Next season's formation - back to 4-4-2 ?
So far this window GA has signed one player who can play along the left wing (Ryan Sellers) and two or three along the right wing (Michael Harriman, Jason Banton and, at a push, Garry Thompson). Given that he's also stated we'll have a smaller squad than last year, that's a lot of strength in depth if we're only playing with wing backs.
Given that we started last season as 4-4-2, and in my opinion played our best football with that formation, I'm wondering whether the switch to 4-3-3 was more a reaction to the declining quality of the pitch than it was because GA preferred it.
In which case, this new surface of ours may be even more important to the quality of our play than previously considered!
A 4-4-2 formation does mean we'll probably be seeing less of Aaron Holloway though, which will be a big shame.
I make the starting line-up to be...
Ingram
Harriman - Stewart - Pierre - Jacobson
Banton - Bloomfield/Kretch - Rowe - Wood
Thompson - Hayes
Subs: Lynch, Jombati, Sellers, Bean, Bloomfield/Kretch, Holloway
There's a strong bench in there so I hope GA will also start using his subs earlier this season.
Just one weak position on the pitch. Sam Saunders or A.N Other attacking midfielder - we need you!
Comments
We have the options to play either formation. I would like to see 4-3-3
Ingram
Sido Stewart Pierre JJ
Harriman Rowe Wood
Thompson Holloway Hayes
Not sure I share the view that the signings made so far indicate 4-4-2.
Thompson and Banton are both forwards that can play in the wide positions in a front 3 and GA is already talking up Rowe as a holding midfielder, with Wood and Blooms/Bean scuttling around him in the more advanced positions you would imagine.
I'd like to see a bit note flexibility between the two ways of playing, particularly during games as we rarely seem to change shape in the 90 minutes to try and change the flow of the game.
Gareth Ainsworth has managed to put together a very clever squad, with several players comfortable in several positions. I think we have the players for both 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 and I think we'll see both at different times, and sometimes within the same game. One more player needed, a creative central midfielder on loan. I don't think it's likely, but if you put Sam Saunders in that team/squad and we had another good run with injuries, I would say we would challenging in the top 5. More realistically, perhaps a youngster from Villa. If we could get a good one, we could have another good season.
If we can have a good solid season this year, maybe a good cup run, and pay off some more debt, I honestly think next Summer we will really be going for promotion (if we don't manage it this season) and we could see permanent contracts for Saunders, Yennaris and Harriman.
I thought one of our strengths last season was that we had an extremely fluid and difficult to predict formation. How many times did we see Wood, Hayes, Holloway, Onyedinma, Paris rotate as a front 4, with any one of them popping up behind the striker, on either wing, or on the shoulder of the last defender?
It is pretty rare in League 2. Most teams stick to a more rigid formation.
I suspect we will play a mix of 4-5-1/4-3-3/4-4-2 through the season and interchangeably within particular matches.
It is pleasing that we have 5 forwards (Hayes, Holloway, Wood, Thompson and Banton) to compete for 3/4 attacking positions and that they all offer something different.
My one concern is whether we have enough pace up front. When we had Paris that did make a big difference. Not sure that we've adequately replaced that
Pato perhaps?
Don't rule out the possibility of Harriman in the Scowen role.
@aloysius, I too don't share your views. Why as @Glenactico has stated, "How many times did we see Wood, Hayes, Holloway, Onyedinma, Paris rotate as a front 4, with any one of them popping up behind the striker, on either wing, or on the shoulder of the last defender?
"How many times?" A hell of a lot times and long may this continue.
The @Glenactico theory is a convincing one. All I would say is that in the first part of last season the players stuck to the positions they specialised in and we played better football and shot to the top of the table.
It's great that our front five can play interchangable roles and I'm absolutely certain that will be utilised as injuries and suspensions kick in. But Sam Wood is best when he bombs up the left wing. I suspect the same applies to Jason Banton on the right, just as it was for Paris and Fred. Hayes is an ineffective winger but a brilliant number 9 - and Garry Thompson looks like the out-and-out physical goalscorer we haven't really had since Tommy Mooney. In which case, why not play a 4-4-2 which accommodates all these attributes?
The only position where we currently have real competition is right back. Harriman seems a strange acquisition if Sido is back to full fitness. I'm wondering if it's feasible that we could see a central midfield partnership between Rowe and Harriman? Both tenacious, both athletic, both good distributors, both happy to defend. GA has played this combination before with Lewis and Scowen in 2013-4. It didn't work very well then but I wonder if he might want to give it another try.
I'd prefer a 4/4/2 passing (pass & move) game, than a 4/3/3 turn opposition and pressing game.
Very hard to keep up that 4/3/3 intensity throughout the season. Guess GA will mix and match, each game to its own.
I agree with you Cider.
So do I.