FORMATION CHANGE AND WHO GOES WHERE?

[RedandBlueSash]

Given that we've lost a lot of experience in Riad and Tomiyasu, could a new formation be the answer to fix what is really the only thing wrong with the team -the defence?

Putting aside whatever manager we think should be in place, do we have any favourite set ups that we think might best suit the available personnel from now until January?

Mine would be this;

----------------------HENDERSON------------------------
MINGUEZA-----RICHARDS-----CANVOT-----MITCHELL
--------------KAMADA------------WHARTON-------------
--------------------------PINO----------------------------
----------SARR-------------------------MCNEIL----------
------------------------MATETA---------------------------

With Mingeuza, we should have some better defensive stability and some great balls for Sarr. Richards and Canvot provide a decent blend of aerial ability and pace. Kamada and Wharton provide a good defensive shield and passing base. Pino would run riot with the space of an advanced midfield role. We'd have access to McNeil's superb crosses if he is played on the left. Mateta should be well-serviced by through balls, crosses and runners. JSL and Nketiah would score goals in this system.

Thoughts? Alternatives?

 

[JHB]

Given that we've lost a lot of experience in Riad and Tomiyasu, could a new formation be the answer to fix what is really the only thing wrong with the team -the defence?

Putting aside whatever manager we think should be in place, do we have any favourite set ups that we think might best suit the available personnel from now until January?

Mine would be this;

----------------------HENDERSON------------------------
MINGUEZA-----RICHARDS-----CANVOT-----MITCHELL
--------------KAMADA------------WHARTON-------------
--------------------------PINO----------------------------
----------SARR-------------------------MCNEIL----------
------------------------MATETA---------------------------

With Mingeuza, we should have some better defensive stability and some great balls for Sarr. Richards and Canvot provide a decent blend of aerial ability and pace. Kamada and Wharton provide a good defensive shield and passing base. Pino would run riot with the space of an advanced midfield role. We'd have access to McNeil's superb crosses if he is played on the left. Mateta should be well-serviced by through balls, crosses and runners. JSL and Nketiah would score goals in this system.

Thoughts? Alternatives?

The defence isn’t the only thing wrong. It’s the most glaring but the attacking play is dysfunctional as well. We haven’t scored in our last three league games and are on pace to score fewer goals than last season in the league. As a reminder we achieved the mighty total of 41 goals last campaign.

It it isn’t the attacking maybe we can discuss the possession where we have the third lowest percentage of possession. Quite something when your manager talks about winning and retaining the ball being core to his approach.

If possession doesn’t float your boat maybe we could look at work rate. We have the lowest rate of sprints in the division and poor pressing stats

Literally everything is a problem with the team. Under Sage we simply aren’t good at anything and are getting worse

 

[eritheagle]

4-4-1-1

Hendo

Mingueza/tomiyasu- Richards-Disasi- Mitchell

Sarr(if he decides to turn up)/khalili-kamada-wharton-mcneill

Pino/osario

Mateta/JSL/Nketiah

 

[Lanzo-Ad]

Defensive Formation
Henderson
Mingueza, Richards, Lerma, Mitchell+++++Tomiyaso if fit for Lerma
Khalaili, Timber, Hughes, McNeil
Pino/Sarr
Larsen/Nketiah 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2

Attacking Formation
Henderson
Mingueza, Richards, Lerma, Mitchell++++++Tomiyaso if fit for Lerma
++++++++++Timber++++++++
+++++Wharton+++Kamada++++
+Sarr+++++Larsen++++++Pino+ 4-3-3

 

[elgin eeagle]

Given the lack of decent defenders available, i think id consider playing Chilwell as the left of the 3 centre halfs. Hes played as a CB before, can defend, as has been underused so far. Then you can drop either of Richards or Canvot which should eliminate a fair few errors.

Id also like to see what Osorio could do if played further up the field. We havent seen much of these 2 or indeed Gozo so far. Its a very new team still isnt it.

 

[ASCPFC]

4-3-3

Henderson

Mingueza

Richards

Tomiyasu

Mitchell

Kamada

Timber

Wharton

Sarr

Mateta

Pino

 

[samprior]

I think with the actual form, injuries, availability I'd currently go with:

-----------------Hendo--------------------
Khalili Richards Disasi Mitchell
-------------------Lerma-------------------
Pino Kamada Wharton McNeil
--------------------JSL---------------------

If JSL isn't fully fit then it'll have to be Nketiah. Those two are a huge drop off from JP, but not a lot we can do as he's got himself suspended for the next few games. Striker situation concerns me a lot as despite all the chat of our defence being an issue our attack has also been dire.

Khalili I think will be a lot less vulnerable in this formation so I think his energy and pace is needed...I do still think he'll turn out good for us.

If Timber is fit I'd strongly consider resting Wharton as the poor kid looks sapped of confidence.

Sarr I don't think we'll see for quite some time/if ever.

I'd say that's a team good enough to battle to stay up but our awful GD is already going to do us damage. To even get back to 0 we're going to need 6 x 2-0 victories... That seems a long way off!! Considering the amount we're conceding and scoring!

 

[PatrickA]

Henderson
Tomiyasu Richards Disasi Mitchell
Khalaili Wharton Hughes Kamada
Pino
Nketiah

This assumes Sarr and Mateta are unavailable and that Tomiyasu is fit.
I've gone for our most experienced back four to play deeper and with narrower distances between them.
In the absence of Sarr,I think Khalaili would provide the much needed pace further forward that we lack and he would be less occupied with defending.

In the absence of Mateta, and taking into account that Larsen offers no better link up play than Nketiah, I've gone for Nketiah who I believe would be sharper on counter attacks.

I've gone for Hughes for the experience he offers, and also in an attempt to kickstart Wharton's season.
Timber would be the alternative to Hughes, but I've yet to see the chemistry in the Wharton/ Timber partnership that there is with Wharton and Hughes.
I see Kamada and Pino exchanging roles during games in terms of breaking forward/ bolstering the midfield.

The objective would be to try and keep games tight , avoid being bypassed in midfield, stop the crosses and make the most of the opportunities when we get possession further forward.

 

[est1905]

Given that we've lost a lot of experience in Riad and Tomiyasu, could a new formation be the answer to fix what is really the only thing wrong with the team -the defence?

Putting aside whatever manager we think should be in place, do we have any favourite set ups that we think might best suit the available personnel from now until January?

Mine would be this;

----------------------HENDERSON------------------------
MINGUEZA-----RICHARDS-----CANVOT-----MITCHELL
--------------KAMADA------------WHARTON-------------
--------------------------PINO----------------------------
----------SARR-------------------------MCNEIL----------
------------------------MATETA---------------------------

With Mingeuza, we should have some better defensive stability and some great balls for Sarr. Richards and Canvot provide a decent blend of aerial ability and pace. Kamada and Wharton provide a good defensive shield and passing base. Pino would run riot with the space of an advanced midfield role. We'd have access to McNeil's superb crosses if he is played on the left. Mateta should be well-serviced by through balls, crosses and runners. JSL and Nketiah would score goals in this system.

Thoughts? Alternatives?

I like this formation but it is pointless hoping this will happen while Sage is in charge. People may not believe in what he is doing or agree with it but the bottom line is he is the boss and 3 at the back with wing backs is how he wants to play.
For me, if we are going to see a change of system/formation it will mean saying goodbye to Sage. He is not going to switch to a flat back four.

 

[JHB]

I like this formation but it is pointless hoping this will happen while Sage is in charge. People may not believe in what he is doing or agree with it but the bottom line is he is the boss and 3 at the back with wing backs is how he wants to play.
For me, if we are going to see a change of system/formation it will mean saying goodbye to Sage. He is not going to switch to a flat back four.

You are right. Sadly it seems to be the trend that modern managers expect players, clubs and set ups to be changed to suit their system rather than vice versa. When they inevitably fail they can then blame the club for not backing them. Lots of modern managers seem to have missed the bit in the job description where they were supposed to help their teams get results.

 

[est1905]

You are right. Sadly it seems to be the trend that modern managers expect players, clubs and set ups to be changed to suit their system rather than vice versa. When they inevitably fail they can then blame the club for not backing them. Lots of modern managers seem to have missed the bit in the job description where they were supposed to help their teams get results.

One of the things that attracted so many clubs/National teams to Terry Venables was his adaptability to the environment/players at his disposal. People thought he was mad when he decided Steve Mcmanaman was a wing back but in Euro 96 it worked.
He would come into a club, work with the players on the training ground and develope a way of playing that suited what was available.
It seems rare that coaches have the talent to do that these days. Everyone seems set on playing a certain way and have very little flexibility to change.
As a side point this is the exact reason I believe Glasner will ultimately fail at Forest. Their players just dont fit into the way he wants to play.

 

[RubinsCube]

You are right. Sadly it seems to be the trend that modern managers expect players, clubs and set ups to be changed to suit their system rather than vice versa. When they inevitably fail they can then blame the club for not backing them. Lots of modern managers seem to have missed the bit in the job description where they were supposed to help their teams get results.

Seems that way and when you look at it objectively that makes no sense at all: the average tenure of a manager in the top flight is under 500 days. The five year rolling average is also under 2 years.
(Premier League managers 2026/27: Record new bosses, manager changes and tenure)

But a typical contract for a new player is 3, 4 or 5 years.

So statistically the players will be on the payroll longer than the manager in most cases (Brennan Johnson excepted).

Surely the manager should be making best use of the players at the club more than they should be defining the profile of the squad?

 

[Dogburger]

4-4-2

Hendo
Mingy , Richards , O'Brien ,Mitchell
Mc'niel Doucoure ,Wharton , Pino
JSL Kamada

Rotate other players as and when

Sod off all those who want away and other clubs players

 

[sprites]

Hendo

Mingueza - Richards - Disasi - Mitchell

Hughes

Timber - Wharton

Osario (seriously think he's mustard) - Mateta - Pino