With the signing of Diego, which I think we have all been waiting for a LONG time for. I think the main question on everyone's mind is what type of tactical system are we going to use to try and make the most of him? Surely one would think that we can the most out of him by playing him as a second fwd behind a lone striker, possibly in a Liverpool type system 4-2-3-1. We have the 2 DMs to play in this, but we have too many strikers for this, and our wingers are no longer strong enough for this IMO. Therefore, I would think there are either two options, a 4-3-1-2 or simply using him as a CAM in a 4-4-2, although I think the latter option will see us not get the most of him. I would really love to see him a 4-3-1-2. Anyway, what I really think is that we need our new coach to decide on signings. There is no use in buying players that won't fit into a system the coach decides.
In my own little fantasy land: ------------------------------------Amuari -----------------Giovinco ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------Diego ------------Marchisio-------------Xabi Alonso --------------------------Sissoko -New RB--------Chiellini---Cannavaro/Legro---New LB ---------------------------Buffon Ahhhhhh it's nice to dream.
Others have posted a 4-2-3-1 that I am pretty fond of: -------------------------------BUFFON------------------------------ ------------------------------(Manninger)---------------------------- -----SRNA----------LEGRO----------CHIELLINI--------CRISCITO----- ----(Grygera)------(Canna)--------(New, Young CB)-----(De Ceglie)----- --------------------SISSOKO---------XABI ALONSO--------------------- --------------------(Zanetti)----------(Marchisio)------------------------ ----CAMO--------------------DIEGO-----------------GIOVINCO----- ---(Iaquinta)------------------(Del Piero)--------------(Del Piero)------ ------------------------------AMAURI------------------------------- -----------------------------(Trezeguet)------------------------------- Though it would seem as if we have too many forwards to play this formation, Del Piero can easily come in to relieve Diego or Giovinco at the CAM or LAM positions as he has always preferred a secondary striker position as compared to an out-and-out frontman. Same can be said with Iaquinta who is often employed as a wide forward in Lippi's 4-3-3 formation for La Nazionale. Note that the above formation has some players in their who are hopeful transfer targets (Srna, Criscito, Xabi Alonso, etc.) though Alonso could be replaced for Cigarini or D'Agostino as they seem more likely to be landed at the moment. That is a Serie A winning formation right there boys.
I prefer the 4-2-2-2 or the 4-3-1-2 to the 4-3-2-1 (we may have discontent strikers in this formation). But either one works for me as long as their is a CAM with 2 strikers (even if they're playing wide). It's simply much more difficult to defend 2 strikers and a CAM then when playing with 1 CAM and 1 striker. Also, who ever is playing along side Sissoko (Poulsen) will have to be a box-to-box player who can hold the ball.