What Formation Do Best For Newcastle United

The problem with all these discussions is that they are all predicated on the assumption that 4-4-2 is indeed the best way to play. It may be, but then again it may not.

I think we need to adjust our thinking somewhat, and try to understand what the Manager is trying to do, because it seems abundantly clear that BSA is not going to play 4-4-2 no matter how much the fans demand it. There may actually be good reasons for this - certainly few of the top teams actually play 4-4-2 these days, so it could just be that BSA is onto something.

I believe it’s predicated on the fact that few of our opponents actually play with two strikers up front these days, so if you stick to a flat back four you basically have 4 defenders marking one striker, and are hopelessly outnumbered in midfield.

I think BSA is trying to develop a fluid formation that can cater for most opposition approaches, and flexible enough to adjust ‘on the hoof’ if the opposition does the unexpected.

We have all banged on about the desirability, or otherwise, of Zog playing at ‘Left Back’. However, in reality it seems to me that he has almost total freedom to attack down the left wing. In addition his defensive ability is gradually improving. Yesterday, Habib Beye appeared to have been given similar freedom to attack down the right. This actually caused us problems in that Derby went with two up front, and too often this left us 2 on 2 when Derby attacked.

We are trying to play 4-3-3, with at least one ‘FB’ having the freedom to attack. This can be varied during the game with either both, or neither, FBs getting forward. In addition, the two support strikers’ roles can also be varied as the situation demands, such that we should be able to switch seamlesly to playing with either 4 in m/f (ie. 4-4-2) or indeed 5 (4-5-1).

Another point. Milner is not in fact being used, as many would have us believe, as a left winger. He is being played either on the left of a m/f three (as yesterday), or as the left-side support striker. In Duff’s absence, and with Zog playing LB, Milner is essentially one of the very few players we have who could play the left-sided striker role in 4-3-3.

I have to say all of this makes good sense to me - it seems to offer the most flexible of formations, and the one most capable of being changed during the course of a game. Indeed, I’m far from certain Allardyce is the tactical dinsoaur some would have us believe. The problem seems to be in getting the players to adapt to this formation, and perhaps getting them used to changing roles in mid-game.

Judging by Martins’ apparent attitude yesterday, sooner or later the Manager is going to have to ask himself whether some of the current squad can ever adapt to what he is trying to achieve - never mind the fans.

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