Friday 26 November 2010

Brainstorming: should we return to 4-4-2?

I don't think there is any denying that there is something wrong with the way in which we are defending as a team. We have conceded too many sloppy goals, we let leads slip too easily and we are just a bit of a soft touch at the back. These are a few brief thoughts I have had in this regard:

Formation. The way we play with a 4-3-3 is too attacking a lot of the time. We often have five attacking players and one defensive player. The balance needs to change. I would be keen to return to a more structured 4-4-2 system.

Song. He is a very solid defender when he defends, but recently he appears to have been given a license to roam forward a bit too much. Song needs to be redeployed as a defensive sitter in front of the back four, his primary strength is his ability to shield the defence and this needs to be reinstated.

Fabianski/Clichy. The latter of these two has not been on form, many of us would like to see Kieran Gibbs given a run in the side to see if he can do better. There is no doubt that Lucasz Fabianski's form has been much improved of late, he still has a lot to prove and must show he can dominate in the air.

Defensive organisation. The first goal we conceded against Tottenham was a great example of the lack of organisation that is present at times. The fact that Squillaci/Koscielny/Song were all so far up the field that they could not help repel the attach spoke volumes. We need to be coached and organised better at the back, I do not know enough about the ins and outs of our current defensive coaching to know how this needs to change. Maybe the likes of Keown/Bould need to be involved with our defensive drilling.

Consistent centre back pairing. It is not easy for the centre backs when the pairing is different every week. We need a first choice pair and this needs to be stuck to for a period. Djourou has been on fine form of late and should not be left out in my opinion, especially given his aerial ability.

There are many other things that could be said but this is just what sprung to the surface of my mind. I would be interested to hear some more constructive comments from readers. Interestingly Aaron Ramsey has gone for a short loan spell to Forest to build up his fitness, a great idea, he wouldn't be able to do this in the Reserves.

We need to get at absolute minimum of a point at Villa this weekend, arguably all three. Cesc is hamstrung, so hopefully Nasri will play a bit deeper with Wilshere staying in the midfield with Song. Personally I would like to see a 4-4-2 system this weekend with something like this eleven, it would be great to see RVP and Chamakh together up top:

Fabianski
Sagna Squillaci Djourou Gibbs
Walcott Song Wilshere Nasri
RVP
Chamakh

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with this post. i really think its time to go back to 442. but at the moment we dont have the defensive midfielders in our squad. Arsene needs to go out and buy de rossi and gary cahill or subotic. annd also ibrahim affelay. 3 places we need strenght. defender ,, holding midfielder and winger.

my 442 for the weekend game.


---------fabianski
sagna-squillaci-djourou-gibbs

nasri--song---diaby--wilshire

-------chamak---v.persie

Jimi said...

Interesting....

I agree that it'd be nice to see some more of Gibbs if he can stay fit. Perhaps he can be used on the left wing to give Arshavin some super sub opportunities and/or double cover that flank with clichy to seal a game.

I also believe Nasri would be a little wasted on the wing and I'd like to start him behind Chamakh with RVP to come on for whoever needs the rest later in the game, BUT as Cesc is out we'd need his class in the midfield.

So my line up would go like below, once the strike force has done its job and found the net a couple of times, bring on Clichy for Arshavin moving Gibbs to winger/left cover. RVP/ Chamakh to make way for Walcott to keep our chances on counter attacks.


------------FABIANSKI

SAGNA – SQUILLACI - DJOUROU - GIBBS

----------SONG

NASRI --------- ROSICKY ---- ARSHAVIN

------------RVP

------------CHAMAKH


SUBS BENCH: SCZEZNY, KOSCIELNY, NORDVEIT, CLICHY, WILSHERE, DENILSON, WALCOTT, JET