4-2-3-1

[Nymzee]

Is is just me or is anyone sick of seeing us using this formation for every single game? I don't know what it is but since last season it appears 90% of teams are obsessed with playing this. Now, I will admit, it works when played correctly and when you have the right players. Do we? I don't think so any more, no.

I loathe seeing our line-up before kick-off because it's always "right I have 6 CM's, 3 LB's and a GK... let's cram them into a nice 4-2-3-1!". To play this formation correctly you need two proper wingers (see: Swansea) and we have no decent ones to call upon (I don't personally class Mirallas as a winger any more).

Now would you as an Everton fan like us to continue mangling the team to fit this formation until we get the right players, or would you rather us adopt a new formation? If so which formation(s) is your preference and why.

Personally I'd like to see us try one of these two until we get the right players in:

Hybrid 4-3-3 which allows Garbutt to play for his set pieces and crossing but also allows us to ditch Barry and stop putting non-wingers on the wing. Keep Barkley in a "free" role too. Mirallas swapped for other strikers if needed.

5-2-1-2 akin to Mexico/Netherlands in the World Cup. Utilises our wing-backs with less responsibility on them defending (hopefully) whilst also adding the required shielding and keeps Barkley free to concentrate on attacking. Stones can be used as a sweeper like Marquez did bringing the ball out and keeping the tempo. Also allows us to play a slightly higher line and more importantly - no wingers! Can use Eto'o/Naismith/Koné instead of Mirallas but personally I think he's arguably the best finisher in the squad. Need a new CB to do this (probably two) and also a new GK.

What do you guys think? Or should I just go back to pretending to do work at work?

 

[Kendall's Dream]

I think 4231 works with 2 wingers, not Naismith/Barkley on the wing. We do need to change it sometimes, 433 would work with Besic/McCarthy and Barkley in the middle.

 

[Naiskill]

Perhaps the 4-3-3 with Ross at CM and Naismith/Mirallas behind the front 2. That midfield 3 would be unbreakable.

 

[Leonosman21]

I prefer 4-3-3 with 2 DM(Besic & McARTHY), 2 Wings(Mirallas & McGeady)
That should be simple & direct

 

[Christiffa25]

Nowt wrong with the formation it's the way the manager has been filling it and using it.

Get a formation. Put the players in the correct possistions in said formation. Then pick some tactics that again suit the players in that said formation.

Simple game this football lark!!

 

[Nymzee]

Nowt wrong with the formation it's the way the manager has been filling it and using it.

Get a formation. Put the players in the correct possistions in said formation. Then pick some tactics that again suit the players in that said formation.

Simple game this football lark!!

But have we got the right players to fit the formation currently?

 

[billy]

4-3-1-2 with Barkley sitting behind Kev and Rom

 

[Groucho]

The title got my hopes up for a thread about Ted Rogers...

Anyway, I reckon formations/systems should change depending on the weaknesses of the opposition and how is best to exploit them while playing to our players' strengths.

 

[Jimmywhack]

We need a winger who is actually good, not mcgeady. That or Pienaar fit again and firing
Then go with
Howard
Coleman Jagielka Stones Baines
Mccarthy Barry
Barkley
Mirallas Pienaar/New winger
Lukaku

 

[boris]

The formation we play is fine but Ross must be one of the 2 deeper players.

 

[Christiffa25]

But have we got the right players to fit the formation currently?

Yeah I'd so...same players who played it all last season to great affect. Obvs a couple of injuries currently make the wide right a bit of a weak area but apart from that I don't see a problem.

As I said tho formations mean nothing if u play all the players out of posistion in those formations.

Roberto has tried to be too clever this season, whilst taking his possession based tactics on a level. It simply hasn't worked!

The players that excelled last season, he has pretty much moved them all and/or asked them to play differently....it amazes me really!

 

[Groucho]

I've often wondered about us going for the kill with a 4-3-3 assuming players are on song. Not much width but otherwise strong.

GK

Baines
Stones
Jags
Coleman

Besic
McCarthy
Barkley

Eto'o
Lukaku
Mirallas

No doubt there's a ton of reasons why that won't work.

 

[Nymzee]

Yeh all I'm attempting to achieve in this thread is to see if people agree with me that maybe we need a change as from the 20-odd games so far this season 4-2-3-1 just is not working any more with this squad.

 

[Moomin]

Not sure I like the attitude of that new centre back, he thinks he can turn up dressed as a bee and start for us.

 

[Nymzee]

Not sure I like the attitude of that new centre back, he thinks he can turn up dressed as a bee and start for us.

Hahaha.