I've just been having a conversation with a mate about this. He says he prefers 442, and so too do I. It came about as I looked at the 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid by Barca. Their lineup was atrocious! 442 with 3 defensive midfielders, and Bellingham on the right. Terrible by Ancelotti, one of the best managers this century too. So we talked about how 442 is a great system, if you play it right. Our 2016 team utilised it perfectly, as did our 97 team. It was a simple formula with the perfect players in each position. Which is why our pillocking about with 532 for the last 3 years has frustrated me constantly
It's horses for courses in my opinion. Most formations "work effectively". But that depends on what you're wanting from them. If you've got wingers with ability, pace and are forward-thinking, then 4-4-2 is very effective. Obviously you need other attributes in your team, not just the wingers, but you get my point. We have an overabundance of midfielders, centrally-focused midfielders, and that's an issue with our recruitment strategy imo. That being said, we have what we have, so we have to utilise them effectively. Clarke has done so in the last two games. Prior to that, we've chopped and changed formation and personnel far too much and it's cost us. 5-3-2 can be incredibly effective, assuming you've got a worldie of a CDM, which for this level, we have in Connell, but he was being played higher up for some bizarre reason. You need penetrating, mobile forward midfielders in Phillips and DKD, Phillips has been very poor so that hasn't been working. Russell does seem to be playing well recently though, in my opinion this has contributed to our recent upturn in form. You also need excellent wing-backs, which we haven't had. Cotter has the pace, but his positional sense defensively is very poor (and I'm a fan of his), O'Keefe is very "hot & cold", Gent has been woeful initially, but has come good this last few games, again, it seems to be clicking now the players are actually turning up. Just my take on it.
The problem with 442 and probably why the formation has died out abit is all the creativity comes from the wingers and overlapping fullbacks getting the ball in the box. If the opposition have good full backs stopping the cross or big CBs heading every cross away all your creativity is lost and a lot of modern formations will be able to utilise the numerical advantage in midfield to pass through you. it has its merit, but it’s not the superior formation people seem to think it is.
I love the wing backs with a sweeper. I guess that’s the system I like the most S it was the one used by Danny to get us into the PL. Eaden Thompson. Appleby or Davis as a sweeper. Miss the days when we were good.
Best 2 Barnsley teams I have seen were 1) Danny Wilson 3-5-2 - genuine wing backs and Bullock/Marcelle sat in the hole behind a front 2. 2) Bassett - 4-4-2 - Hignett coming in off the left wing. I think both formations have their strength and weaknesses and both can work well, its getting the right players in the right positions. I really don't like 4-3-3, 4-5-1, 5-4-1. The worse football I've ever seen us play is in 4-3-3
