With our new signings I think our squad lends itself really well to playing a 4-3-3 system. A few games last season we looked a little clunky and had a hard time breaking teams down, I think being able to swtich to this system would be a really good alternative, we certanily have the players to do so now. Here's what my starting 11 would look like: Roberts Williams Lopata Shepherd Cadden Kane Russel Phillips Cole Cosgrove McAtee When Cadden fits he comes in - maybe swap Shepherd out for McCart.
Yep I do! Well spotted. Straight swap for Russel. He’s done well but Connell right now is the better player. Lots of Cole’s better runs come from the inside left/right channels rather than straight through the middle. You can still also operate pretty centrally in that formation when attacking. Can also swap out McAtee for Marsh, who would be great in that system.
Also - you don’t play with wingers in 4-3-3, that’s the whole point of the formation. The most advanced wide players are the full backs, and which is why it’s a lot of pressure on that position and again why it lends itself well.
We’ve so many players it’s almost impossible to find a system to get them all in. Be surprised if we don’t use 5 subs in most games moving forwards.
How about 442 .................. Roberts............. Williams Lopata Shepard Styles ...................Connel......... Cotter...................................Cadden ....................kane/mcatee.......... ..........Cosgrove.......Cole...... Strong when defending and 2 great ball crossers to supply the forwards when attacking. .. ....
Great point. To keep players happy he's going to have to play the diamond or 4-4-2. It would help his selection head ache too. He'll be able to select J.Williams and Cotter and Cadden and Dodgson. Lopata and Mccart or Lopata and Shepherd as centre backs. Connell or Kane at the base of the diamond and Styles or Phillips at the tip of the diamond. Cole and Cosgrave or Watters and Mcatee up front. Five subs keeps all the either ors happy.
I am beyond ecstatic that the people in this thread aren’t professional football managers (or head coaches, for the pedants)
Possibly an argument we play with 3 defenders and the wing backs are further up the pitch this year, and therefore 4 defenders would be more solid, but not if we’re playing Cotter and Cadden at full back
Eh? Litterally the wide forwards act as wingers. The full backs may support but it would be bit bonkers to assume 50% of the defence are actually the furthest forward attackers.
We have full/wing backs who can’t really defend but attack well, and a glut of inexperienced centre backs making playing two rather than three of them a huge risk. If ever there was a squad that needs to play three centre backs and wing backs it is ours. Flat back four would be a car crash - and would also limit Nicky Cadden in particular as an attacking asset out wide.
