Formation Speculation

[sbrylski]

Can Poku play the slot you've earmarked for Calle? I could also see McNamara in there for Poku's CAM/CF spot. Otherwise I could see this, say early August. My only worry besides defense and can Pirlos and Lamps legs handle it, is will Tommy McN support Villa up top by his lonesome?

Honestly I like Poku best off the bench, coming in to dribble at tired defenders. I don't think his game is well rounded enough to play off of Pirlo yet. Positioning is going to be key for all of our starters (knowing where they need to be at all times and learning to think like Pirlo), and that's one of Poku's weak spots I believe. If Poku does start in this formation, I think he's better up top where his physicality can really take some focus off the smaller Villa.

I'd play Calle or Ballouchy as the other mid. Calle brings more defensively and physically, so I penciled him in. I seem to trust him more despite seeing less of him, merely because I've seen more of everyone else and I already know they suck.

 

[NickA]

can someone tell me what Calle has done here to be regarded so high? He's done nothing to impress me honestly. Maybe I missed something.

In regards to his position...not really being a LB, could he really be worse than Wingert/Brovsky? Probably not. I think Angelino will wind up playing wherever MCFC want him to play. We are basically helping him develop. I see him like Yedlin now. Playing a more advanced position. I'm sticking with the 4-1-4-1 or 4-5-1 stacking the midfield and let them run wild.

 

[sbrylski]

can someone tell me what Calle has done here to be regarded so high? He's done nothing to impress me honestly. Maybe I missed something.

In regards to his position...not really being a LB, could he really be worse than Wingert/Brovsky? Probably not. I think Angelino will wind up playing wherever MCFC want him to play. We are basically helping him develop. I see him like Yedlin now. Playing a more advanced position. I'm sticking with the 4-1-4-1 or 4-5-1 stacking the midfield and let them run wild.

At midfield, we like him because he's not Grabavoy. At fullback, we like him because he's not Wingert. That's pretty much it. He's got upside left, and we are burned out on everyone else.

 

[Kjbert]

At midfield, we like him because he's not Grabavoy. At fullback, we like him because he's not Wingert. That's pretty much it. He's got upside left, and we are burned out on everyone else.

Pretty much it. Open to better options.

Like being at a bar at 1 AM. Closing time isn't until 2 but the chick at 1 AM might be the better option than the chick at 2 AM if you wait that long.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Said it in 12 places for 3 months now. Give me a 4-3-3 flex to 4-1-4-1 in defense. Let Mullins press up as an inverted wide mid on the right. If Calle can handle LM and get himself fit, he'll win the spot. If not, throw someone out there among Ballouchy, Shelton or (ugh) Garbage.

Pirlo holding, with Mix as an 8- and Lampard as an 8+, switching off as in game circumstances and Frank's legs allow for it.

When we need it, Poku can sub in for a WM and move central to a LAM sort of role to give us an off balance look or Villa could slot over into a LF role with Poku as false-ish 9. If Poku gets fit enough, let him tuck in all the time and we have an unbalanced formation where his directness opens space for FF to make late runs.

Jacobsen's pitifulness insists upon itself. Get his ass out of there, and let's play some motherfucking football.

 

[FootyLovin]

Against TFC and NE:

-------Villa----Mullins--------
----------Lampard!!!----------
--Grabavoy-----------TMac----
----------------AJ--------------
Wingert-Hern-Facey-Iraola!

Subs - Poku, Ballouchy, Brovsky

Against OCSC:

------Villa-----Mullins-------
----------Lampard------------
--Grabavoy-----------TMac--
------------Pirlo!!!!!-----------
Wingert-Tefu-Facey-Iraola

Subs - Poku, AJ, Angelino

Post Gold Cup:

-------Villa-----Mullins-------
-----------Lampard------------
---Mix------------------TMac---
------------Pirlo--------------
Angelino-Tefu-Facey-Iraola

Subs - Poku, AJ, TBD based on game

Not all my choices (Grabavoy) but my predictions.

 

[MagnusPax]

At midfield, we like him because he's not Grabavoy. At fullback, we like him because he's not Wingert. That's pretty much it. He's got upside left, and we are burned out on everyone else.

Sadly this is our logic round these parts. But the 2 seconds we've seen him play we know he at least brings something different.

 

[DarwinianWit]

Against TFC and NE:

-------Villa----Mullins--------
----------Lampard!!!----------
--Grabavoy-----------TMac----
----------------AJ--------------
Wingert-Hern-Facey-Iraola!

Subs - Poku, Ballouchy, Brovsky

Against OCSC:

------Villa-----Mullins-------
----------Lampard------------
--Grabavoy-----------TMac--
------------Pirlo!!!!!-----------
Wingert-Tefu-Facey-Iraola

Subs - Poku, AJ, Angelino

Post Gold Cup:

-------Villa-----Mullins-------
-----------Lampard------------
---Mix------------------TMac---
------------Pirlo--------------
Angelino-Tefu-Facey-Iraola

Subs - Poku, AJ, TBD based on game

Not all my choices (Grabavoy) but my predictions.

It's a whole new team. Just look at the way the back end essentially totally evolves into something else. Hopefully chemistry doesn't take 10 weeks to form...

 

[joe]

Against TFC and NE:

-------Villa----Mullins--------
----------Lampard!!!----------
--Grabavoy-----------TMac----
----------------AJ--------------
Wingert-Hern-Facey-Iraola!

Subs - Poku, Ballouchy, Brovsky

Against OCSC:

------Villa-----Mullins-------
----------Lampard------------
--Grabavoy-----------TMac--
------------Pirlo!!!!!-----------
Wingert-Tefu-Facey-Iraola

Subs - Poku, AJ, Angelino

Post Gold Cup:

-------Villa-----Mullins-------
-----------Lampard------------
---Mix------------------TMac---
------------Pirlo--------------
Angelino-Tefu-Facey-Iraola

Subs - Poku, AJ, TBD based on game

Not all my choices (Grabavoy) but my predictions.

Pirlo needs more exclamation marks, and maybe hearts above the i's.

 

[Gotham Gator]

It's a whole new team. Just look at the way the back end essentially totally evolves into something else. Hopefully chemistry doesn't take 10 weeks to form...

Yeah, this is the big question. Probably worth its own thread.

 

[dannd23]

This is extremely speculative considering no official word on Tefu or Mena, and very unlikely knowing Kreis. But a 5-3-2 of:

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

This is extremely speculative considering no official word on Tefu or Mena, and very unlikely knowing Kreis. But a 5-3-2 of:

Thats almost how we play now anyway.

 

[sbrylski]

Thats almost how we play now anyway.

Kind of, but Jacobson has a lot more duties than a traditional CB in a 3-man back line. Less of a 3-5-2 and more of a 2-3-3-2. I'm not sure Tefu or Mena could jump into that role (not that I know much about them yet).

I do like the Y-midfield in that formation though. Just slide the middle CB up and replace with Jacobson. If Tefu works out next to Facey, maybe Jacobson can eventually be pulled from the starting lineup and we can add another midfielder too.

 

[gbservis]

This is extremely speculative considering no official word on Tefu or Mena, and very unlikely knowing Kreis. But a 5-3-2 of:

I have been thinking about something like this since coming home from the game. After watching Angelino and Iraola play yesterday I would love to see a formation that gives them the freedom/cover to attack at will. A 5-3-2 as you suggest or a formation with a 4 man back line and 2 CDMs could be options.

 

[kun]

----------------------Villa-----------------Mullins
-------------------------------Lampard
--------------Poku---------------------------------Mix
----------------------------------Pirlo
--Angelino-----------------------------------------------Iraola
-----------------------Facey-----------------Tefu
--------------------------------Saunders

SUBS: Meara, Calle, Mena/Hernandez, Jacobson, McNamara, Ballouchy/Alvarez, Nemec/Shelton

Player for player, that's as good as anything in the league.

 

[joe]

----------------------Villa-----------------Mullins
-------------------------------Lampard
--------------Poku---------------------------------Mix
----------------------------------Pirlo
--Angelino-----------------------------------------------Iraola
-----------------------Facey-----------------Tefu
--------------------------------Saunders

SUBS: Meara, Calle, Mena/Hernandez, Jacobson, McNamara, Ballouchy/Alvarez, Nemec/Shelton

Player for player, that's as good as anything in the league.

Maybe switch Poku and Lampard, but I'm on board otherwise.

Funny that I've never seen a second of Tefu and I have no problem assuming he's a better CB than any of our current options apart from Facey.

 

[FootyLovin]

----------------------Villa-----------------Mullins
-------------------------------Lampard
--------------Poku---------------------------------Mix
----------------------------------Pirlo
--Angelino-----------------------------------------------Iraola
-----------------------Facey-----------------Tefu
--------------------------------Saunders

SUBS: Meara, Calle, Mena/Hernandez, Jacobson, McNamara, Ballouchy/Alvarez, Nemec/Shelton

Player for player, that's as good as anything in the league.

I like this but I am getting more and more convinced that (a) Mullins is quite valuable to have in the starting 11 and (b) Poku provides more value as a sub against tired defenders. With that:

Villa --- Mullins
--- Lampard ---
Mix --- TMac
--- Pirlo ---
Angelino - Facey - Tefu - Iraola

Subs: Poku, Shelton, AJ

 

[gbservis]

----------------------Villa-----------------Mullins
-------------------------------Lampard
--------------Poku---------------------------------Mix
----------------------------------Pirlo
--Angelino-----------------------------------------------Iraola
-----------------------Facey-----------------Tefu
--------------------------------Saunders

SUBS: Meara, Calle, Mena/Hernandez, Jacobson, McNamara, Ballouchy/Alvarez, Nemec/Shelton

Player for player, that's as good as anything in the league.

Poku doesn't play enough defense for this formation to work. Angelino is fast but he's not fast enough to get up and down the wing all game with no cover. As joe suggested you could swap him and Lampard or as FootyLovin suggests bring him on as a sub. Either way based on what we have seen in his appearances so far Poku is a CAM/ST and should be played as such.

 

[NYCFC_MLS_FAN]

Against TFC and NE:

-------Villa----Mullins--------
----------Lampard!!!----------
--Grabavoy-----------TMac----
----------------AJ--------------
Wingert-Hern-Facey-Iraola!

Subs - Poku, Ballouchy, Brovsky

Against OCSC:

------Villa-----Mullins-------
----------Lampard------------
--Grabavoy-----------TMac--
------------Pirlo!!!!!-----------
Wingert-Tefu-Facey-Iraola

Subs - Poku, AJ, Angelino

Post Gold Cup:

-------Villa-----Mullins-------
-----------Lampard------------
---Mix------------------TMac---
------------Pirlo--------------
Angelino-Tefu-Facey-Iraola

Subs - Poku, AJ, TBD based on game

Not all my choices (Grabavoy) but my predictions.

Grabavoy shouldn't be on the same field with pirlo... #freepoku

 

[FootyLovin]

Grabavoy shouldn't be on the same field with pirlo... #freepoku

As I said in my post, not what I want, what I expect from Kreis.

As a side note my dog destroys everything in my house. So now whenever we find something has been destroyed we turn to each other and say #BecauseZiggy.