No, it would have allowed us to change shape and shore up the right side simultaneously
what is the point of changing shape for changing sake. the best we could do on the right side was to bring on Moura for Bale. Nothing else could be done on the right side without screwing over almost everything else.
we didn’t have “3” we had 2, we were playing 4231, with Alli dropping in, which he could still have done (hence me saying 451 as well above) making the 4231 which occasionally was 433, a 442 which was a 451 witnout
We always had 3 in the middle - Dele+Ndombele+PEH, Ndombele+PEH+Sissoko and finally Lamela+PEH+Sissoko.
Mourinho does not play with an AM but uses an advanced CM who is expected to drop deeper than the fwid players when we lose possession. Mourinho himself describe the roleas a #8.5 and not a #10.
At worst that would have better than the 613 we ended up with as Sissoko just melts into the back line when we are shelling.
there was no melting into the back line. it was always a 4-2-3-1.
If he was he would have started.
But he didn’t. That’s the point. The pattern of the game did not change one bit after he came on.
It did cos there was less space in the middle
Like sitting deep and inviting pressure around our box has worked well for us?
We didnt start the game in that situation but as a result of changes in formation by Fulham in the 2nd half. We had the upper hand and several chances in the first but failed to convert on multiple occassions.
Your proposal would have left us exposed forthe entire 90mins
Fulham’s ability to break a high line was minimal, not just because they only have one zippy player - Lookmam - but because their midfield lacked the capability.
They dont lack the ability with Lookman's pace and Loftus-Cheek behind and Andersen ability to ping.
Instead of all those ping by Andersen going to close the byline, there would have been space for Lookman to be 1v1 with Lloris who is not fast enough nor willing to leave his line
Even if that were true, which it at best is only half true. it’s a really shit hybrid which had had Moura as the ACM prior to Thursday,
You play with the personnel you have.
Yes it is. 3-number format breaks the pitch into defence, midfield and attack. 4-number formats simply further breaks down the midfield and/or attack into 2 levels 4.g. 4-3-2-1 vs 4-3-1-2
Not when you are using it the way Mourinho often does, which is why he does use it quite often, and I think could have used it here to nullify them better.
Mourinho doesnot use 4-4-2 quite often. This season we have started games with 4-2-3-1 32x, 4-3-3 3x, and 3-4-2-1 3x. Each of 4-2-1-2-1, 3-5-2, 4-4-2, 3-4-1-2, and 3-4-2-1 have only been used once
It depends how it’s being applied obviously. The way I’m suggesting , it would protect the flanks because with 5 the central zone we would just shuffle across laterally, and with 3 proper CM’s in the centre, it would have forced them into congested zones. Combined with having our quickest Cb (Sanchez) on the side where their only quick player was (Lookman) we could have easily applied it.
What you are describing wouldhave only made us sit even deeper. There is no justification for the extra CB, while Doherty would have been lost the protection he had in front of him. If Sanchez moved wide, it would have left a bigger space for the slower Toby to cover.
Both lookman and Robinson were already having a field day, and you dont want lookman running at Sanchez - thats a recipe for a penalty.
you can just keep ignoring what I’m saying and repeating this mantra, along with “your formation is just numbers but numbers are a formation”, but all you are advocating is effectively changing nothing tactically, just doing it with shitter players
Cos the probem was not with the formation but with the players.
- if we had been more clinical, the game would have been out of reach
- if Kane was better at pressing, Andersen wouldnt have so much time on the ball
- if Doherty had better positioning and football iq, the same ball wouldnt have been pinged over his head 4x within 3 min
- if Davies, Doherty and Toby, could get past their man, Fulham's pressure wouldnt have been so successef
- If Sanchez, Doherty and Davies were better on the ball, they wouldnt repeatedly kick the ball to the opposition and invite further pressure.
- If Ndombele was a natural DM, we would have been more solid in the middle
- if we had a metronome/playmaker, we would be better able to maintain control of tempo in a game
Changes in formation is not going to hide those flaws