Is the 442 Formation Hopelessly Outmoded?

[-Rob-]

Formations are generally irrelevant, the best 11 players with the greater ability and motivation win games.

Formations can, in one off matches and for specific reasons, can sometimes be effective but generally the best players over come them.

Formations are totally relevant. I think what you actually mean is that formations are flexible.
An overall strategy of 442 can become a 451 with the movement of one player. A back 3 can become a back 5 if the wing backs drop back a bit. The various formations are endless but all revolve around 11 men on a pitch. Obviously you're right that the team with the better players will win more often but better players can also play in better formations because they understand the game better, moving off the ball as well as on it.

 

[-Rob-]

I agree about the two strikers.
It is noticeable however hardly any successful managers now utilise this formation.

I think that's partly down to the fact that any striker knocking in 10+ goals a season is suddenly worth £100 so getting 2 of them in the same team is expensive.

 

[Eggsyblueskin]

It is pretty close. At least playing it exactly like it was played in the 80s and 90s is. You can do things with the wingers to make it work still but then it isn't totally a 4-4-2.

It is still a strong defensive shape though. You certainly can defend 4-4-2 and be damn good. It is with the ball that the issues lie.

I agree totally and it mirrors my concerns that in the modern game it has been largely discarded because it is limited offensively compared to the current successful formations.
As always happens something once considered groundbreaking and revolutionary evolves over time into something conservative and staid.

 

[sageyefc]

No poll?

 

[Groucho]

With the right players 442 is great. You need two grocks for CB, good wide players and two good forwards. Two good CM helps too.

 

[Telford-Feb-85]

If you haven't got Ratcliffe, Mountfield, Stevens, Gray, Steven, Sheedy, Reid, Bracewell and Sharp et al then forget it.

 

[KaiserEFC]

If you play it old school with 2 quick wingers, wing backs overlapping and have a big boy up top then it can work. Unfortunately we don’t have wingers capable of any kind of coherent wing play, Coleman can’t cross, we don’t have midfielders capable of winning the ball and DCL has been terrible since we’ve come back.

 

[Eggsyblueskin]

I do think that one of the major reasons it’s increasingly falling into disuse is its relative longevity. It’s been around so long that it’s benefits are now easily negated.
No matter how many tweaks or variations you instil into it , it holds no real surprises.
For me I prefer the more aggressive formations that are currently dominating the trophies.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

4 4 2 is fine so long as everyone does their job properly

 

[AmericasToffee]

With the right players 442 is great. You need two grocks for CB, good wide players and two good forwards. Two good CM helps too.

Midfielders are the lifeblood of a 442

 

[Walken]

It is dreadfully outdated for the large part unless specifically built towards over a long period, to just rock up and play it in the prem will bring out the worst in most modern players against modern formations that will swamp them

 

[Blackwell Livermore]

This ain't your staid old English 442 this the sexay Italian 442

 

[Martin Alvito]

You play what you have the pieces for.

It seems fairly obvious that Carlo thinks he can replicate Sterling's evolution with DCL. If he's right, that leaves him needing a midfield and a right back that can get it forward the way Digne does.

It would seem to me that asking Gomes to play without a CDM behind is a tough ask.

 

[PeregrineT]

Outmoded? No. Hard to do? Yes. I believe it is the very best formation, IF you get two great CMs. Because then you win in every other area of the pitch. Its the only formation you dont compromise another attacker up front, or your width. But, you have to have 2 very good CMs to deal with the typical extra player in the middle.

I think you can mitigate some of that by having a winger slide inside a bit more and having the full back on that side push up on offense, but the key to THAT side of it is 2 very good athletic CBs. Get 2 very good CMs and 2 very good CBs and you can dominate sides with the formation.

 

[ricer10]

A good spine is key to any formation ....GK / CB / CM / F .....We are lacking in ability / consistency in those positions so we struggle !