation, structure, percentages.

Coyle is about letting players go out and "express themselves". Both have their merits and both have their downfalls.

Its obvious that Coyle and his staff focus more on ball retention, attacking shape and getting "at teams", whatever system we play we'll still have the same players with the same sort of focus.

[boltonboris]

[Its obvious that Coyle and his staff focus more on ball retention, attacking shape and getting "at teams", whatever system we play we'll still have the same players with the same sort of focus.

I'd say a lot of the time, we have ZERO shape

[BWFC_Insane]

[Its obvious that Coyle and his staff focus more on ball retention, attacking shape and getting "at teams", whatever system we play we'll still have the same players with the same sort of focus.

I'd say a lot of the time, we have ZERO shape

I think we have shape, its just as you say often a Rioch style 4-2-4, without the same industry from the wingers!

[steviewander]

Stick to what we know

[plymouth wanderer]

Stick to what we know

nah

[wanderers_on_tour]

[Its obvious that Coyle and his staff focus more on ball retention, attacking shape and getting "at teams", whatever system we play we'll still have the same players with the same sort of focus.

I'd say a lot of the time, we have ZERO shape

I think we have shape, its just as you say often a Rioch style 4-2-4, without the same industry from the wingers!

Didn't Ricketts and Davies say on Goals on Sunday that Coyle actively told the players not to have a set shape or any such like and to just keep general position. Now I know their hardly going to spill the deepest darkest secrets of our club tactics (unlike megson..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdZ8HJc9HH8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) on national tv but it still had us worried.

[Turkish Trotter]

[Its obvious that Coyle and his staff focus more on ball retention, attacking shape and getting "at teams", whatever system we play we'll still have the same players with the same sort of focus.

I'd say a lot of the time, we have ZERO shape

I think we have shape, its just as you say often a Rioch style 4-2-4, without the same industry from the wingers!

Didn't Ricketts and Davies say on Goals on Sunday that Coyle actively told the players not to have a set shape or any such like and to just keep general position. Now I know their hardly going to spill the deepest darkest secrets of our club tactics (unlike megson..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdZ8HJc9HH8) on national tv but it still had us worried.

Tosser