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Why the 4-4-2 system worked against Arsenal and why we should use it for the remainder of the 19/20 PL season [A THREAD]
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The NLD was a good game for us as we beat the scum 2-1 in what was our best match since the return of football.
It also saw us change our system slightly from the modern day 4-2-3-1 to a classic 4-4-2.
In this thread I will explain why this system is our best suited system.
It also saw us change our system slightly from the modern day 4-2-3-1 to a classic 4-4-2.
In this thread I will explain why this system is our best suited system.
4-2-3-1
First of all we will take a look at how we set up in the 4-2-3-1.
You can see in the image how we set out when defending. We hold our shape nicely. With Son and Bergwijn/Lucas dropping when needed, Dele/Lamela also doing the same. This can make Kane isolated at times.
First of all we will take a look at how we set up in the 4-2-3-1.
You can see in the image how we set out when defending. We hold our shape nicely. With Son and Bergwijn/Lucas dropping when needed, Dele/Lamela also doing the same. This can make Kane isolated at times.
When we were attacking, we would see Bergwijn coming in a bit more central allowing Aurier to have space out on the right. Lo Celso and Sissoko bout pushing up leaving a hole in between the midfield and defence at times. Davies tucks in to make a back 3 to try and fill the hole.
We’d often see Sissoko or Bergwijn supporting Aurier out on the right but Son had lack of support on his side with Davies sitting back. This forced us to play it down the right side every time making our attacks too predictable for opponents.
Also, becsuse there’s no DM in the side, we often saw Dele dropping in to help out the midfield as Sissoko would go to support Aurier in the wide areas leaving Lo Celso slightly isolated. This however leaves Kane isolated and we can’t get the best out of Dele or Kane from this.
4-4-2
Now we will look at the 4-4-2 formation and see how much differently we were able to play under it. So let’s look at how we set up in the NLD.
As you can see we played with 2 banks of 4 and 2 strikers. A nicely, well balanced out formation with the players we have.
Now we will look at the 4-4-2 formation and see how much differently we were able to play under it. So let’s look at how we set up in the NLD.
As you can see we played with 2 banks of 4 and 2 strikers. A nicely, well balanced out formation with the players we have.
Sissoko:
Playing off the right offers his power in the wide areas up against Arsenals wing back Teirney who has a small build. It puts the LB in an awkward situation as it forces Kolasinac to push onto Sissoko instead to try and match up better. Leaving a gap in the back line.
Playing off the right offers his power in the wide areas up against Arsenals wing back Teirney who has a small build. It puts the LB in an awkward situation as it forces Kolasinac to push onto Sissoko instead to try and match up better. Leaving a gap in the back line.
Sissoko:
Sissoko playing off the right also provides a benefit defensively to Aurier who can be quite reckless with his defending. Sissoko provides that extra cover so if Aurier is high up the pitch and can not recover in time, Sissoko can fill in temporarily.
Sissoko playing off the right also provides a benefit defensively to Aurier who can be quite reckless with his defending. Sissoko provides that extra cover so if Aurier is high up the pitch and can not recover in time, Sissoko can fill in temporarily.
Lucas:
It was clear that Lucas was used in the wide areas over Son for his pressing and defensive ability. Moura is well known at Spurs for his heart and pressing. He never gives up on a ball and will always work to win it back. Provides a bit more defensive security for Davies.
It was clear that Lucas was used in the wide areas over Son for his pressing and defensive ability. Moura is well known at Spurs for his heart and pressing. He never gives up on a ball and will always work to win it back. Provides a bit more defensive security for Davies.
Lucas:
Lucas wasn’t just in the side to strengthen us defensively, it also provides a threat out in the wide areas going forward. We saw Lucas make some good runs with the ball as well as a couple great passes into Kane. It puts Mustafi and Bellerin in an awkward position.
Lucas wasn’t just in the side to strengthen us defensively, it also provides a threat out in the wide areas going forward. We saw Lucas make some good runs with the ball as well as a couple great passes into Kane. It puts Mustafi and Bellerin in an awkward position.
Son:
We saw Son playing next to Kane which offered Kane a bit more support up front. Can allow us to play multiple routes of attacking football with Son running onto flick ons from Kane, or the midfield playing balls through to our attackers with multiple runs causing problems.
We saw Son playing next to Kane which offered Kane a bit more support up front. Can allow us to play multiple routes of attacking football with Son running onto flick ons from Kane, or the midfield playing balls through to our attackers with multiple runs causing problems.
Son:
We saw against Everton, Hugo was unhappy at half time with Son’s lack of defensive work rate which is why Mourinho changed up and moved him further forward so he has less responsibilities defensively. It also allows him to express his attacking qualities a lot more.
We saw against Everton, Hugo was unhappy at half time with Son’s lack of defensive work rate which is why Mourinho changed up and moved him further forward so he has less responsibilities defensively. It also allows him to express his attacking qualities a lot more.
Winks:
Winks knows how to position himself between the centre backs to pick up the ball and look to get the team forward well. Winks was more focused about the defensive duties and dropping between the centre backs allowing Lo Celso to express himself on the ball up the pitch
Winks knows how to position himself between the centre backs to pick up the ball and look to get the team forward well. Winks was more focused about the defensive duties and dropping between the centre backs allowing Lo Celso to express himself on the ball up the pitch
Lo Celso:
Gio’s role is to offer a deep line creativity where he can utilise his passing ability around the box while also providing some defensive cover and support to Winks and the rest of the defence. We’ve seen that Gio loves to put in a tackle now and again.
Gio’s role is to offer a deep line creativity where he can utilise his passing ability around the box while also providing some defensive cover and support to Winks and the rest of the defence. We’ve seen that Gio loves to put in a tackle now and again.
Lo Celso:
We saw Lo Celso get a lot of touches on the ball vs Arsenal and he seemed to be our outlet, the player who we looked to get onto the ball and get us going forward to create chances for us. He managed to play a few important passes and made some good runs on the ball.
We saw Lo Celso get a lot of touches on the ball vs Arsenal and he seemed to be our outlet, the player who we looked to get onto the ball and get us going forward to create chances for us. He managed to play a few important passes and made some good runs on the ball.
Davies:
With Winks often dropping between the centre backs, it allowed Davies to get forward providing attacking support for Lucas out on the left making us more unpredictable rather than going out to the right all the time. Also makes it difficult for Arsenal’s wingbacks.
With Winks often dropping between the centre backs, it allowed Davies to get forward providing attacking support for Lucas out on the left making us more unpredictable rather than going out to the right all the time. Also makes it difficult for Arsenal’s wingbacks.
Davies:
Davies still has very important defensive responsibilities. There often were times where he didn’t push too far forward too much so he would allow enough time to track back when needed with Pepe playing on his side creating a threat. This could be the same vs Newcastle.
Davies still has very important defensive responsibilities. There often were times where he didn’t push too far forward too much so he would allow enough time to track back when needed with Pepe playing on his side creating a threat. This could be the same vs Newcastle.
Kane:
As we know, we have seen Kane drop in a lot more to try and other an extra option in the midfield. His passing ability is one of the best in the PL. Having Son playing up top with Kane allows Kane to drop in and pick the ball up if needed without leaving gaps up front.
As we know, we have seen Kane drop in a lot more to try and other an extra option in the midfield. His passing ability is one of the best in the PL. Having Son playing up top with Kane allows Kane to drop in and pick the ball up if needed without leaving gaps up front.
Sanchez/Alderweireld:
This is one of my favourite duos at Spurs, the pace of Sanchez allows him to keep up with the faster attackers and give us a better chance whereas the technical ability of Toby gives us a composed ball playing CB who can play long balls up to the forwards.
This is one of my favourite duos at Spurs, the pace of Sanchez allows him to keep up with the faster attackers and give us a better chance whereas the technical ability of Toby gives us a composed ball playing CB who can play long balls up to the forwards.
Summary:
So as we can see, the 4-4-2 offers a much different approach and allowed us to play with a lot more confidence going forward.
The wide midfielders were postitioned to benefit us both attacking wise and defensively as were the full backs.
So as we can see, the 4-4-2 offers a much different approach and allowed us to play with a lot more confidence going forward.
The wide midfielders were postitioned to benefit us both attacking wise and defensively as were the full backs.
The 4-4-2 offered extra support to Kane who had a good game despite not being amongst the goals he created some good chances and had a few good efforts on goal himself. It also saw Son have his best performance since the restart, finally finding himself back on the scoresheet.
Overall this saw a much better display from us and we looked more confident playing as a team and we managed to get plenty more attempts on goal as opposed to our game against Bournemouth.
The 4-4-2 offers a lot of balance to the squad and should be the way forward for us atm.
The 4-4-2 offers a lot of balance to the squad and should be the way forward for us atm.
Thanks for reading, feel free to leave a like and rt and add your thoughts on this system. Do you think the 4-4-2 is the way forward for now?
