Man City build up

[Craig_H]

We played 4231 against Chelsea mate.

It was 4231

Pepe
Johnson Agger Skrtel Enrique
Lucas Adam
Kuyt Maxi Bellamy
Suarez

[yamiedo]

Not meaning to pick you particularly up on this (and it's probably not the ideal place) but I'm really sceptical about this "lack of focus" idea that seems to be becoming entrenched as an explanation for things.

If I can paraphrase your statement, an alternative way of looking at it is this:

"Hopefully our opponents won't make changes at half-time to overcome our first half dominance and if they do then either they won't work or Dalglish and Clarke will quickly make the necessary the counter-adjustments so we can continue to dominate as we did before the break."

Certainly, as people (including me) have pointed out before, there have been plenty of times this season when we have dominated the first half only to sacrifice the initiative, never to regain it. To me what was important about Sunday was not that a top six Premiership team managed to find a way at half-time to come back into the match (really, can we reasonably expect anything else?) but that the management team found a way to address this new situation and so we ended the stronger and got the victory we deserved from our display over the full ninety minutes.

Yes, I agree. I actually mentioned Chelsea's changes at half time as a factor of our poor start to the second half. I just put "Lose Focus" here out of pure laziness to be honest.

[JohnDoe]

We played 4231 against Chelsea mate.

It was 4231

Pepe
Johnson Agger Skrtel Enrique
Lucas Adam
Kuyt Maxi Bellamy
Suarez

Bellamy clearly played up front and Maxi clearly played on the left. There were times Kuyt moved up front and Bellamy moved right, but it was the same old 4-4-2.

[RedReet]

We played 4231 against Chelsea mate.

It was 4231

Pepe
Johnson Agger Skrtel Enrique
Lucas Adam
Kuyt Maxi Bellamy
Suarez

Kuyt played extremely deep I thought and looking at the chalkboard, Maxi had a lot of posession deep in our half. I don't think you can safely call what formation we played because drop our two wide men back (which I though we did) turns 4231 into 4411 and DWW's link suggested. And then to argue the difference between 442 and 4411 would only be splitting hairs.

[cream]

It was a fluid formation, both Kuyt and Maxi tucked in and played quite deep at times. The width was provided by the full-backs, I'd love to see us continue this way.

[RichC]

It was most certainly a fluid formation and not this apparent rigis 4-4-2 people seem to think we play game in game out.

[The_weatherman]

It was most certainly a fluid formation and not this apparent rigis 4-4-2 people seem to think we play game in game out.

I always find it better to use formations to understand team setups but I kind really describe the Kenny Hybrid, but one thing it's not, is rigid. Hodgsons 4-4-2 was rigid, but Kenny's formation is something I for one can't quite put my finger on.

[RichC]

I'd agree with that

[cream]

I always find it better to use formations to understand team setups but I kind really describe the Kenny Hybrid, but one thing it's not, is rigid. Hodgsons 4-4-2 was rigid, but Kenny's formation is something I for one can't quite put my finger on.

It's not always like that though. Against Chelsea there was good movement, players interchanging and there was always three in the middle. Other times we have been static and over-run in a two man midfield. I suppose it depends on the personnel, we had the right players to play fluid football on Sunday, whilst Downing and Carroll work better in a rigid 4-4-2. I prefer the former to the latter.

[~LFCHistory~]

It's not always like that though. Against Chelsea there was good movement, players interchanging and there was always three in the middle. Other times we have been static and over-run in a two man midfield. I suppose it depends on the personnel, we had the right players to play fluid football on Sunday, whilst Downing and Carroll work better in a rigid 4-4-2. I prefer the former to the latter.

Anyone who prefers the latter is either over 40 or a lunatic.

[~LFCHistory~]

Would Spearing and Lucas in the middle with Adam just in front be a good idea to stop City and especially Silva or would that too defensive ?

[JohnDoe]

I'd put Henderson in the middle with Lucas and Adam and drop either Kuyt or Maxi. Judging by the last game, Kuyt should make way.

Bellamy has to play.

[cream]

---------------Suarez--------------

-------Maxi--------------Bellamy---

-------------Henderson------------

---------Adam---------Lucas-------

Enrique---Agger----Skrtel---Johnson

---------------Pepe---------------

[~LFCHistory~]

I'd put Henderson in the middle with Lucas and Adam and drop either Kuyt or Maxi. Judging by the last game, Kuyt should make way.

Bellamy has to play.

Henderson looked good as an impact sub on Sunday but let's not get over excited, he's not ready to start league games yet IMO especially against a team like City at home.

[billy_mac]

Would Spearing and Lucas in the middle with Adam just in front be a good idea to stop City and especially Silva or would that too defensive ?

Spearing played in there with Lucas last year if I remember right, but that might have more to do with lack of options than anything else.

I think too defensive, our gander is up, more focus on attacking them. I think ambushing them in posession is the key. Adam is improving in that regard and offer more than Jay with the ball.