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Time to change to 4-4-2 (OR) 4-4-1-1??

Discussion in 'Arsenal' started by ajameshowe, Feb 5, 2012.

  1. ajameshowe

    ajameshowe Member

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    With AOC in fine form and Walcott (under pressure) finally having a good game Wenger has to make a tough call with Gervinho coming back into the squad.

    AOC is young and learning but he's so good right now you surely can't drop him

    Why not finally try and change up the formation and take some pressure off RVP

    Neither Walcott nor Gervinho's finishing has been the required quality but i think long term Wenger must be looking to them with the other crap we have.

    OPTION#1 - 4-4-1-1

    Walcott----Song----Arteta----Gervinhio

    ---------------AOC - In the hole

    ---------------RVP

    OPTION#2 - 4-4-2

    Walcott ----Song----Arteta---AOC

    ------------RVP-----Gervinho
     
    #1
  2. ThatThereSaintsFan

    ThatThereSaintsFan Well-Known Member

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    Option 1 is a good shout, although and option 3 could be the same as option 2 with gervinho and walcott switched round? Infact you could swap and of the 3 of Aoc Walcott and Gervinho and get some good options.
     
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  3. cjuliennech1

    cjuliennech1 Member

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    We can't just change to 4-4-2 because we have been playing 4-3-3 for the last 4-5 years and especially against the big teams we will get destroyed in the middle of the park, also we want our wingers to be as far up the pitch as possible, not in a wide midfield position, we need them to have the ball in the final third. Also with our style of play we have to have 3 in the middle in order to retain the ball better and then have midfield runners rather than having the 2 strikers up front. The formation with oxo in the whole looks interesting but it forces gervinho and walcott too far back into a position where they have defend (which neither are particularly good at) and where they will become un-effective. It's simple just stick with the formation and drop walcott and put oxo on the right gervinho on the left or vice-versa.
     
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  4. Samurai

    Samurai Active Member

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    4-3-1-2 would work IMO

    Arteta, Song and Rosicky playing behind Chamberlain, then Van Persie and Walcott up front.
     
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  5. rannaramshere

    rannaramshere Member

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    You'd need the world's best fullbacks to even attempt that formation. Even Sagna would struggle to shoulder the burden.
     
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  6. Samurai

    Samurai Active Member

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    Right now we pretty much play 4-1-2-3 anyway, this just pushes a couple further back.
     
    #6
  7. rannaramshere

    rannaramshere Member

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    Our current system still relies on a covering winger down the sides as well as Alex Song who is expected to fill in there.
     
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  8. TheBear

    TheBear Well-Known Member

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    442 Is an antiquated formation.

    We would get destroyed by teams who just pack their midfield .
     
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  9. lazarus20000

    lazarus20000 Well-Known Member

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    Our formation is quite dynamic and is pretty much used by all the top teams. I don't think the formation is at fault but the constant changing of our team that has been the cause of a lot of problems. Losing key players over the years has been it. One of the problems we suffered a few years ago was a spine problem (Keeper, CB defenders and DM). But this is one area that we seems to have sorted with Cesney, Vermaelen/Kos and Song/Frimpong. Just a couple more players to go with our squad will take us forward....
     
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  10. MrWright!

    MrWright! Active Member

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    We should play a 5-2-1-2


    Sagna--Kossy--Merte--verm--santos
    -------Song---arteta
    ---------Wilshere
    --------RVP----Theo
     
    #10

  11. ToledoTrumpton

    ToledoTrumpton Well-Known Member

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    The differences in the 4-4-2 and the 4-2-3-1 are more in term of how you play tactically, and the type of players you pick, than just where on the field the players play.

    If you take away a man from the midfield, whilst it seems a slight difference it makes a significant change to attack and defence. On defence, you change to a more zone oriented system, with the two lines of 4, instead of closing down and using your extra man to press the ball, with a high line.

    In attack, it becomes very difficult to short pass your way through the midfield, and the ball tends to be played forward longer to one of the two front men who collect the ball, often with their back to goal and lay the ball back to the onrushing midfield. You hope to catch the other side's midfield before they are set.

    So instead of high energy skillful midfielders you get more combatitive types and your strikers need to be bigger and stronger. Your CB need to be bigger because you are letting the other side play balls in more. Your wingers are more defensive and need to be stronger, because they aren't trying to get in behind the other team as much, but they are defending and having to win the ball more, instead of having the ball 'played to feet'.

    Trying to adapt players between the two systems is very tricky. Even Messi has a terrible time adapting to Argentina's system when he plays internationally. It may seem like a subtle change, but it is in fact a significant difference. Taking a punt with a 4-4-2 at the end of the game, when you are pushing for a goal is one thing, changing formation totally, is a very different story.
     
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  12. TheBear

    TheBear Well-Known Member

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    1.Last team to win the league with a 4-4-2?
    Us in 2003-2004 (which was more of a 4-4-1-1 anyway)the last team to win it with a traditional 4-4-2 was United in 1998-99.

    2. Last team to win the European Cup with a 4-4-2?
    Real Madrid in 2001-2002.

    3. Last team to win a World Cup with a 4-4-2.
    Brazil in 1994.

    Just saying.

    Also last Season we did'nt play a 433 (except against United and against Newcastle) for most of the year we played a 4231.

    A few points:


    1. A 4-2-2 is not more attacking than a 4-3-3. It's a myth, mainly because the English press generally cant tell the difference between a 451 and a 433.

    2. A 4-3-3 does not have traditional 'wingers' but should contain three forwards - they are not part of the midfield. (much like Barcelona who play Messi/Villa out wide)
    It's a much more attacking system than say a 4-5-1, something the English football press get consistantly confused about.

    3. Nearly all of the better domestic and international sides have now adopted either a 4-3-3 or various four-banded formations (4-1-2-3 etc.) that allow a certain extent of fluidity within it’s constraints, thus facilitating a much more open and expressive style of football.
     
    #12

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