4.4.2 outdated, who would you play in a 4.2.3.1 system

**mypost** · 09/07/2010, 4:48 PM

Originally Posted by Supreme feet

The most important player in the 4-2-3-1 is the central attacking midfielder, and if he is off form (i.e. Gerrard this year, Ozil the other night), then the whole team malfunctions.

4-2-3-1 definitely works - but it depends on the attacking ability of the midfielders. In fact, most teams play with one striker nowadays because when they play 4-4-2, they get outnumbered in midfield. No matter who the strikers are, you're not going to score many goals if you don't have the ball.

And one way of not getting goals is playing one man upfront against teams that park the bus and sit in their own box all day. Having 2 forwards up top is for them to support each other, not playing behind each other, or clicking their fingers on the wing. You've also demonstrated why I don't like the 4-5-1 system, it depends on one player, or the whole team suffers. You're supposed to have 11 players on a team, not be reliant on one player or it's kaput. My favourite formations are 4-3-3, and if you have to go gun ho, 4-2-4. They're both rarely used, but the first one is a balanced formation which doesn't compromise you upfront or at the back, and the other one can be used if a load of goals are needed.

A lot of coaches insist on their formation, then find players to fit that formation. Trouble is, very few players are willing to play set formations, because they can't or don't want to. This causes further problems in the transfer market, especially for forwards, as if only one forward plays every week and only him, no forward will want to come to a new club and have to sit on the bench every week. The Irish example of that at club level, is Robbie Keane.

Find your players, then fit your formation that suits them, not you.

**geysir** · 09/07/2010, 5:05 PM

Originally Posted by Junior

Off Topic I know, however,

Is this the game you are on about geysir?

[I] 10 September 1980
Republic of Ireland 2�1 Netherlands Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland
Daly 78'
Lawrenson 85'

Tahamata 57'

World Cup Qualifier
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Lund-S�rensen (Denmark)

G Peyton
D Langan
D D.O'Leary
D P.O'Leary
D Hughton
D Lawrenson
D Grealish
M Daly
M Brady (c)
F Stapleton
F Givens

Coach: Hand

A few of the bigger names missing there for the Dutch - Did Ireland really put Total Football to the sword? Id be interested to hear all about that

And see how we did it, playing a 6-2-2

- which brings it relatively on topic

Young Stutts might remember that Lawro played in midfield in that game.
Electric atmosphere, and a gale force wind rendered fancy formations to the bin.

**Stuttgart88** · 09/07/2010, 10:47 PM

I watched it on telly and my recollection is that it was virtually pitch dark when Lawro scored. I see Tahamata is listed as "F. Tahamata" - I thought his name was Simon?

September must be a good time to play the Dutch at home, especially when the date's digits add up to 1!