Back to 4-4-2?

Phil Sloggett · Jan 25, 2015

We started playing the 3-5-2 because we were struggling and had the players to use that system.

Let's be honest, we are struggling again. Perhaps time to get back to basics, play a simple 4-4-2?

One goalkeeper, two full backs who primarily defend but can support attacks when appropriate, two wide players, an attacking midfielder, more of a holding midfielder and two forwards. Every player knows their job and sticks to it.

Give Nathan Thomas a starting place too, if he loses the ball then so be it. It is his job to attack, Purrington can be there if needed to break down opposition attacks.

Argy1e · Jan 25, 2015

Do we have the players for 4-4-2? i'm not convinced.

Phil Sloggett · Jan 25, 2015

Argy1e":uios4etw said:
Do we have the players for 4-4-2? i'm not convinced.

I think so. We have plenty of centre backs. We have a right back. We have a left back. We have central midfielders. We have players who can play out wide. We have strikers.

Back in the 2001/2002 promotion season we virtually always played 4-4-2 at home and 4-5-1 away from home.

As I said, I think we need a simple system where we have the right players in the right positions and every player knows their job.

Working on 'shape' should be a key focus in training right now.

run PAFC · Jan 25, 2015

I also think we need a change. I don't think any team can go on indefinitely with the same system - it becomes easy for the opposition to do their homework.

4-1-3-2

Luke

Purrington
mchugh
nelson
mellor

Cox

Alessandra
Norburn
B.Reid

R.Reid
Brunt

lilcol · Jan 25, 2015

Why don't we try the W formation, that would fool the opposition !

agentgreen · Jan 25, 2015

Think we should play 11 at the back. Same result as the last 6 games. Win or lose. Whoops meant lose or draw.

xmastree · Jan 25, 2015

Phil Sloggett":3lhumvky said:
Argy1e":3lhumvky said:

Do we have the players for 4-4-2? i'm not convinced.

Click to expand...

I think so. We have plenty of centre backs. We have a right back. We have a left back. We have central midfielders. We have players who can play out wide. We have strikers.

Back in the 2001/2002 promotion season we virtually always played 4-4-2 at home and 4-5-1 away from home.

As I said, I think we need a simple system where we have the right players in the right positions and every player knows their job.

Working on 'shape' should be a key focus in training right now.

Who are your players who can play out wide? Sturrock liked midfield workers like Lee Hodges and David Norris, who could get forward but could also help their FBs, mixed with a winger like Buster Phillips. In the former category we have no one unless Kellett returns, in the latter we have Thomas who I don't believe is disciplined enough to start regularly.

I agree that we need to switch formation, but typically we have not got the personnel to do it. Again, Sheridan has not thought out plan B.

Deacster · Jan 25, 2015

We have to change something for the next home game as we have been worked out. We must pose more of an attacking threat and commit more players forward. I thnk a 4-2-3-1 would suit us better with Cox and Norburn sitting deep with Alessandra, Harvey and Thomas playing off Reid.

Cobi Budge. · Jan 25, 2015

This is what I'd go with (fully fit squad). Don't understand the logic behind not playing Thomas, the only player who looks capable of beating a man and crossing.

Greenpafcpete · Jan 25, 2015

4-4-3

1. Bittner

2. Mellor
5. Nelson
16. McHugh
3. Purrington

6. Norburn
17. B.Reid
4. Cox

7. Alessandra
9. R.Reid
19. Thomas

Using the squad available at present this is what i would play, stay attacking untill certain members of the squad are fit.

It would have been 4-4-2 but we have no right wing.

soccerpilgrim · Jan 25, 2015

run_PAFC":ujk7xdh9 said:
I also think we need a change. I don't think any team can go on indefinitely with the same system - it becomes easy for the opposition to do their homework.

4-1-3-2

Luke

Purrington
mchugh
nelson
mellor

Cox

Alessandra
Norburn
B.Reid

R.Reid
Brunt

Not sure if I quite get this one!

The quality of Nelson, Hartley, McHugh means we definitely have a squad set up to play with 3 centre-backs and we have Flanagan with us now too, of course. I find what's changed 5-2-1-2 from being very successful to the boring, ineffective style it gives us now, are the performances of the wing-backs, Reuben Reid and Alessandra. At one time, Mellor, Bobby Reid, Kellett, Reuben Reid and Alessandra all linked up with each other very well but Mellor hasn't made a decent run in weeks, while Reuben always seems to receive the ball out wide now? I also think we Cox needs another CM of O'Connor's quality, as neither Lee or Norburn are there for me. I think that could potentially be Blizzard but an O'Connor return is what we really want.

HarlHM · Jan 25, 2015

At Hartlepool, I'd go:

---------- McCormick/Bittner -----------
Mellor - Nelson - McHugh - Purrington
------------- Lee - Norburn -------------
Alessandra ---- B.Reid -------- Banton
----------------- R.Reid -----------------

HarlHM · Jan 25, 2015

soccerpilgrim":2arr2ux9 said:
run_PAFC":2arr2ux9 said:

I also think we need a change. I don't think any team can go on indefinitely with the same system - it becomes easy for the opposition to do their homework.

4-1-3-2

Luke

Purrington
mchugh
nelson
mellor

Cox

Alessandra
Norburn
B.Reid

R.Reid
Brunt

Click to expand...

Not sure if I quite get this one!

The quality of Nelson, Hartley, McHugh means we definitely have a squad set up to play with 3 centre-backs and we have Flanagan with us now too, of course. I find what's changed 5-2-1-2 from being very successful to the boring, ineffective style it gives us now, are the performances of the wing-backs, Reuben Reid and Alessandra. At one time, Mellor, Bobby Reid, Kellett, Reuben Reid and Alessandra all linked up with each other very well but Mellor hasn't made a decent run in weeks, while Reuben always seems to receive the ball out wide now? I also think we Cox needs another CM of O'Connor's quality, as neither Lee or Norburn are there for me. I think that could potentially be Blizzard but an O'Connor return is what we really want.

Nothing you said countered what he said.

HarlHM · Jan 25, 2015

Greenpafcpete":1c2064ep said:
4-4-3

1. Bittner

2. Mellor
5. Nelson
16. McHugh
3. Purrington

6. Norburn
17. B.Reid
4. Cox

7. Alessandra
9. R.Reid
19. Thomas

Using the squad available at present this is what i would play, stay attacking untill certain members of the squad are fit.

It would have been 4-4-2 but we have no right wing.

When people say 4-3-3 (or 4-4-3 in your case!) they will almost always be including wingers in that. When do you ever see a side play with 3 strikers?

PL2 3DQ · Jan 25, 2015

Playing 4-4-2 depends on two factors, the return of Hartley and the return of Kellett.
If Hartley comes back Nelson or McHugh don't deserve to be dropped and those three have played well together. If Kellett doesn't return then it has to be a back four because Purrington just isn't a wing back but is a decent left back.

I think Sheridan will stick with 3-5-2 or as yesterday 3-1-4-2.

Back to 4-4-2?

Phil Sloggett

Argy1e

Phil Sloggett

run PAFC

lilcol

agentgreen

Guest

xmastree

Deacster

Cobi Budge.

Guest

Greenpafcpete

soccerpilgrim

HarlHM

HarlHM

HarlHM

PL2 3DQ

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