Optimal Formation

thesauerchise

thesauerchise

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I'm working on a large piece breaking down the potential formations for NYCFC and what might work best for our roster. What is everyone's thoughts on the formation choices, playing style and roster decisions? What would work best for us and what do you feel is not working at all?

I appreciate all the readers and any feedback!
 
NYCFCfan said:
4-3-3

We have crazy pace with Mullins, Villa and Shelton up top. Why aren't we utilizing it?

Stick Nemec in the middle when you need hold up play and we'll be rolling in the goals.
Click to expand...
I tend to agree, (you could get drunk off the number times I mention it during a podcast).

My only concern, as with most any formation, is the play of our fullbacks.
 
Our roster has no attacking mids. Villa should be down in that spot, because he's our best player and it's our biggest weakness.

You could call it a 4-4-2 Diamond, but I think it would play more like a 4-3-1-2.

Code: 
------------Nemec-------------Mullins-----------
------------------------------------------------
---------------------Villa----------------------
------------------------------------------------
----------Mix---------------------Poku----------
--------------------Jacobson--------------------
---Calle-------------------------------Brovsky--
--------------Wingert-----Hernandez-------------

Jacobson stays in his typical deep defensive midfield role, and Mix and Poku also play with an eye on defense due to our overall weakness back there. With those seven players in the back, we can play possession all day long.

Key to this formation then is Villa in the CAM spot. Move him down there, and suddenly we have the ability to turn our impressive possession numbers into actual attacking chances. In addition, it gets us two more strikers on the pitch, who are good at receiving crosses and finishing, so those chances won't be wasted as often.

Shelton is the first man off the bench, and can come in for any of the highest five players with just a small formation adjustment.

I think it's optimal and am actually surprised nobody has brought this up before.

When Lampard arrives, Villa can go back up top with Lampard as the CAM.
 
sbrylski said:
Our roster has no attacking mids. Villa should be down in that spot, because he's our best player and it's our biggest weakness.

You could call it a 4-4-2 Diamond, but I think it would play more like a 4-3-1-2.

Code: 
------------Nemec-------------Mullins-----------
------------------------------------------------
---------------------Villa----------------------
------------------------------------------------
----------Mix---------------------Poku----------
--------------------Jacobson--------------------
---Calle-------------------------------Brovsky--
--------------Wingert-----Hernandez-------------

Jacobson stays in his typical deep defensive midfield role, and Mix and Poku also play with an eye on defense due to our overall weakness back there. With those seven players in the back, we can play possession all day long.

Key to this formation then is Villa in the CAM spot. Move him down there, and suddenly we have the ability to turn our impressive possession numbers into actual attacking chances. In addition, it gets us two more strikers on the pitch, who are good at receiving crosses and finishing, so those chances won't be wasted as often.

Shelton is the first man off the bench, and can come in for any of the highest five players with just a small formation adjustment.

I think it's optimal and am actually surprised nobody has brought this up before.

When Lampard arrives, Villa can go back up top with Lampard as the CAM.
Click to expand...
This is one that has not been brought up. While one can question putting Villa somewhere other than up top, this move is not unprecedented (Henry, Thierry). I prefer Mix in that type of shuttling role, being able to run the channels, he does it well for the USMNT.
 
I do think Tommy Mullet could be the attacking mid. Considering his lack of experience and coming off knee surgery, I would not expect a major role for him anytime soon.
 
sbrylski said:
Our roster has no attacking mids. Villa should be down in that spot, because he's our best player and it's our biggest weakness.

You could call it a 4-4-2 Diamond, but I think it would play more like a 4-3-1-2.

Code: 
------------Nemec-------------Mullins-----------
------------------------------------------------
---------------------Villa----------------------
------------------------------------------------
----------Mix---------------------Poku----------
--------------------Jacobson--------------------
---Calle-------------------------------Brovsky--
--------------Wingert-----Hernandez-------------

Jacobson stays in his typical deep defensive midfield role, and Mix and Poku also play with an eye on defense due to our overall weakness back there. With those seven players in the back, we can play possession all day long.

Key to this formation then is Villa in the CAM spot. Move him down there, and suddenly we have the ability to turn our impressive possession numbers into actual attacking chances. In addition, it gets us two more strikers on the pitch, who are good at receiving crosses and finishing, so those chances won't be wasted as often.

Shelton is the first man off the bench, and can come in for any of the highest five players with just a small formation adjustment.

I think it's optimal and am actually surprised nobody has brought this up before.

When Lampard arrives, Villa can go back up top with Lampard as the CAM.
Click to expand...
I like this. I like this a lot. I know people are going to give him shit, but even if Lamps is going to be playing 70 mins/game (which I don't think will be the case), and Poku's seeming inability to play a full half, that will work out perfectly for substitutions for when/if the time comes. But, I'm with you in thinking that if Poku can play 70, as well, he should be starting.
 
So hard to make an optimal formation. I was trying to think of our best XI and it dries up quickly. Villa, Mix, Calle, Hernandez, who else are you excited about seeing out there? Mullins? Maybe. Shelton? as a sub. Poku? For all the excitement, he is basically unknown. The construction of the team is not one that can hide weaknesses.
Will Lampard give us a dominant enough midfield that can limit the pressure against the defense? Do we plug holes in the defense or just get by and try to strengthen the attack? Moves need to be made, its scary when you start to look at it.
 
I think what the original theory of Villa/Nemec is still the right way to go. It makes sense to me to have your skill guy and strength guy up top. Leave the speed on the left & right midfield (Mullins/Shelton) strong Center (Mix/Jacobson). So stay in a 4-4-2 with a straight centerline, opposed to diamond.
 
As much as I think we've had better play with a 4-3-3, I suspect Kreis will keep rolling out variations on the 4-4-2 until he finds something that works.
 
Thanks for the link. One thing I've been wondering about the Lampard transition is how many minutes he'll actually play. He certainly wasn't going 90 very often for MCFC. I'm much more comfortable with picking a formation around Villa rather than Frank.
 
joe said:
Thanks for the link. One thing I've been wondering about the Lampard transition is how many minutes he'll actually play. He certainly wasn't going 90 very often for MCFC. I'm much more comfortable with picking a formation around Villa rather than Frank.
Click to expand...
Good question. I don't think he plays 90 often, though the minimal PT he got for city might be a positive. I agree villa is likely to play more minutes if both are healthy. Though I'm sure BIG games Lampard will play almost 90.
 
thesauerchise said:
Good question. I don't think he plays 90 often, though the minimal PT he got for city might be a positive. I agree villa is likely to play more minutes if both are healthy. Though I'm sure BIG games Lampard will play almost 90.
Click to expand...

I suspect Lampard will generally play 90 unless he absolutely physically cannot do it because even a somewhat tired version of him is far better than the alternatives. You watch the guys who have played in top leagues as compared to much of MLS and they are, generally, playing a different game mentally than the masses. You put a few of those guys together and it really elevates the team performance (e.g., I suspect you get more out of Villa with Lampard on the field). I think you even see it in a player like Alvarez who is fairly physically limited, but sees things on the pitch that other players just don't (e.g., his through ball to Shelton at the end of the Portland game).
 
Lamps has gone 90 or 80+ a handful of times in the second half of this season. I think he'll be fine. And if he's in need of a sub, we've got Poku as an ace in the hole.
 
AJS said:
I suspect Lampard will generally play 90 unless he absolutely physically cannot do it because even a somewhat tired version of him is far better than the alternatives. You watch the guys who have played in top leagues as compared to much of MLS and they are, generally, playing a different game mentally than the masses. You put a few of those guys together and it really elevates the team performance (e.g., I suspect you get more out of Villa with Lampard on the field). I think you even see it in a player like Alvarez who is fairly physically limited, but sees things on the pitch that other players just don't (e.g., his through ball to Shelton at the end of the Portland game).
Click to expand...

Great point on Alvarez. His comfort on the ball and vision is so much better than most MLS players, simply because of his La Liga experience
 
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