Next season's formation and tactics

[fowlen]

With Torres now on board, and the likelihood of more signings to come I believe that we will see our often used 4 - 5 - 1 formation being used less and less.

Rafa obviously loves Kuyt, and believes he'll deliver and now we've just splashed out big time on Torres, which seems to imply that we'll most likely start most games with two out and out strikers.

So the midfield will contain 4 players....so how do we juggle the midfield?
There are so many formations possible, but i think Stevie G will be given a much more free role this season, with Xabi and JM controlling the middle of the pitch and therefore one winger being used (probably Kewell).

Stevie's free role would probably see him play predominantly through the middle, and shifting right when needed.

Rafa's next couple of signings will most definitely dictate how we'll play next season, but I'm guessing we'll be far more expansive and attacking....and that Rafa believes that Torres and Kuyt, Crouch and Veronin will all work the channels to receive the ball from midfield too.....

Let's see!

[Howard_lfc]

With Torres now on board, and the likelihood of more signings to come I believe that we will see our often used 4 - 5 - 1 formation being used less and less.

Rafa obviously loves Kuyt, and believes he'll deliver and now we've just splashed out big time on Torres, which seems to imply that we'll most likely start most games with two out and out strikers.

So the midfield will contain 4 players....so how do we juggle the midfield?
There are so many formations possible, but i think Stevie G will be given a much more free role this season, with Xabi and JM controlling the middle of the pitch and therefore one winger being used (probably Kewell).

Stevie's free role would probably see him play predominantly through the middle, and shifting right when needed.

Rafa's next couple of signings will most definitely dictate how we'll play next season, but I'm guessing we'll be far more expansive and attacking....and that Rafa believes that Torres and Kuyt, Crouch and Veronin will all work the channels to receive the ball from midfield too.....

Let's see!

I've thought about this - and posted similar in another thread.

Your theory gets shot to pieces though if we buy a right midflielder - unless one of our two holding mids is given a day off.

[AFII]

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I think Rafa will use this formation a lot this season.

[Resu]

We could do 3-5-2 also.
Arbeloa-Carra-Agger at the back.
Mascher/Xabi as defensive CM.
Gerrard and Momo/LL at CM.
Riise/Aurelio at LM.
Finnan/Pennant at RM.
Two strikers, my guess is Torres and Kuyt as starters.

[fowlen]

I've thought about this - and posted similar in another thread.

Your theory gets shot to pieces though if we buy a right midflielder - unless one of our two holding mids is given a day off.

Yeah, I know.

I think Rafa will still pick sides depending on the opposition, but he'll be much more attack minded.

It's gonna be hard to pick a midfield next season, especially if we do as expected sign a new winger....

I guess three at the back may be an option at times?

[El Jefecito]

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I think Rafa will use this formation a lot this season.

Have we got the right full backs to provide the width tho. Not now we don't

[Red_Polo]

Tbh I expect the tactics to be quite similar, just far better executed in attack.

[dww]

Have we got the right full backs to provide the width tho. Not now we don't

To play that formation with our current squad we would have to have two wide players behind the forward (in the style of Duff & Robben at Chelsea a few years ago). I can see us playing something like that with Kewell and someone else there against some teams.

I still think the core formation will be 4-4-2 with two deep lying CMs. There may be some variation in whether we play 1 up with someone off them but I suspect the signing of Torres means it will be him + Kuyt (maybe Crouch) as the main partnership.

[Joe Le Toff]

I disagree, i think 4-5-1 will still be used.
The fact that Torres played up front on his own for AM on numerous occasions would have had an influence on Rafas thinking.
That said, Torres definitely is a better player when he has a partner with him up front.
Crouch/Torres or Kuyt/Torres both work for me.

[bazza76]

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I think Rafa will use this formation a lot this season.

doesnt offer too much width though does it. Finnan is mobile enough from full back though.

[bazza76]

4-2-3-1 most of the time I think.

[dww]

I disagree, i think 4-5-1 will still be used.
The fact that Torres played up front on his own for AM on numerous occasions would have had an influence on Rafas thinking.
That said, Torres definitely is a better player when he has a partner with him up front.
Crouch/Torres or Kuyt/Torres both work for me.

I certainly think that Torres' ability to play up on his own was a factor in Rafa liking him. I just think that if we were looking to play 4-5-1 more often we would have looked to secure attacking midfielders before a striker especially as we have let Garcia go.

[PLY]

4-2-2-2 for me a la Saachi's Milan

[Joe Le Toff]

I certainly think that Torres' ability to play up on his own was a factor in Rafa liking him. I just think that if we were looking to play 4-5-1 more often we would have looked to secure attacking midfielders before a striker especially as we have let Garcia go.

Benayoun/Lucas??

[dww]

Benayoun/Lucas??

I can see what you are saying and obviously we are both guessing but I would see Lucas as a signing for the future and from what I've read his position is more like Vieira or Pirlo depending on reports - but both players share the feature of coming from deep and I can't see him displacing the options we have in that position yet. I guess it would allow us to free up gerrard in the middle.

If we get Benayoun I think that would be a sign of heading towards 4-5-1 as although he plays wide he comes in and supports the forward. In either formation I think our current squad lacks attacking midfielders who get past the forwards and threaten the goal.