Tactics, Formations, and Strategy Thread

[McLewis]

This new season under Luis Enrique, our prospective head coach, we'll be moving from the traditional 4-2-3-1 formation to the attack-minded 4-3-3 that he both played in as a player with Barcelona and coached the B team in. He knows this formation intimately.

In the coming days, I'll post more information as to what we can expect from this formation, who will fill what roles and so on.

[Guest]

I'd like to see this...


----------------------------------------------------Sergio---------------------------------------------------------------

Isla---------------------------------Juan-----------------------------------Burdisso--------------------------------Riise

----------------------------------------------------DDR------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------Pizzaro------------------------------Banega-----------------------------------------

--------------------?--------------------------------Totti--------------------------------------------Vucinic----------


Just not sure on who we could get to play on the right wing...

[MacPhisto/MirrorBallMan]

I'd like to see this...


----------------------------------------------------Sergio---------------------------------------------------------------

Isla---------------------------------Juan-----------------------------------Burdisso--------------------------------Riise

----------------------------------------------------DDR------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------Pizzaro------------------------------Banega-----------------------------------------

--------------------?--------------------------------Totti--------------------------------------------Vucinic----------


Just not sure on who we could get to play on the right wing...

- very realistic
- looks good on paper

I like it

[Brigate Rossonere]

So no new GK signing?

[ErPupone]

Tbh I think we would be fine with Sergio and Lobont competing for that number 1 spot in goal, while Pena would be their reserve (or Pigliacelli). I would rather see us invest in other areas of the team, especially in a quality CB or RB, then to freshen up that midfield. Unfortunately, it seems as if Julio Sergio will be leaving, while there are reportedly a number of teams looking at Doni.

[Guest]

Sergio is a solid choice.

[Brigate Rossonere]

My 4-3-3

Sergio
Cassetti - Juan - Burdisso - Isla
Banega - De Rossi - New Signing
Lamela - Totti - Menez

[Guest]

4-2-3-1

----------------Sergio-----------------
Cassetti---Juan----Burdisso---Isla
--------De Rossi---Pizaro------------
Menez--------?????----------Vucinic(????)
-----------------Totti--------------------

[ErPupone]

4-2-3-1

----------------Sergio-----------------
Cassetti---Juan----Burdisso---Isla
--------De Rossi---Pizaro------------
Menez--------?????----------Vucinic(????)
-----------------Totti--------------------

Ricardo Alvarez would be perfect, though I don't know if Isla on the left would workout well. Unfortunately, I can't think of any left-backs on the market now.

[Brigate Rossonere]

Alvarez or Lamela in the whole is a must !

[ErPupone]

Alvarez or Lamela in the whole is a must !

I don't think Lamela and Menez would be able to work together. Alvarez would be a better fit imo if we do keep Menez.

[Brigate Rossonere]

Alvarez or Lamela in the whole is a must !

I don't think Lamela and Menez would be able to work together. Alvarez would be a better fit imo if we do keep Menez.

What makes you think that? Lamela is a very dynamic player and until I see it fail I won't predict it to happen. Haven't seen enough of Alvarez to make a final judgement of him but I have seen enough to know that he is CLASS. Would be a great signing.

[ErPupone]

Alvarez or Lamela in the whole is a must !

I don't think Lamela and Menez would be able to work together. Alvarez would be a better fit imo if we do keep Menez.

What makes you think that? Lamela is a very dynamic player and until I see it fail I won't predict it to happen. Haven't seen enough of Alvarez to make a final judgement of him but I have seen enough to know that he is CLASS. Would be a great signing.

From what I've seen, Lamela has lots of talent. But, he supposedly over-dribbles often and makes bad decisions with regards to his distribution. On another thread, he was compared to Menez in that sense... and one Menez is more than enough. Of course, I haven't seen enough of him in action to make a final judgement, but from what I've heard it seems as if it might be a problem. Alvarez, on the other hand, contributes much more than Lamela defensively and as I already mentionned earlier is seen as a Perrotta-type player but better on the ball. That would be a perfect fit in the hole in the 4-2-3-1.

Also, having Menez, Lamela and Vucinic playing behind Totti would really unbalance the team, in addition to the fact that Pizarro isn't great defensively.

[Brigate Rossonere]

From what I've seen, Lamela has lots of talent. But, he supposedly over-dribbles often and makes bad decisions with regards to his distribution. On another thread, he was compared to Menez in that sense... and one Menez is more than enough. Of course, I haven't seen enough of him in action to make a final judgement, but from what I've heard it seems as if it might be a problem. Alvarez, on the other hand, contributes much more than Lamela defensively and as I already mentionned earlier is seen as a Perrotta-type player but better on the ball. That would be a perfect fit in the hole in the 4-2-3-1.

Also, having Menez, Lamela and Vucinic playing behind Totti would really unbalance the team, in addition to the fact that Pizarro isn't great defensively.

Why would you want your CAM to be contributing defensively? Isn't that what the 2 in the 4-2-3-1 are for? If I was playing that formation and has Lamela or Alvarez there I would expect them to do very little defending if any. They are playing that position to be the creators of attacks, the pivot points, not the defensive workhorses.

As for balance, I do agree that those three on the field at the same time probably wouldn't work, although Menez, Lamela and a more defensive minded winger certainly would. The 4-2-3-1 works well at Roma, it just needs some adjustments and new players to make it brilliant.

[ErPupone]

From what I've seen, Lamela has lots of talent. But, he supposedly over-dribbles often and makes bad decisions with regards to his distribution. On another thread, he was compared to Menez in that sense... and one Menez is more than enough. Of course, I haven't seen enough of him in action to make a final judgement, but from what I've heard it seems as if it might be a problem. Alvarez, on the other hand, contributes much more than Lamela defensively and as I already mentionned earlier is seen as a Perrotta-type player but better on the ball. That would be a perfect fit in the hole in the 4-2-3-1.

Also, having Menez, Lamela and Vucinic playing behind Totti would really unbalance the team, in addition to the fact that Pizarro isn't great defensively.

Why would you want your CAM to be contributing defensively? Isn't that what the 2 in the 4-2-3-1 are for? If I was playing that formation and has Lamela or Alvarez there I would expect them to do very little defending if any. They are playing that position to be the creators of attacks, the pivot points, not the defensive workhorses.

As for balance, I do agree that those three on the field at the same time probably wouldn't work, although Menez, Lamela and a more defensive minded winger certainly would. The 4-2-3-1 works well at Roma, it just needs some adjustments and new players to make it brilliant.

Well when you have a defence as shaky as ours (Cassetti-Burdisso-Juan-Riise), a sub-par De Rossi and an offensive-minded Pizarro, the 4-2-3-1 could turn into a disaster if not balanced out by a real box-to-box midfielder. In our experience with this formation, we've never had a creative CAM, but we'v'e had midfielders capable and willing of contributing in all areas of the field...at least when Totti is playing. For example, this was Spalletti's usual formation (I'm using Spalletti as an example because he'll resemble Enrique more than Ranieri would):

De Rossi Pizarro (Aquilani)
Taddei Perrotta Mancini
Totti

This set-up was quite successful especially because of Perrotta's contribution all over the pitch. Taddei also contributed quite a bit defensively, while Mancini stayed further up the pitch when we didn't have control of the ball. When attacking, Totti, due to his natural trequartista mentality, would often drop back into midfield to give Pizarro (or Aquilani) a helping hand in directing the flow of the game. Totti would immediately look for Taddei and Mancini's runs to pick them out, while they would often interchange positions to become difficult to mark. It would then be up to someone like Perrotta to make late runs into the box since he has the instinct to do so. This goal comes to mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqGgvpNoTw4

Here, Roma were already in control of the ball so Perrotta's defensive play is not shown. What I mean to show in this clip is that Roma does not need a creative CAM when Totti is playing. He often drops back and puts in his usual flicks to open up space for his teammates. Meanwhile, the wingers are cutting in and contributing to buildup by making their runs. All Perrotta has to do in this case is drop into the space being created and make a threatening run to goal. Totti's presence on the pitch means that the player behind him only needs to cover as much ground as possible since, when off the ball, Totti needs to regain his breath. Instead, on the following clip, keep your eye on Perrotta who was covering his man at first, but as soon as De Rossi picked up the ball, ran right through the middle of the pitch and scored.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMXX8J33Q2U&feature=related

Someone like Menez would never in a million years do that. He would never go that far back to track down his man and if he does, he would never have the instinct to make it back to the opposing box in the amount of time that Perrotta did. Menez needs the ball at his feet at all times, if not he gets lost on the pitch.

[Guest]

From what I've seen, Lamela has lots of talent. But, he supposedly over-dribbles often and makes bad decisions with regards to his distribution. On another thread, he was compared to Menez in that sense... and one Menez is more than enough. Of course, I haven't seen enough of him in action to make a final judgement, but from what I've heard it seems as if it might be a problem. Alvarez, on the other hand, contributes much more than Lamela defensively and as I already mentionned earlier is seen as a Perrotta-type player but better on the ball. That would be a perfect fit in the hole in the 4-2-3-1.

Also, having Menez, Lamela and Vucinic playing behind Totti would really unbalance the team, in addition to the fact that Pizarro isn't great defensively.

Why would you want your CAM to be contributing defensively? Isn't that what the 2 in the 4-2-3-1 are for? If I was playing that formation and has Lamela or Alvarez there I would expect them to do very little defending if any. They are playing that position to be the creators of attacks, the pivot points, not the defensive workhorses.

As for balance, I do agree that those three on the field at the same time probably wouldn't work, although Menez, Lamela and a more defensive minded winger certainly would. The 4-2-3-1 works well at Roma, it just needs some adjustments and new players to make it brilliant.

Well when you have a defence as shaky as ours (Cassetti-Burdisso-Juan-Riise), a sub-par De Rossi and an offensive-minded Pizarro, the 4-2-3-1 could turn into a disaster if not balanced out by a real box-to-box midfielder. In our experience with this formation, we've never had a creative CAM, but we'v'e had midfielders capable and willing of contributing in all areas of the field...at least when Totti is playing. For example, this was Spalletti's usual formation (I'm using Spalletti as an example because he'll resemble Enrique more than Ranieri would):

De Rossi Pizarro (Aquilani)
Taddei Perrotta Mancini
Totti

This set-up was quite successful especially because of Perrotta's contribution all over the pitch. Taddei also contributed quite a bit defensively, while Mancini stayed further up the pitch when we didn't have control of the ball. When attacking, Totti, due to his natural trequartista mentality, would often drop back into midfield to give Pizarro (or Aquilani) a helping hand in directing the flow of the game. Totti would immediately look for Taddei and Mancini's runs to pick them out, while they would often interchange positions to become difficult to mark. It would then be up to someone like Perrotta to make late runs into the box since he has the instinct to do so. This goal comes to mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqGgvpNoTw4

Here, Roma were already in control of the ball so Perrotta's defensive play is not shown. What I mean to show in this clip is that Roma does not need a creative CAM when Totti is playing. He often drops back and puts in his usual flicks to open up space for his teammates. Meanwhile, the wingers are cutting in and contributing to buildup by making their runs. All Perrotta has to do in this case is drop into the space being created and make a threatening run to goal. Totti's presence on the pitch means that the player behind him only needs to cover as much ground as possible since, when off the ball, Totti needs to regain his breath. Instead, on the following clip, keep your eye on Perrotta who was covering his man at first, but as soon as De Rossi picked up the ball, ran right through the middle of the pitch and scored.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMXX8J33Q2U&feature=related

Someone like Menez would never in a million years do that. He would never go that far back to track down his man and if he does, he would never have the instinct to make it back to the opposing box in the amount of time that Perrotta did. Menez needs the ball at his feet at all times, if not he gets lost on the pitch.

+1 I couldn't agree more.

[tahaa89]

Hey guys I'm a Milan fan, but anyways here goes, I've allways admired Totti and think his one of the all time greats, would love to see him lift the Champions League before he retires. Anyways I think you guys should buy Viviano, De Silvestri, Kjaer, Bring Aquilani back, and also purchase Jefferen and Giovinco. Sell all the dead wood and get these guys. Your starting 11 would be something like this -- Viviano; De Silvestri, Kjaer, Juan, Rise; Aqua, De Rossi, Pizzaro; Jefferen, Totti, Giovinco...Great starting 11 that could really challange for the Scudetto in my openion.

[Surag]

Hey guys I'm a Milan fan, but anyways here goes, I've allways admired Totti and think his one of the all time greats, would love to see him lift the Champions League before he retires. Anyways I think you guys should buy Viviano, De Silvestri, Kjaer, Bring Aquilani back, and also purchase Jefferen and Giovinco. Sell all the dead wood and get these guys. Your starting 11 would be something like this -- Viviano; De Silvestri, Kjaer, Juan, Rise; Aqua, De Rossi, Pizzaro; Jefferen, Totti, Giovinco...Great starting 11 that could really challange for the Scudetto in my openion.

i think i hav seen u posting comments on goal.com !!do u actually ???and i think u r frm australia r8 ??