The Tweak in Formation

[Wolfy McWolf-Face]

So yesterday Nuno made a tweak to play 1 behind 2 strikers and it turned our game around. Whilst we have played with 2 up top previously we have never utilised the 'number 10' role like we did with Neto. Could this be similar to last year when we moved away from 3 up top and revitalised our season?

For me Neto showed yesterday that he could play that role behind 2 forwards and I find myself thinking could Adama too? Driving at the opposition going inside or out and getting some of those venemous shots off. Many on here have suggested we've needed a 'number 10' for some time now. In most cases it could be very flexible as whoever players behind the top 2 could always push wide and revert to the top 3 again.

A no brainer??

 

[RMNottm]

Said same in another thread. Jota could also do this although we have needed him with Raul

 

[Wolfy McWolf-Face]

Said same in another thread. Jota could also do this although we have needed him with Raul

Indeed he could. I guess I'd always expect Jota next to Raul but another benefit is how fluid it could be. Any 2 of Jota/Adama/Neto could interchange during the match to keep it creative and tougher for the opposition to settle.

The Tweak last year seemed somewhat forced but Nuno rolled with it. He may come across as stubborn (I. E. We have a way and we stick to it) but he's not the man to cut off his nose to spite his face if an answer presents itself.

 

[WalsallWolf]

No Plan B eh

It worked a treat and also added a little bit more numbers in the centre of the park. Raul was often picking it up in the left channel too, which was interesting. Traore IMO is better straight down the middle too (See Man City away) and in that formation it does give him the license to make runs down the right.

 

[Tojo the grass]

It’s good that he is trying different permutations of the forwards, it makes it much more difficult to plan a defensive strategy against us.

 

[Flea]

So yesterday Nuno made a tweak to play 1 behind 2 strikers and it turned our game around. Whilst we have played with 2 up top previously we have never utilised the 'number 10' role like we did with Neto. Could this be similar to last year when we moved away from 3 up top and revitalised our season?

For me Neto showed yesterday that he could play that role behind 2 forwards and I find myself thinking could Adama too? Driving at the opposition going inside or out and getting some of those venemous shots off. Many on here have suggested we've needed a 'number 10' for some time now. In most cases it could be very flexible as whoever players behind the top 2 could always push wide and revert to the top 3 again.

A no brainer??

I have wished for a modern number ten for a while..but it suddenly doesn´t feel like we need to prio this.
One match is only that,but the signs having Pedro playing there was clearcut positive.
We might have had a number ten in our squad all season without really knowing it..
The pass to Jonny was good.

 

[sc91]

Wish we had started like that, but huge praise for realising the issue and correcting it, immediately gave Southampton a problem that they weren't expecting, a more direct approach which lead to Traore running rings around their backline, as @WalsallWolf said, it gives him license to roam, which for a guy of his ability is extremely dangerous, as it can drag defenders all over the place.

 

[Oh When the Wolves]

FairPlay to neves too . He got across to their full backs quickly on a number of occasions

 

[Norwegian Wolf]

I hope that Nuno sticks with the tweaked formation. Jota is much better playing central than out wide and as he showed yesterday and at the Etihad, Traore is so much more effective running into the box at central defenders than looping over crosses.
Traore should be running at the likes of slow movers in the middle like Lindelof, McGuire, Bednarek, Evans etc rather than being triple marked out wide. Traore in central areas also gives Doc room out wide to become last season's player again and would also benefit MGW as a late sub in the 10 role.

 

[Dr Wolfenstein]

Traore is quite unique in the way he can be pushed right to the by-line then recover, turn & open up his body & clip in an accurate cross rather than just stretching & hitting & hoping across goal.

 

[Has_Talisca_Signed]

So 5–2-1-2 ?

Rui
Doc - Donck - Coady - Saiss - Jonny
Moutinho - Neves
Jota/Neto
Traore - Raul

Would that work? Still involving our best 11 with the exception of Boly.

 

[peter&thewolf]

The tweak in formation was putting Traore with Raul up front, with neto behind, we done exactly the same against city, but we only seem to do it, when chasing the game, masterstroke by nuno. I think this would work from the start.

 

[Sussex Wolf]

It’s good that he is trying different permutations of the forwards, it makes it much more difficult to plan a defensive strategy against us.

Said the same in another thread. Some top teams have this flexibility in their forwards and when fully worked out, the players can adjust the formation during the game without waiting for HT or a substitution. If we can develop this further, we will really have an attacking force that’s very difficult for teams to set up against.

 

[92WWFC]

I like this as an option think we have a few players in the squad who can play that role like Neto and Jota. Might also be a way to get the best out of MGW who would be suited to that role without defensive responsibilities and his flicks and one-twos can be to better and less risky impact.

 

[Darvo]

The more options we have the better. We need that flexibility.

 

[Glass ankles]

Don't see the harm in trying this from the off next few games and see how it pans out.

 

[Deleted member 5910]

I've been a proponent of a 5-2-1-2 formation for a while, the only question is whether we can fashion Traore into a centre forward who links up closely with Raul- we certainly saw it for the winner so here's hoping.

Hope nobody saw me edit this post!

 

[SingYourHeartsOut]

I've been a proponent of a 5-3-1-2 formation for a while, the only question is whether we can fashion Traore into a centre forward who links up closely with Raul- we certainly saw it for the winner so here's hoping.

You'd be getting called Diane elsewhere!

 

[Chiswick_Wolf]

Nuno isn’t going to go out and get a number “proper” no 10 I don’t think, but given his love of flexibility I think we could see another player in the mould of Jota/Neto come in. In an ideal world Nuno seems to want players that can play out wide or through the middle in his front line. He doesn’t appear to like specialists as if the formation does change you can end up being frozen out of the team (Costa & Cav couldn’t play through the middle so weren’t flexible enough for us going forward).

“Options. Solutions”.

 

[RobB]

JotaNetoJimenez is the way to go.

 

[oldgoldheart]

what i love is that, despite never having played this, they had a go and made it work. i reckon Cathro had a big part in this

 

[Wolfy McWolf-Face]

Nuno isn’t going to go out and get a number “proper” no 10 I don’t think, but given his love of flexibility I think we could see another player in the mould of Jota/Neto come in. In an ideal world Nuno seems to want players that can play out wide or through the middle in his front line. He doesn’t appear to like specialists as if the formation does change you can end up being frozen out of the team (Costa & Cav couldn’t play through the middle so weren’t flexible enough for us going forward).

“Options. Solutions”.

Whilst I agree that Nuno certainly desires flexibility throughout the squad its a huge irony that it's success is largely driven by to specialists in Raul and Moutinho who tend to play 1 role only!

 

[JonahWolf]

Whilst I agree that Nuno certainly desires flexibility throughout the squad its a huge irony that it's success is largely driven by to specialists in Raul and Moutinho who tend to play 1 role only!

Well, yes, but not like you can exactly go wrong with a top class CM and striker in the side.
Pretty difficult to make a system that doesn’t include both of those. Spain, Barca etc have done so at times, Citeh when both their star specialist strikers were injured/needed a rest.

 

[Stafford]

Depends on who we are playing and how they are set out. Traore generally plays better out wide, we do need the ability to tweak formations though.

 

[sillytuna]

I thought we looked great in that formation. No more aimless balls to no one in the box. Neto played it well but mgw suits it and jota at a stretch. Up front we have any 3 from raul, adama and jota meaning we can give players a rest.

Where it doesn't work we can easily switch again.

 

[nomadwolf]

Think Jordao can also play as a 10...or, as Wolfling posted in Aug last year, before they signed...

Neto looks like a left-footed version of Jota and...

...Jordao, a young Moutinho.

So, by Leics match weekend, and playing 2 up top and one behind, we should have, at worst case a choice of 3 from...

Raul, Traore, Neto, Campana, Jota,

then joining 2 of above on bench, MGW, Jordao (remember, he did cost circa £9m)

...and maybe other like Origi...and if more injuries also Giles, Ashley-Seal

Or push come shove, have to play Boly at the back, push Saiss or Dendoncker into midfield, and plump for Moutinho to play in the hole...sigh, if needs must