From previous articles you will be aware by now that I am in favour of reverting to the fluid 4-4-2, which won Arsene Wenger his 3 Premier League titles.
There are some that say this formation is outdated and will not work in the modern game, but I fiercely disagree with this view. Pains me to say it, but one only needs to look at the impressiveness of the Man United run last season to see that a fluid 4-4-2 is enormously effective with intelligent players. Another lesson to be learned from United and Ferguson is that brave decisions about players win titles. From February until May, Berbatov, the league’s leading goal scorer, and Nani the league’s leading goal maker, barely played with Fergie preferring Valenicia and Hernandez.
I am raising these points because I am starting to feel that Wenger needs to learn from the most successful manager of all time and be prepared to be a tad more flexible in his team selection and his formation, the latter not just from game to game, but during a game when required.
Whilst Ferguson had favoured the traditional formation with Rooney just behind Hernandez in most games, he is very much prepared to sacrifice either player to play a 4-5-1 and flood the midfield against teams such as ourselves.
In the past few seasons we have played the 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 using Arshavin, Nasri and Walcott as the wingers, which has in the main worked for us, with Fabregas playing just behind RVP. However, when it has not been effective during a game, Wenger has thrown on Chamakh or Bendtner, but instead of reverting to the traditional 4-4-2, he has kept the formation and played them out wide, and therefore not in their natural position. Nico has certainly suffered at the hand of this odd tactic more than most, hence his desire to leave.
I am hoping that the style of signing so far in this window and the hint of those still to be made, suggest that Wenger is finally seeing the logic of the increased flexibility and is assembling a squad of payers who can swiftly adapt both during a difficult match and from week to week. This will mean in some games resting players, who might otherwise expect to start, but the biggest clubs do this and it is this effective use of a fuller squad I hope to see this season. I also see this as essential when we lose three players to the African Cup of Nations in the winter.
In an earlier article I suggested we should learn from the double winning side of 1998. This is the perfect example of a fluid 4-4-2 at its best, and we have the payers for this in 2011.
In 98 we ostensibly had a four man midfield with Overmars, Vieira, Petit and Parlour. However, Overmars was forever rampaging forward and even running in behind Wright and Bergkamp. This meant we moved to a three man attack often during the game, but Parlour being equally happy as a central midfielder would just shuffle across, seeing the midfield move to a three of Pettit on the left, Paddy in the centre and Razor on the right. It is this fluidity of formation I would love to see this season.
Top article, well done.
Great article. I share you opinion. 4-4-2 against weaker teams would be great. We could even play it against big teams. IF we can dominate the game and keep the ball in our side. Theo would be a weapon as a Henry-kind of player as he is wasted on the flanks.