Tactics

Drenthe I kind of feel sorry for bothe Drenthe and Marcelo as they both have the potential to become very good overlapping full backs but may well be under to much pressure at Real.

Robben would of been great, but its understandable that Perez wanted to recup some money. Its possible that Madrid may still buy one of Ribery or Silva in jan or maybe Granero(im not that familiar with his style of play) will adapt.

The game has changed a lot since 2000, with more and more teams willing to park the bus against the bigger teams and im guessing despite Barca's sucsess last season Madrid is still the biggest scalp in la liga.

 

Iker
Ramos Pepe Albiol Arbeloa
Lass Xabi -- Marcelo
Kaka
Ruud Ronaldo​

Lass playing more down the right, Ramos can bomb on all he wants with Arbs staying put & providing a good balance in the backline. Marcelo provides all the width he can dream of from the left. Kaka playing str8 down the middle where he plays best. Ronaldo cutting in from the left when Marcelo overlaps & everyone's fav number 9, Ruud bombing them in

*Awaits phone call from FP to replace Manny*

 

The 4-3-1-2 is definitely interesting, and I feel the key factors in choosing between it and a 4-2-3-1 is the question of which best suits CR, and gives balance on both flanks. Also will be the question of translating to-fro between attack and defence, but then, I am biased agaisnt asymmetrical formations.

 

That sounds good. I wish real played that, at least once.
Marcelo can switch around with drenthe.
A lot of people would moan and complain because there is no legend raul, no galactico signing benzema, no new starl higuain, so its very brave of you to leave them out. I like it, I would wanna see how this played out.

 

I agree that the 4-2-3-1 or the 4-3-1-2 formations would most likely get the best out of this squad. This team is perfectly assembled to play a counter attacking game.

However, I wouldn't Manny experimenting with a good old 3-5-2:

----------------Iker----------------

-------Ramos---Pepe------Albiol-------

-Arbeloa--------------------------Marcelo--

-------------Lass-----Alonso-------------

-----------------Kaka------------------

-----Ronaldo----------------------

----------------Ruud---------------

This formation could get the best out of Ronaldo, Kaka and Marcelo. The defense would also be a lot more solid. Although this formation is pretty much extinct in the modern game, perhaps it could work with the current personnel.

 

Arbeloa is not a wingback.

better off moving Arbeloa to the left flank and playing Marcelo as a left MF.

 

I actually thought about making something similar once. After i finish my degree, i should be able to.

 

In a 3-5-2, the middle guy is usually a libero, who has vertical freedom of movement. Hence, the libero can move up to mark the trequartista in a 4-2-3-1, while the FBs take on the wingers.

Its a bit naive to try to simply match numbers when comparing formations, as the quality of players and the execution are more relevant. Several countries and clubs, including madrid, have been succesful playing the 3-5-2 in the past decade.

The formation is just the skeletal framework on which you build your tactics, and cannot be analyzed by just looking at the numbers. Else, one can argue that the fact that there are 2 or 3 guys marking one striker, ensures that the opposition cannot score.

 

I had read the article and it ignored the fact that liberos are not typical CBs and have more vertical mobility, so much that they could move up into the opposition half. To say that 'CBs' are not used to advancing, and then make a case for a pure DM, sounded a bit disingenous, as it essentially lumped all 3 CBs at the back together.

 

I swear I was just about to quote this article. Good read indeed, and on goal.com of all places. But I thought that he was suggesting that we switch to a 4-3-3 full time, even though he never mentions it directly.

 

I agree. We've already mentioned a few times how Benzema and Raul don't work well together because they naturally try to occupy the same space.

 

Given that the 4-2-3-1 accomodates all the 'right' players and provides more width, I think MP will go with that rather than a 4-3-3.

One thing that people here haven't picked up on is the 'track-back' value that Higuain brings to the team. Having him on the wing, dropping back, would help the defense and DMs greatly.

 

Hey they watched a game, you know instead of reading match logs and looking at the final score.

We did that all throughout the first 60 or so minutes of the Getafe game. Usually it was Benzema floating out, however Higuain did his time as well. I think we can both agree that at first they seemed to be fighting amongst themselves (for Higuain he has to score or get benched). After they settled they were much smoother with it, even though they missed out a couple of passes/movements due to lack of communication/experience.

Ruud also seems to move right-center, which is why I think we saw Benzema come to life with the few minutes he played with Ruud. I think the guy got it right (for once) and i'd go further by saying I'd play either Higuain/Ruud, with Benzema/Raul .

The thing is Pellegrini has shown (and said) he's sticking by his 4-2-2-2. The shape may change but it still is his formation as the base.

 

Good article. I did worry about Higuain and the start of the season but now it is blatently obvious he (Not counting Ruud) is the best striker on the team and deserves much more respect than he has been shown thus far. Besides, strikers should not be rotated that often, not good for the confidence.

 

In a 4-2-3-1, I can see Kaka as second striker in a more central role, Ronaldo and Marcelo on the wings and Higuain or Benzema as lone striker.

Just curious, how do you think our players will fit in a 4-3-3?

 

-----------Lass----------Xabi-----

-----------------Kaka

-------Higauin-------------Ronaldo
----------------Benzema

 

Kaka is not a player for a 3man midfield.