Formation

[edgysatsuma89]

I think 4-3-3 and variants of it are the way to go with the players at the moment. For instance, on Saturday I would like to see Tonev replace Andi and Gabby come back with Baker dropping out.

The midfield would then have Sylla and Westwood sitting with Delph more advanced of the three. I would like to see Delph hitting the box a lot more with his good runs. If Sylla and Westwood are in behind him then it gives him that licence to do more 10-15 yards higher up the pitch.

This is what I'd like to see Delph do as we don't play the 'number 10' role.

[Concrete John]

I rate Delph highly, but even last season with Sylla and Westood or this with Westwood and KEA, he hasn't really convinced me as an attacking midielder.  Excellent box-to-box player, but not one for the killer pass or to get a good tally of goals from midfield.

[Ads]

I don't think Delph has had the chance to play as an attacking midfielder yet, as has always been part of a central two in the main, with obligations going back towards his own goal and often collecting the ball deep as a consequence.

[sirlordbaltimore]

I rate Delph highly, but even last season with Sylla and Westood or this with Westwood and KEA, he hasn't really convinced me as an attacking midielder.  Excellent box-to-box player, but not one for the killer pass or to get a good tally of goals from midfield.

Isn't it something like 3000+ minutes of PL football without a goal or an assist ?

Delph isn't an attacking midfielder that much seems clear. No point trying to get him to be something he isn't, let him do the harrassing and water carrying and get someone in who's actual game is about scoring and creating to compliment him

[eastie]

I rate Delph highly, but even last season with Sylla and Westood or this with Westwood and KEA, he hasn't really convinced me as an attacking midielder.  Excellent box-to-box player, but not one for the killer pass or to get a good tally of goals from midfield.

Isn't it something like 3000+ minutes of PL football without a goal or an assist ?

Delph isn't an attacking midfielder that much seems clear. No point trying to get him to be something he isn't, let him do the harrassing and water carrying and get someone in who's actual game is about scoring and creating to compliment him

He scored a few at Leeds , I think once he breaks his duck that he could net 7 or 8 a season , certainly more of a goal threat than Westwood or sylla in my opinion.

[dekko]

When he does start scoring I hope they're as good as some of his Leeds ones:

[N'ZMAV]

4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 are very similar. As in a 2 man strike partnership one usually sits deeper.

[paul_e]

Defensively 2 banks of 4 and 1 spare (who can be in any of the 'gaps') is generally accepted as the standard shape, largely because you shouldn't be leaving people one on one in dangerous areas if everyone is in the right place.  433 lends itself well to this as the 'spare' man tends to be defensively stronger than a traditional 10.  It does rely on on the wide forwards putting in a lot of running defensively so they have to be very fit, thankfully Andy and Gabby are both good in that regard.

As said, in attack formations are not so important, moving into the right areas is the key.

Last year we were getting the defensive shape wrong too much, but we did well getting our players into space in dangerous areas, this season that situation has largely reversed.  Once we can get the balance right we'll be in a much better place.

[Concrete John]

He scored a few at Leeds , I think once he breaks his duck that he could net 7 or 8 a season , certainly more of a goal threat than Westwood or sylla in my opinion.

That was 2 leagues below where he's playing now.

Not carrying that goal threat doesn't make him a bad player, it just means we gave to use him at what he's best at and get someone else to do the scoring/creating.

[Ads]

Square posts and he would have been off the mark down at Arsenal.

[Clampy]

Square posts and he would have been off the mark down at Arsenal.

Yep, I thought that was in. Scored a nice one against Rotherham though.

[edgysatsuma89]

All though his (lack of) goal tally is evident for all to see, his dribbling ability has come on leaps and bounds. If he were to be higher up, I think these dribbles could be much more effective, and see him getting goals and assists. What would that do defensively? Well that's what Lambert gets paid for.

[Mister E]

Having thought about this a little more, I think our problem is not formation. I think the issue is that we just do not move the ball quickly enough: too many touches and not enough movement - of ball our receiver.
Is that a function of the player-quality or formation?