The problem is the 4231's forward line is reduced to 1.
By its very nature the lone forward is isolated - your starting with a problem, your compensating from the outset.
It easy for a good opposition coach/team to counter by simple looking at how tactics are compensating
then counter them.
Silva's solution -
start with the premise of having the midfield wingers invert when attacking, with the fullbacks overloading.
but that leaves just two CMs and two CB
So one of the fullbacks doesn't go and a winger with pace, on that side, can lurch, coming in as a wide second striker - with Coleman and Walcott preferred in those roles; with Digne and Richarlison dominating the attacking play.
It didn't take long for that to be countered. It was predictable and the holes easily worked out.
Walcott defensive tracking back was poor and Davies was trying to do everything and amounting to nothing and things can go south pretty quick.
It was amazing it wasn't worse but then again we did have Gana's singularly focused genius, with the others catching up trying to glue it together.
This strategy amounts to going down a rabbit hole - truly alice in wonderland stuff.
Walcott couldn't do the job that Richarlison was doing down the right.
It was only salvaged by Bernard replacing Richarlison and Richarlison replacing Walcott
(although I'd argue the real turn around was more to do with the supporters and players finding the Goodison spirit against the RS and beyond)
Which meant there was more balance in going up the left and right and more understanding and coherence between the centre players in Sig, Gomes and Gana.
But the turn around hasn't solved the problems that's staring Silva in the mirror.
There is nothing worse than a system that expects the players supporting the lone forward also having to track back along the wings.
No amount of tweaking is going to solve that.
The only times to use it is when you are going to sit back and play pure counter with the 9 and 10.
But generally its an admission your not good enough and in now way should the blues be using it.
With Kean, Richarlison and another class winger
And Delph and Gomes either side of a DCM you've got the making of a classy 3-3.
Even if we don't get anyone to fill these two positions we've got enough to there to start playing to it.
Especially when we've got Digne and Coleman marshalling out wide and Delph and Gomes doing the same through the centre.
