The Valencia formation

[Craig_H]

This is what i think Rafa's going for. We saw it against Arsenal and i think once the right players are signed, it'll become the norm:

................Crouch

Gonzalez....Garcia.......Gerrard


..........Alonso....Masherano

Riise......Agger...Carra......Finnan

.................Reina

Obviously, there could be different players used in different positions, but that's just an example.

Could play Gerrard central and Garcia wider, or Garcia left, Gerrard right and Kuyt just behind. Obviously, there may be a 'top' striker to come in and play up front. Of course Aurelio might play LB in place of Riise at times, and Momo would play sometimes too.

But i think that's the system he's trying to build and it's getting closer.

[Revo]

eerm

[Guest]

That could well be but in place of Crouch upfront I'd stick Eto'o or Villa there. That would be a very mobile attacking formation with Crouchy coming from the bench as another alternative.

[Morph]

Personally i think rafa has mostly given up on trying to play one up top in the prem, remember his first season he tried to do it every game and we've hardly seen it at all this season.

[keniget]

Heh.

In other news today, oranges are round.

[singlerider]

Personally i think rafa has mostly given up on trying to play one up top in the prem, remember his first season he tried to do it every game and we've hardly seen it at all this season.

But is that more to do with Rafa realising he doesn't have the personnel . . . yet?

With Kuyt as the hard working striker, and possibly two classy goal-scoring wingers, we may yet see the resurrection of the 4231

[Morph]

where does that leave kuyt then who seems to be very much in rafas plans, he wouldn't have 4/5 strikers if he only ever intended to go one up top

[keniget]

Kuyt has been playing in that withdrawn role up top.

[bazza76]

This is what i think Rafa's going for. We saw it against Arsenal and i think once the right players are signed, it'll become the norm:

................Crouch

Gonzalez....Garcia.......Gerrard


..........Alonso....Masherano

Riise......Agger...Carra......Finnan

.................Reina

Obviously, there could be different players used in different positions, but that's just an example.

Could play Gerrard central and Garcia wider, or Garcia left, Gerrard right and Kuyt just behind. Obviously, there may be a 'top' striker to come in and play up front. Of course Aurelio might play LB in place of Riise at times, and Momo would play sometimes too.

But i think that's the system he's trying to build and it's getting closer.

That was always going to be Rafa's favourite IMO. We have used that formation many many times already.
And yes, I think it will probably favourite formation in the future.

[Craig_H]

That was always going to be Rafa's favourite IMO. We have used that formation many many times already.
And yes, I think it will probably favourite formation in the future.

Imagine if we got 2 top wingers and a top class goalscorer, to work with Gerrard in that advanced quartet - they'd be almost unstoppable. And with the protection of 2 holding players in front of the defence, that front four could just run riot.

[cobrakai]

Thanks for the post, you're only 2 and 1/2 years late with it.

From Rafa's first season it's been obvious he's been attempting to recreate the 4-5-1 variant he used at Valencia.

[Deadlogic]

Thanks for the post, you're only 2 and 1/2 years late with it.

From Rafa's first season it's been obvious he's been attempting to recreate the 4-5-1 variant he used at Valencia.

No need for the sarcasm.

[bazza76]

Imagine if we got 2 top wingers and a top class goalscorer, to work with Gerrard in that advanced quartet - they'd be almost unstoppable. And with the protection of 2 holding players in front of the defence, that front four could just run riot.

Thats what I am actually trying to anticipate, Im certain Rafa is on the same wave length, but sometimes I struggle to realise why Rafa does want say 4 or 5 strikers though as he is not a big fan of using them in that position, we not more than 1 in a game in that role.

[bazza76]

Thanks for the post, you're only 2 and 1/2 years late with it.

From Rafa's first season it's been obvious he's been attempting to recreate the 4-5-1 variant he used at Valencia.

if you want to be pedantic, thats a 4-2-3-1 actually and also, the team will never be a rigid formation, the players will take up the best positions according to how the opposing team lines out.

[Craig_H]

Thanks for the post, you're only 2 and 1/2 years late with it.

From Rafa's first season it's been obvious he's been attempting to recreate the 4-5-1 variant he used at Valencia.

Welcome to the site.

You can f*ck off now.