4-2-3-1

[thejames]

I've seen this formation mentioned a few times now. Do we honestly think this is the way forward for Spurs? I've gotta say I'm intrigued by it, and depending on who we purchase, it might help us get the best out of our players.

GK

Hutton Woodgate King Bale

Diarra Huddlestone

Lennon Modric Bentley

ST​

Imagine all that extra time and freedom Thudd may get with someone like Diarra there to clean up. Bale and Hutton getting forward to supply the overlaps and extra width. The attacking trio switching positions/flanks to confuse the fcuk out the opposition.

Can you see it working?

Could Keano be utilised in this formation? Can he do the lone striker thing? Or could he slot back into one of the AM positions?​

 

[dj2gee]

not sure that he could...bent however can as he proved with charlton.

 

[PT]

Can't see Bentley and Lennon in that set-up. It would compromise one of them. Lennon would either have to play left where he is least effective or be dropped in favour of Bentley assuming the right flank.

Lennon could adopt the AM role but then he's up against Keane and Modric.

Keane is not a target man and can't play the lone role as well as say, Bent. (Or Berbatov).

The shape is ideal for European competition but in the Premiership it asks a lot of the two wide men.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

If we get Bentley and end up selling Berba I can easily see us playing with this formation. Even without signing Diarra we could use 2 of JJ, Zoko or Hudd as holding midfielders (protecting the back 4). This way the attacking trio of Modric, Lennon, and whoever can have complete freedom to provide and support the lone striker (more likely Bent than Keane). So far we know that JJ and Zoko struggle to create most of the time but they would basically just be ball winners which I think will suit them much better.

Oh and Bentley could play behind the striker with Modric on the left, Bentley originally started out as a "number 10". The good thing about playing like this is the 3 attacking players can switch positions so it is quite flexible.

 

[Sbix]

I think Keane could work in that system given some time to get used to it.. he already drops back and tries to create alot as it is.. a attack consisting of current players could look ...

Bent

Modric - Keane - Lennon

That's assuming that Berbatov will leave, if he stays, then I believe that we will stick with 4-4-2, thou we probably will stick with it anyway.. unless Ramos believes a tactical change permanently is needed to move forward.. thou i doubt it..

But i like the attacking options given in a 4-2-3-1, and it shifts back the creativity part to the midfield...where we at the moment are devoid of it.. .. until Modric arrives that is.. anyhow.. we probs won't use it..but it could be used effectively with our current squad

 

[van_Pommel]

I think this formation caught my eye when Liverpool switched to it in the latter stages of this season. It really got the best out of Gerrard and Torres. Whether it could do the same for our player I dont know. It is worrying though that we are one of the only teams left playing 442. Villa, Portsmouth, Everton and Man City have all switched to either 4231 or 433 this season and all finished above us.

 

[bomberH]

I like it, but i'm not sure about playing Sam Tyrone up front.

 

[DC_Boy]

don't rate the idea of Modric lennon bentley together - then Hudd on top of that lot - no way - where's the defending coming from?

 

[gibbs131]

I like it, but i'm not sure about playing Sam Tyrone up front.

He got it backward. Obviously he meant TS.

 

[AlexSkree]

Both Keano and Modric can play on the left in a 4-2-3-1.. Bent did really well for charlton as a single striker! And i think Hudd would be much better with another defensive midfielder alongside him! i for one would really like to see this tried out!

 

[joey55]

I was thinking along the same lines a couple of weeks ago and posted this in another thread:

I think I'd like to see us play a 4231 next season. I've been living in the US and other than the Prem, Fox Soccer tend to show Argentinian and Italian football. There is such a huge difference in the technical ability of the players between these leagues and ours and often people claim these more technical players are too lightweight. In a 442 this is probably true, but if we played with 2 deffensive midfielders, we could then use 3 really technical players behind a main striker. Lille have shot up the French league since they've paired Makoun with Mavuba. I'd like either of these 2, but also think JJ and Zokora could play similar roles. Neither Mavuba or Makoun do a great deal more than win the ball and play it simply, which isn't really enough in a Prem 442, bit in a 4231, it is different. Now we have Modric, I'd like to see us add more technical quality and play them in front of a strong and athletic deffensive midfield pairing. Something like this:

------------------Berbatov

----Arshavin------Modric-----Larsson

------------Zokora------JJ

Bale--------King-------Woodgate-----Hutton

The vision and technical ability of that front 4 would be very hard to defend against, whilst JJ and Zokora would give us energy and strenth in the midfield and also by playing as a defensive midfield pair (like Makoun and Mavuba) they'd have a much smaller and more defined role which I see is vital as I'm not sure either of them can play to the standard we need in a 442 (I'm certain in the case of Zokora). The likes of Lennon, Keane and Steed can also be very useful in this formation (as the 1st choice 11 are rarely all fit at the same time) and also give us the option of 442 if we need to change during games.
http://www.spurscommunity.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=881686&highlight=zokora#post881686

Obviously the players I used as examples are different but the basic idea is the same. The only difference is, I don't think we'd need the Hudd's technical and passing ability if we had highly technical players as part of the front 4. Therefore I'd prefer to use two athletic and strong players to do the donkey work. The Lille team that I mentioned have only lost twice since they started playing with both Mavuba and Makoun, making them the best side in France since Jan. I'd love to see Bentley join us, but still think Larsson is the better option and will cost 1/3 the price.

 

[Sbix]

Agree in full with you Joey, and especially about Larsson, have a soft spot for him as I'm a swede too, but he is versatile, can play RB, RM, ARM, and has a sweet right peg.

Just about as good as Bentley with it maybe.. And he would as you say be 1/3 cheaper.. especially as Brum went down, he is to good to play in the Championship and will want to move, in particular as he is about to break into the Swedish national team properly now.. which is unusual, as our coach seems to prefer anyone over 30 before everybody else.. (thou I am happy that Henke Larsson is going to play in the summer euros...)

 

[joey55]

Agree in full with you Joey, and especially about Larsson, have a soft spot for him as I'm a swede too, but he is versatile, can play RB, RM, ARM, and has a sweet right peg.

Just about as good as Bentley with it maybe.. And he would as you say be 1/3 cheaper.. especially as Brum went down, he is to good to play in the Championship and will want to move, in particular as he is about to break into the Swedish national team properly now.. which is unusual, as our coach seems to prefer anyone over 30 before everybody else.. (thou I am happy that Henke Larsson is going to play in the summer euros...)

It's odd how Larsson's abilty seems to have been missed by the British media and therefore most football fans. It seems hardly anyone has noticed what a great player he has become. Imagine how much an English player with his technical ability would cost?

 

[fazza]

What about Keane in an attacking midfield role, thats if we keep hold of Berbatov or used Bent as a sole striker.

If we got Bentley we could go with : Bentley Keane Modric

Berbatov/Bent

I could see Lennon leaving to be honest, I don't think Ramos has been that impressed with him and his inability to cross a ball hasn't helped him at all this season.

 

[stemark44]

------------------Berbatov

----Arshavin------Modric-----Larsson

------------Zokora------JJ

Bale--------King-------Woodgate-----Hutton

Great looking team there Joey -I would be more than happy for Berbatov to lead the line if he stays.
I would like Modric and Arshavin to play on the right and left but I would prefer Riccardo Montolivo in the middle - great passer,tall,pretty athletic and has real presence!
I would also really like Makoun to play with either JJ/Zokora.

................................Berbatov......................................
Modric..............................................................Arshavin..
...........................Montolivo...........................................
.................Makoun..................Jenas/Zokora.....................
Bale....................................................................Hutton..
......................King/?...................Woodgate....................

I really think that we need to change our current 4-4-2 system to something like the one above - it really is a far more fluid system with lots of different variables!

 

[Sbix]

It's odd how Larsson's abilty seems to have been missed by the British media and therefore most football fans. It seems hardly anyone has noticed what a great player he has become. Imagine how much an English player with his technical ability would cost?

Yupp, the media and price hype when it comes to british players really is unbelievable.. and Larsson would be a safer bet than other as cheap options abroad, as he has the so valuable Prem experience...

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Agree with the points here, 4-4-2 is too rigid these days unless you have to superb centre midfielders (which we don't). Also agree about Larrson, very good player and has scored some great goals this season, he IS too good for the Championship. I think with the type of players we have 4-2-3-1 will suit us and will mean we don't have to get in much more players. We rely too much on Berbs and Keane to create our goals and when they don't do it we struggle.

As Joey said we just need JJ and Zok to basically do the dirty work, stay disciplined and defensive so we don't get caught on the counter, for me this is the way forward. Also agree with Joey about technical players in Argentina etc, these type of players can make the difference but where do you put them in a 4-4-2?

 

[gavspur]

I said about this in the Bentley thread in transfer rumours, Lennon, Bentley, Modric, Keano and Steed can all play any of the front 3 positions, along with JJ.. I think Ramos' 'supposed' signings almost certainly point to this formation.. And it would be 2/3 players for each position if and when injuries hit over a long season.. If Berbs goes, then no wonder we're after Eto'o, as he's played this position superbly for Barca as the front no.9.. As also said, Bent can do this very well too, and Pekhart as back-up.. And for DM, Zokora, Hudd, JJ, Diarra/Veloso could all be possibilities for this setup... On another note, after watching Uefa Cup Final, why has no-one been interested in the Captain of Zenit, Tymoschuk, i was very impressed, he was a similar type of player to Carrick, but with more steel, and also a bit of Guti about him too!! I thought he'd be old, but he dont look it!! Is he off elsewhere, or just not rated???

 

[joey55]

I said about this in the Bentley thread in transfer rumours, Lennon, Bentley, Modric, Keano and Steed can all play any of the front 3 positions, along with JJ.. I think Ramos' 'supposed' signings almost certainly point to this formation.. And it would be 2/3 players for each position if and when injuries hit over a long season.. If Berbs goes, then no wonder we're after Eto'o, as he's played this position superbly for Barca as the front no.9.. As also said, Bent can do this very well too, and Pekhart as back-up.. And for DM, Zokora, Hudd, JJ, Diarra/Veloso could all be possibilities for this setup... On another note, after watching Uefa Cup Final, why has no-one been interested in the Captain of Zenit, Tymoschuk, i was very impressed, he was a similar type of player to Carrick, but with more steel, and also a bit of Guti about him too!! I thought he'd be old, but he dont look it!! Is he off elsewhere, or just not rated???

He cost £10 million only last season, so they won't let him go for less than that and I think he's already 29. I mentioned him before, but the price is the problem.

 

[SpurSince57]

Zenit and the other big Russian clubs also pay very high wages, I believe. With Gazprom sponsoring Zenit, that's hardly a surprise.