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OK, with all that's going on at Manchester United at the moment I thought I'd take a minute to discuss formations. Everyone knows that for seven out of the last nine seasons Man U have taken the Premiership by storm, playing a simple 4-4-2 formation and being good at it. However, Ferguson in his infinite wisdom has taken it upon himself to change this. What happens? United aren't 10 points clear by Christmas and the Premiership is much better and wide open because of it. But what is the best formation?
4-4-2: Favoured by England (under Erikksonsonson) and making our national team look slightly better than the pub sides they've resembled for the last few years. The players seem comfortable in this. No need for wing-backs (come on, name a good wing-back!) and played well it can be devastating (see United for last nine years!). However, as Ferguson has noted, teams which become reliant on their wingers can be easily stopped, which led him to try...
4-1-4-1: In this system the back four are given extra protection by a holding midfielder (for United this is Keane) which allows the other four midfielders to go further forward. This system looks good on paper. With four international midfielders you should be able to get amazing movement, with all of them joining the lone striker, who's main job would be to hold up the ball and bring others into play. However, as United have found, the lone striker can be very isolated.
3-5-2: The wing-back system, favoured by the continental style teams, such as Chelsea, any Hoddle team, West Ham, etc. The idea being that when the other team have the ball, the wing-backs can drop back to form a 5-man defence, then move forward again when the ball is won back to create extra presence in midfield. Main problem is that no-one is good enough to play the position. Wingers aren't good enough at defending, and full-backs aren't creative enough.
4-3-3: Favoured by some continental teams, and Leeds often play like this. Basically, when the team lose the ball, the two wide strikers drop back to help the midfield out. Your midfielders need to be very fit for this formation, but in Leed's case it works because Mills and Harte get forward to help them well.
3-4-1-2: The ultimate Champ Man formation! You need three brilliant centre halfs, but if you can get them, this is a goals galore formation. (OK, no team is ever gonna play this, but I thought I'd put it in to see if anyone else uses it in Champ Man!)
3-1-4-2: How I reckon Man U could play. Put in the three centre-halfs Neville, Brown, Silvestre. All are quick and could probably play this way. Stick Keane just in front of them, keep the four in midfield, but give van Nistelrooy a partner up front, doesn't really matter who. OK, so its not gonna stop them letting in goals, but neither has playing 4-1-4-1, so just say "OK, you might score three, but we're gonna score seven!"
Personally, I'm a 4-4-2 man myself. It stops all this confusion. I don't think good players need to be told how to play, but when they are all playing in the same positions as each other, you are bound to get problems. As for United, bring back 4-4-2, or just go for it, and stick another striker on anyway! At least we might have some nice high scoring games!
4-4-2: Favoured by England (under Erikksonsonson) and making our national team look slightly better than the pub sides they've resembled for the last few years. The players seem comfortable in this. No need for wing-backs (come on, name a good wing-back!) and played well it can be devastating (see United for last nine years!). However, as Ferguson has noted, teams which become reliant on their wingers can be easily stopped, which led him to try...
4-1-4-1: In this system the back four are given extra protection by a holding midfielder (for United this is Keane) which allows the other four midfielders to go further forward. This system looks good on paper. With four international midfielders you should be able to get amazing movement, with all of them joining the lone striker, who's main job would be to hold up the ball and bring others into play. However, as United have found, the lone striker can be very isolated.
3-5-2: The wing-back system, favoured by the continental style teams, such as Chelsea, any Hoddle team, West Ham, etc. The idea being that when the other team have the ball, the wing-backs can drop back to form a 5-man defence, then move forward again when the ball is won back to create extra presence in midfield. Main problem is that no-one is good enough to play the position. Wingers aren't good enough at defending, and full-backs aren't creative enough.
4-3-3: Favoured by some continental teams, and Leeds often play like this. Basically, when the team lose the ball, the two wide strikers drop back to help the midfield out. Your midfielders need to be very fit for this formation, but in Leed's case it works because Mills and Harte get forward to help them well.
3-4-1-2: The ultimate Champ Man formation! You need three brilliant centre halfs, but if you can get them, this is a goals galore formation. (OK, no team is ever gonna play this, but I thought I'd put it in to see if anyone else uses it in Champ Man!)
3-1-4-2: How I reckon Man U could play. Put in the three centre-halfs Neville, Brown, Silvestre. All are quick and could probably play this way. Stick Keane just in front of them, keep the four in midfield, but give van Nistelrooy a partner up front, doesn't really matter who. OK, so its not gonna stop them letting in goals, but neither has playing 4-1-4-1, so just say "OK, you might score three, but we're gonna score seven!"
Personally, I'm a 4-4-2 man myself. It stops all this confusion. I don't think good players need to be told how to play, but when they are all playing in the same positions as each other, you are bound to get problems. As for United, bring back 4-4-2, or just go for it, and stick another striker on anyway! At least we might have some nice high scoring games!
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OK, with all that's going on at Manchester United at the moment I thought I'd take a minute to discuss formations. Everyone knows that for seven out of the last nine seasons Man U have taken the Premiership by storm, playing a simple 4-4-2 formation and being good at it. However, Ferguson in his infinite wisdom has taken it upon himself to change this. What happens? United aren't 10 points clear by Christmas and the Premiership is much better and wide open because of it. But what is the best formation?
4-4-2: Favoured by England (under Erikksonsonson) and making our national team look slightly better than the pub sides they've resembled for the last few years. The players seem comfortable in this. No need for wing-backs (come on, name a good wing-back!) and played well it can be devastating (see United for last nine years!). However, as Ferguson has noted, teams which become reliant on their wingers can be easily stopped, which led him to try...
4-1-4-1: In this system the back four are given extra protection by a holding midfielder (for United this is Keane) which allows the other four midfielders to go further forward. This system looks good on paper. With four international midfielders you should be able to get amazing movement, with all of them joining the lone striker, who's main job would be to hold up the ball and bring others into play. However, as United have found, the lone striker can be very isolated.
3-5-2: The wing-back system, favoured by the continental style teams, such as Chelsea, any Hoddle team, West Ham, etc. The idea being that when the other team have the ball, the wing-backs can drop back to form a 5-man defence, then move forward again when the ball is won back to create extra presence in midfield. Main problem is that no-one is good enough to play the position. Wingers aren't good enough at defending, and full-backs aren't creative enough.
4-3-3: Favoured by some continental teams, and Leeds often play like this. Basically, when the team lose the ball, the two wide strikers drop back to help the midfield out. Your midfielders need to be very fit for this formation, but in Leed's case it works because Mills and Harte get forward to help them well.
3-4-1-2: The ultimate Champ Man formation! You need three brilliant centre halfs, but if you can get them, this is a goals galore formation. (OK, no team is ever gonna play this, but I thought I'd put it in to see if anyone else uses it in Champ Man!)
3-1-4-2: How I reckon Man U could play. Put in the three centre-halfs Neville, Brown, Silvestre. All are quick and could probably play this way. Stick Keane just in front of them, keep the four in midfield, but give van Nistelrooy a partner up front, doesn't really matter who. OK, so its not gonna stop them letting in goals, but neither has playing 4-1-4-1, so just say "OK, you might score three, but we're gonna score seven!"
Personally, I'm a 4-4-2 man myself. It stops all this confusion. I don't think good players need to be told how to play, but when they are all playing in the same positions as each other, you are bound to get problems. As for United, bring back 4-4-2, or just go for it, and stick another striker on anyway! At least we might have some nice high scoring games!
4-4-2: Favoured by England (under Erikksonsonson) and making our national team look slightly better than the pub sides they've resembled for the last few years. The players seem comfortable in this. No need for wing-backs (come on, name a good wing-back!) and played well it can be devastating (see United for last nine years!). However, as Ferguson has noted, teams which become reliant on their wingers can be easily stopped, which led him to try...
4-1-4-1: In this system the back four are given extra protection by a holding midfielder (for United this is Keane) which allows the other four midfielders to go further forward. This system looks good on paper. With four international midfielders you should be able to get amazing movement, with all of them joining the lone striker, who's main job would be to hold up the ball and bring others into play. However, as United have found, the lone striker can be very isolated.
3-5-2: The wing-back system, favoured by the continental style teams, such as Chelsea, any Hoddle team, West Ham, etc. The idea being that when the other team have the ball, the wing-backs can drop back to form a 5-man defence, then move forward again when the ball is won back to create extra presence in midfield. Main problem is that no-one is good enough to play the position. Wingers aren't good enough at defending, and full-backs aren't creative enough.
4-3-3: Favoured by some continental teams, and Leeds often play like this. Basically, when the team lose the ball, the two wide strikers drop back to help the midfield out. Your midfielders need to be very fit for this formation, but in Leed's case it works because Mills and Harte get forward to help them well.
3-4-1-2: The ultimate Champ Man formation! You need three brilliant centre halfs, but if you can get them, this is a goals galore formation. (OK, no team is ever gonna play this, but I thought I'd put it in to see if anyone else uses it in Champ Man!)
3-1-4-2: How I reckon Man U could play. Put in the three centre-halfs Neville, Brown, Silvestre. All are quick and could probably play this way. Stick Keane just in front of them, keep the four in midfield, but give van Nistelrooy a partner up front, doesn't really matter who. OK, so its not gonna stop them letting in goals, but neither has playing 4-1-4-1, so just say "OK, you might score three, but we're gonna score seven!"
Personally, I'm a 4-4-2 man myself. It stops all this confusion. I don't think good players need to be told how to play, but when they are all playing in the same positions as each other, you are bound to get problems. As for United, bring back 4-4-2, or just go for it, and stick another striker on anyway! At least we might have some nice high scoring games!
The GingerLord wrote:
3-4-1-2: The ultimate Champ Man formation! You
> need three brilliant centre halfs, but if you can get them, this is a goals
> galore formation. (OK, no team is ever gonna play this, but I thought I'd put it
> in to see if anyone else uses it in Champ Man!)
I've always used 4-1-3-2 for Championship Manager. If you can find two central defenders and a defensive midfielder of real quality then the team is made. I went 20 games unbeaten and conceded on 15 all season.
Personally, I'm a 4-4-2 man myself. It stops all this
> confusion. I don't think good players need to be told how to play, but when they
> are all playing in the same positions as each other, you are bound to get
> problems. As for United, bring back 4-4-2, or just go for it, and stick another
> striker on anyway! At least we might have some nice high
scoring games!
I would play 4-4-1-1. Drop one striker back and play him as a target man or creative midfielder.
3-4-1-2: The ultimate Champ Man formation! You
> need three brilliant centre halfs, but if you can get them, this is a goals
> galore formation. (OK, no team is ever gonna play this, but I thought I'd put it
> in to see if anyone else uses it in Champ Man!)
I've always used 4-1-3-2 for Championship Manager. If you can find two central defenders and a defensive midfielder of real quality then the team is made. I went 20 games unbeaten and conceded on 15 all season.
Personally, I'm a 4-4-2 man myself. It stops all this
> confusion. I don't think good players need to be told how to play, but when they
> are all playing in the same positions as each other, you are bound to get
> problems. As for United, bring back 4-4-2, or just go for it, and stick another
> striker on anyway! At least we might have some nice high
scoring games!
I would play 4-4-1-1. Drop one striker back and play him as a target man or creative midfielder.
Man Utd should play 3-5-2 with Beckham & Giggs as wing-backs. Put Gaz Neville into the right side of the back three.
I've thought this for a long time. Beckham & Giggs would make excellent wing-backs, as they are effective both offensively and defensively, and they can run for 90 mins.
Perhaps the new manager will see the obvious way to go.
I've thought this for a long time. Beckham & Giggs would make excellent wing-backs, as they are effective both offensively and defensively, and they can run for 90 mins.
Perhaps the new manager will see the obvious way to go.
The only reason Ferguson is playing 4-5-1 is to keep Veron and Scholes both happy.
Ferguson doesnt want to drop someone who cost him £28M. And you cant really leave paul scholes out of the side.
Ferguson doesnt want to drop someone who cost him £28M. And you cant really leave paul scholes out of the side.
With 3-5-2 you would be able to play Scholes & Veron in midfield.
3 centre backs - G.Neville, Blanc, Brown).
2 wingbacks - (Beckham, Giggs).
3 central midfielders - (Keane, Veron, Scholes).
2 strikers - van Nistelrooy, Cole).
Playing 3-5-2 would also sure up the defence. When the team hasn't got the ball the formation would switch to a 5-3-2.
I just cannot understand why Ferguson doesn't do this.
If Veron was injured you could play Beckham in the middle and put Phil Neville at right wingback.
If Giggs was injured you could play Silvestre at left wingback.
You could play Silvestre in the back three. You could even play G.Neville at right wingback.
The options with a 3-5-2 system are endless.
Come on Fergie, see the light son.
3 centre backs - G.Neville, Blanc, Brown).
2 wingbacks - (Beckham, Giggs).
3 central midfielders - (Keane, Veron, Scholes).
2 strikers - van Nistelrooy, Cole).
Playing 3-5-2 would also sure up the defence. When the team hasn't got the ball the formation would switch to a 5-3-2.
I just cannot understand why Ferguson doesn't do this.
If Veron was injured you could play Beckham in the middle and put Phil Neville at right wingback.
If Giggs was injured you could play Silvestre at left wingback.
You could play Silvestre in the back three. You could even play G.Neville at right wingback.
The options with a 3-5-2 system are endless.
Come on Fergie, see the light son.
I also thought maybe Keane could drop back into the back four. Play 4-4-2, and get rid of Blanc, play the same back four, then when United get the ball, Keane moves forward into the midfield, and they change to 3-5-2 with Schole pushed slightly forward. Or maybe even 3-1-4-2.
United did use a 3-5-2 a few seaons ago (okay, perhaps 'several' seasons ago, but not before they started winning), and it worked quite well back then. I don't remember why they changed to a 4-4-2, but I do remember thinking at the time that it suited the team.
Now however, I definitely think they should be using a 3-5-2 again. Ruud and Olle up front, and the rest of the team picks itself.
Perhaps drop Barthez for Roy Carroll?
Now however, I definitely think they should be using a 3-5-2 again. Ruud and Olle up front, and the rest of the team picks itself.
Perhaps drop Barthez for Roy Carroll?
You cannot put beckham as a wingback he doesn't run back enough and tackle. Anyway he is the worst tackler in the world.
The GingerLord wrote:
> I also thought maybe Keane could drop back into the back four. Play 4-4-2, and
> get rid of Blanc, play the same back four, then when United get the ball, Keane
> moves forward into the midfield, and they change to 3-5-2 with Schole pushed
> slightly forward. Or maybe even 3-1-4-2.
I agree. You've hit on the perfect solution. Have you applied for the soon to be vacant managerial post at the Theatre of Dreams yet?
> I also thought maybe Keane could drop back into the back four. Play 4-4-2, and
> get rid of Blanc, play the same back four, then when United get the ball, Keane
> moves forward into the midfield, and they change to 3-5-2 with Schole pushed
> slightly forward. Or maybe even 3-1-4-2.
I agree. You've hit on the perfect solution. Have you applied for the soon to be vacant managerial post at the Theatre of Dreams yet?
CJ007 wrote:
> You cannot put beckham as a wingback he doesn't run back enough and tackle.
> Anyway he is the worst tackler in the world.
Beckham has one of the best "engines" in the game. You're telling me he couldn't be a wing-back. I think you're wrong. He is also a very discipled player tactically, as is Giggs - they both could do the wing-back roll no probs.
> You cannot put beckham as a wingback he doesn't run back enough and tackle.
> Anyway he is the worst tackler in the world.
Beckham has one of the best "engines" in the game. You're telling me he couldn't be a wing-back. I think you're wrong. He is also a very discipled player tactically, as is Giggs - they both could do the wing-back roll no probs.
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