I hate the 3-5-2 because it leaves so much space in behind the wingbacks. Any team with pacy wide men (the likes of Adelaide and Queensland jump to mind here) can absolute cause carnage when they hit on the break. Also, when a team in 3-5-2 goes forward it is hard to get an overlap down the flanks because you don't have a fullback and a winger so vulnerable defensively you aren't always as effective going forward either.
Here are some of the options available given our squad. If we can get a RB and Porter we will have a great deal of flexibility and choice (yay!).
442 - Diamond. New RB would be needed (or Dodd/Durante/Christie/Lia playing there), a holding midfielder (Brown, Dodd, McKain, Ross, Lia?) and Daniel playing as an attacking mid behind the strikers with Gao and Bertos down the fllanks. Smeltz and hopefully Porter up front
442 - Conventional. Same as above but 2 more traditional center midfielders. The Lia + Ferrante combination worked well last season but it means we have to do 3 wingers (Daniel, Gao, Bertos) into two spaces
Either of the 442 formations really demand the signing of another proper striker (Joel Porter). If we don't get him, one of these formations may appeal to Ricki:
4411 - Same as 442 but just keep Smeltz up front on his own and use Gao/Daniel or Bertos as an AMC in behind the striker.
4231 - Very similar to a 4411 but the two central midfielders play slightly further back and are generally both more defensive. The wingers tend to be pushed up further in support of the strikers and a creative player (once again, one of Daniel/Gao/Bertos) slots in behind Smeltz to orchestrate play.
451/433 - Jose Mourinho Style. 1 Out and out holding midfielder, 2 CM's (probably Ferrante + Lia), two wingers who play right up close to Smeltz. Once again you would have to leave out one of Daniel/Bertos/Gao.
KTBW2008-03-25 15:34:14
I hate the 3-5-2 because it leaves so much space in behind the wingbacks. Any team with pacy wide men (the likes of Adelaide and Queensland jump to mind here) can absolute cause carnage when they hit on the break. Also, when a team in 3-5-2 goes forward it is hard to get an overlap down the flanks because you don't have a fullback and a winger so vulnerable defensively you aren't always as effective going forward either.
Here are some of the options available given our squad. If we can get a RB and Porter we will have a great deal of flexibility and choice (yay!).
442 - Diamond. New RB would be needed (or Dodd/Durante/Christie/Lia playing there), a holding midfielder (Brown, Dodd, McKain, Ross, Lia?) and Daniel playing as an attacking mid behind the strikers with Gao and Bertos down the fllanks. Smeltz and hopefully Porter up front
442 - Conventional. Same as above but 2 more traditional center midfielders. The Lia + Ferrante combination worked well last season but it means we have to do 3 wingers (Daniel, Gao, Bertos) into two spaces
Either of the 442 formations really demand the signing of another proper striker (Joel Porter). If we don't get him, one of these formations may appeal to Ricki:
4411 - Same as 442 but just keep Smeltz up front on his own and use Gao/Daniel or Bertos as an AMC in behind the striker.
4231 - Very similar to a 4411 but the two central midfielders play slightly further back and are generally both more defensive. The wingers tend to be pushed up further in support of the strikers and a creative player (once again, one of Daniel/Gao/Bertos) slots in behind Smeltz to orchestrate play.
451/433 - Jose Mourinho Style. 1 Out and out holding midfielder, 2 CM's (probably Ferrante + Lia), two wingers who play right up close to Smeltz. Once again you would have to leave out one of Daniel/Bertos/Gao.
KTBW2008-03-25 15:34:14