so i read in another thread and posted by nefremo that pioli wants to change our tactics, should we stick with a 4 man back line or change to a 3 man defense? and for the attack should we stay with a 3 front or change to a 2 up front and the midfield should be revamped big times
so its either 3-5-2, 3-4-1-2, 3-4-3, 4-3-1-2, 4-4-2 or 4-1-2-1-2
3-4-1-2 is this teams only hope
I think Baldy goes 433
Tata
Calabria Kalulu-Kjaer-Theo
Tonali-Pobega-Krunic
Saladmaker-Giroud-Leao
Quiet predictable and not inspiring.
That's how I think he line's us up.
I don't think Pioli goes any thing else.
In this case, I would go:
Devis
Kalulu-Kjaer-Thiaw-Theo
Tonali-Vranckx-Adli
CDK-Giroud-Leao
Bennacer is probably out.
It may be a risk to start Thiaw, Vranckx and Adli but we're overdue to see what we have.
Devis CAN NOT be worse than Tatarusanu
With Tata, it should be 1-10-0-0
Just try to achieve 0-0 results till proper GK appears.
Avaiting for arrival of exorcist into our boardroom.
I think it's less about actual formation (#s) and more of the actual spacing and positioning on the field.
For instance, moving the defensive line back 10 meters. Or going away from both CBs being tasked with 'man to man' marking and following the mark into the opponent's half. Or making sure that both fullbacks don't bomb forward at the same time. These are things we can do without even changing the formation and they might actually yield some positive results.
These are also things that coaches would have done first and foremost. Because it's easier to make these adjustments within a proven template, than to change the formation template all together. Which is why it baffles me that Pioli didn't try these adjustments before apparently changing the entire formation.
As far as that goes, to help our defensive woes a bit, there are several options (IN ADDITION TO the above).
1) Add a 3rd CB to create a safety net behind the 2 CBs
to fix the defensive issues. You can than still have your 2 CBs man mark far away as you'll have a spare body in the back.
2) Add a 3rd CM. Discussed plenty of times here.
3) Do both...Add a 3rd CM and a 3rd CB. It becomes an "ultra-defensive" (on paper) 352/3511/532, depending on how you look at it.....BUT, it may fix the issues of conceding 3/4/5 goals per game. At least in theory.
Anyway, I'll reiterate that a change in formation alone will not fix anything. We need adjustments in our movements. In the way we mark 1 on 1. In the positioning of the defensive line and its proximity to the CMs and the GK, etc, etc. It's never just a simple "change to 433" and bam, problems solved.
Totally agree Xu. Arsenal is the best example. The difference in mentality, in self confidence, between last year and this year is unreal. Last year players like Xhaka wouldn't dare make a risky forward pass. Everything was safe, passive, sideways, backwards, etc. Now it's the opposite. Every pass is progressive. It probes the other team. And mistakes happen, but many passes work out well.
What i'm trying to say is, winning breeds confidence and more winning. But you go on a run of a few negative results, and the opposite effects can be felt. Now, I hope the team isn't that mentally fragile and they still have self belief in them, especially after winning the title last year. But yes, it was evident a lot of heads dropped vs Sassuolo and they no longer believed they could get back in the game, even at 3-1.
But it doesn't take a whole lot to go on a winning streak. Just gotta start with ine bug one many times. Hopefully that starts with Inter. But looking at that projected lineup, not too optimistic now.