Phoenix Transfer - speculation (Part 1)

What do you guys think about the midfield combination in 442? Play a diamond and risk using all 3 of Bertos/Gao/Daniel or the more traditional 2 wingers, 2 central midfielders (say Ferrante + Lia)?

There were some tragic mistakes coming from the defenders last season (and some also lacked the physical attributes) but they were also consistantly put under a lot more pressure than other defences around the league. I don't think you should ignore midfield problems. Daniel, El**ch, Johnson and  Aloisi were all a bit slow while Felipe wasn't exactly a great ball winner either. Just man on man we didn't win many 50/50's in the middle. I thought this was better under the 3-5-2 obviously with the extra man but also because Lia and Ferrante were often on the field at the same time. Under the 4-4-2 the wide mids still have to track back and play more centrally on defence which didn't happen quickly enough. WellyT2008-03-25 16:19:40

Well, a 442 could be leave you less defensive cover than a 352 especially if you have 2 attacking full backs which could result in only 2 defenders back and possibly a DM for cover. Even with 1 full back up the line up switches from a 442 to a 352 anyway  with fast teams being able to exploit holes in the defense and then you are potentially substituting a Gao/Bertos/Daniel for a fullback comparing to a run of the mill 442.

edit:spelling
Bullion2008-03-25 16:21:07

Lochhead's a good player but in 3-5-2 he was hopeless. If we were to play only 3 at the back I suspect he would miss out, as he wouldn't be needed on the left of midfield, and this seems a waste of him.

I'm interested: how many world class teams don't play 4 at the back?

I still think a 451/433 or 4231 is better than a 352, that was just for arguments sake; and I wouldn't mind the Nix playing a 352 or a 361 if we didnt have the personal to suite the other formations.

352 was mainly successful during the late 80's and 90's, not so much now days with pace an important ingredient for top players.

To do well next season we are going to have to keep more than a handful of clean sheets and be able to defend a one goal lead. We are also going to need to be dangerous coming out of defence - Lochhead, and whoever we sign at right back, need to be able to go forward whenever the opportunity arises. I can't see how we can create this sort of defensive capability with three at the back. I think Ricki has already said, subject to finding a right back, he wants to play four at the back.

The thing that impressed me about Ricki was his versatility. He had no hesitation to play around with things when something wasn't working.

The fact he's looking for a dedicated RB means he must be looking at a back four at least to start with, but if that works he'd want versatility, right?

So you get...

4-4-2 diamond:

-------------------------Moss

New RB--------Durante---McKain-----Lochhead

------------------------Brown
--Bertos-------------------------------------Gao
------------------------Daniel

-----------Smeltz-----------------Porter?


4-4-2:

-------------------------Moss

New RB--------Durante---McKain-----Lochhead

Bertos---------Ferrante----Brown-----Daniel/Gao

-------------Smeltz-------------Porter?


4-3-3:

-------------------------Moss

New RB--------Durante---McKain-----Lochhead

------------Lia?--------Brown-----Ferrante

--Bertos--------------Smeltz--------------Daniel


3-5-2:

-------------------------Moss

-------------Dodd-----McKain----Durante
Lia-----------------------------------------Lochhead
------------------------Brown
-------Bertos----------------------------Daniel
----------------Smeltz-------Porter?

or

-------------------------Moss

-------------Dodd-----McKain----Durante
Lia?----------------------------------------Lochhead
----------Ferrante----------------Brown
-------------------------Daniel
-------------Smeltz--------------Porter?


3-6-1:

-------------------------Moss

-------------Dodd-----McKain----Durante
Lia?----------------------------------------Lochhead
----------------Ferrante-----Brown
------Bertos---------------------------Daniel
-------------------------Smeltz

i'd prefer 4 at the back for the most part, to give us more attack down the flanks

Yes finally someone agrees with me!  I think Lochead is gonna struggle with our formations this year. 

I doubt that. It's pretty likely that Ricki will play a back four of some kind. Either we sign a proper right back or he can give players like Lia, Dodd, Durante or Christie a shot at the position. I think Lia could actually make a decent fullback as he is mobile and can tackle. Don't know too much about his crossing (THAT ball to Smeltz wasn't the result of a traditional fullback's run to the byline and cross) or positional sense but he certainly couldn't be worse than what we've tried in the past.


KTBW2008-03-25 21:17:10

another factor in Lia's faviour as a right back is his tremendous teflon-coating  - he got away with some very 'marginal' tackles last year

Why not start with 5 at the back?

Well if he's going to play them all he probably can't play 2 strikers (that 442 diamond I described earlier looks a little unbalanced and I can't see Ricki using it) so why would he be pursuing Porter by your logic? I think it's all about him wanting to add depth to the squad and be able to have a number of different options formation wise.

People seem to have the impression that Ricki favors a 442 and that it will be the formation he wants to play next year. I would quite like to see us line up in a Luciano Spalleti style 4231 like this:

=======================Moss==========================

New RB/?=========Durante===========McKain============Lochead

===============Ferrante==========Lia====================

Gao====================Daniel======================Bertos

=======================Smeltz=========================

Porter could even be used on the left (although i don't know if he would want to/could perform well) in this system, and of course could come on from bench if we wanted to switch to a 442. Likewise if Ricki does just play 442 then 3 wingers into 2 spaces isn't a bad thing. Who knows, maybe Daniel could perform as an out and out CM as well? Depth in the squad is always a good thing so lets pray that we get Porter, Sigmund (with Old leaving) and a proper right back. With these signings (plus maybe this Hearfield kid) our squad would have all positions covered for very nicey indeed. In fact, with those additions we could possibly even challenge for the title!

In the AWs game, Ricki used Leo as a striker. Apart from not being able to shoot, he worked quite well. That could be lined up again...

Troy Hearfield's agent was on ZB this morning - apparently he's dead keen to come to the Phoenix if he can get a release from the Jets - it's going to an FFA Tribunal in the next 7-10 days.

Fascinating discussion. A real football thread.

what happens with Felipe now that the galaxy isnt in the league this year?

It's not like we had problems scoring most of last season!

Yeah, 2 strikers is a must. Has anyone who suggests 1 striker is good ever watched or played a game when your opposition has that formation? Its dead set easy to close down the striker.

if Spoonley gets cut - who will fill the yoof spot?

Pride of London...

yep that looks nice HN. I hate wingback systems. They might look nice on paper but they just lead to congestion in the middle and gaps down the flanks.

scribbler2008-03-26 16:45:10

In your defence.  I saw the post and added them, then closed the thread...

Here's a link to a thread on the Hartlepool fans' forum - talking about Joel Porter's house being for sale. It's a week or so old - but hopefully no smoke without fire.

Perhaps he's basing his decision on whether his house sells. A true Phoenix fan would snap that house up.

Daniel

rodfarva2008-03-27 13:09:44