outlaw_member
Established Member
As I look across the European continent, I notice two groups of teams. Group A- Man Utd, Inter, Barcelona, Chelsea, Liverpool, all deploy a variant of the 4-5-1. Than look at the teams that generally execute the 4-4-2, Group B- Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Lyon, Real Madrid. When the difference between the teams is small, the extra man can be pivotal against a side that only matches 2 men in the same area. As the Group A teams possess quality players in the central positions, they are very likely to win the midfield battle, even against two quality central midfielders. I'm aware that a 4-4-2 has 4 midfielders, but wide players are of a high quality nowadays unlike in the past, so they require more freedom leaving a large amount of responsibility on the CM's. The problem is that we have no dominating CM's(A type of player which is very rare), so asking our current options to carry the creative and defensive work, is suicidal against 3 players from the opposition. Why do you think we have been deploying a 4-5-1 variant against the big teams? We have no choice, because you can't possibly expect Fabregas and partner to dominate 3 quality players.
A 4-4-2 is rarely going to work against a 4-5-1 variant utilised by a Group A team, because they all repeat the same trick. Isolate our strikers, making our wide players push up, and than the 3 midfield opponents pressurise the 2 midfielders in a battle they are likely to win, leaving 3 attackers to run havoc at your unguarded defence, as your midfield is sucked upfield. Many Group B teams have played a 4-5-1 variant against a Group A team, as a result of the aforementioned problem. Unfortunately, the Group B teams squad comprises of many strikers, and not enough central midfielders. We deploy a 4-4-2 all season long, but when the big games come around and we have to play 3 midfielders, suddenly there aren't enough in the squad, and we are forced to make crazy decisions like Eduardo or Van Persie on the wings, or Diaby in the hole. We frankly don't have the midfielders to execute a 4-5-1 variant, as we are trained and comprised for a 4-4-2. Is it any wonder we lost the recent big games? The big games we won in past was as a result of having 3 quality midfielders in the middle of the pitch, Hleb, Fabregas and Flamini. Ironically, this all goes back to the CM debacle of last summer. Nevertheless, we need the squad to comprise of more midfielders, and less strikers. We can't play a 4-4-2 throughout the season, and than expect the players to repeat similar performances in a formation they aren't truly accustomed to, and against the very best of teams.
The 4-4-2 has been replaced by the more flexible 4-5-1, and it has played a significant part of the Group A teams performances. The 4-4-2 has been left behind, because it is far too fluid in a World where there are more and more specialist players. Unless you have World Class XI, you probably aren't going to succeed. There is too much freedom entrusted to the midfielders and strikers, leaving the defence woefully exposed. Doesn't that sound familiar?
P.S. Sure, it's another tactics thread, but that has been one of our biggest failures this season. Wenger has obviously seen this problem, which is why he has gone for the 4-2-3-1. There are a few members that think we haven't played a 4-4-2 for a very long time, but I won't be around to reply back to your assertions.
A 4-4-2 is rarely going to work against a 4-5-1 variant utilised by a Group A team, because they all repeat the same trick. Isolate our strikers, making our wide players push up, and than the 3 midfield opponents pressurise the 2 midfielders in a battle they are likely to win, leaving 3 attackers to run havoc at your unguarded defence, as your midfield is sucked upfield. Many Group B teams have played a 4-5-1 variant against a Group A team, as a result of the aforementioned problem. Unfortunately, the Group B teams squad comprises of many strikers, and not enough central midfielders. We deploy a 4-4-2 all season long, but when the big games come around and we have to play 3 midfielders, suddenly there aren't enough in the squad, and we are forced to make crazy decisions like Eduardo or Van Persie on the wings, or Diaby in the hole. We frankly don't have the midfielders to execute a 4-5-1 variant, as we are trained and comprised for a 4-4-2. Is it any wonder we lost the recent big games? The big games we won in past was as a result of having 3 quality midfielders in the middle of the pitch, Hleb, Fabregas and Flamini. Ironically, this all goes back to the CM debacle of last summer. Nevertheless, we need the squad to comprise of more midfielders, and less strikers. We can't play a 4-4-2 throughout the season, and than expect the players to repeat similar performances in a formation they aren't truly accustomed to, and against the very best of teams.
The 4-4-2 has been replaced by the more flexible 4-5-1, and it has played a significant part of the Group A teams performances. The 4-4-2 has been left behind, because it is far too fluid in a World where there are more and more specialist players. Unless you have World Class XI, you probably aren't going to succeed. There is too much freedom entrusted to the midfielders and strikers, leaving the defence woefully exposed. Doesn't that sound familiar?
P.S. Sure, it's another tactics thread, but that has been one of our biggest failures this season. Wenger has obviously seen this problem, which is why he has gone for the 4-2-3-1. There are a few members that think we haven't played a 4-4-2 for a very long time, but I won't be around to reply back to your assertions.
Man Utd can deploy both formations, because they can afford 4-5 quality CM's, and 3-4 quality Strikers. We can't possibly do the same, as it is a luxury only afforded to the very rich. There is no way ourselves or any other team bar Chelsea, could uptake so many extra players.
