Preferred Formation

[Bluenine]

What is your preferred formation with the existing squad?

We discuss this all over the forum, perhaps formation and tactics needs to have a dedicated thread. It will be interesting to see what everyone thinks is the best suited formation for our squad, and how that changes with the players we buy after every mercato.

To start it off, our current formation is:

Martinez (Sanchez) - Lukaku (Pinamonti)
Perisic (Young) - Eriksen (Sensi) - Brozovic (Gagliardini)- Barella (Vidal, Vecino) - Hakimi(Darmian)
Bastoni (Kolarov) - De Vrij (Ranocchia) - Skriniar (D'Ambrosio)
Handanovic (Radu, Padelli)​

Is this the best formation for our current squad?

 

[RickyMaravilla'sRightFoot]

I think the team/ formation we've been fielding the past few games is pretty much the best one. You might be able to make an argument for a 4312 or something like that but then you're not getting the most out of Hakimi + we have no proper LB.

 

[brehme1989]

That's our best 3-5-2 setup but probably our best formations would be something like 4-3-1-2 (Bastoni as left back) or 4-3-3 (Lukaku right wing, Perisic/Alexis left side, or Hakimi right wing with Lukaku up front to make it more defensive with DDA/Darmian at the back).

As these things take time, at the moment our best chance is to stick with the 3-5-2 and that formation. The only change I'd make is put Kolarov as backup WBL, but never as a starter and fuck me, I'd try Gagliardini on the side of the defense on emergency occasions, possibly the left. I think if he commits to it, he'll be more helpful than Kolarov in that one, but hopefully we'll never need that to happen anymore.

We actually have a very versatile roster but a very stubborn coach. Team is not drilled for anything more, fielding a 4-4-2 diamond in emergency situations doesn't mean squat. It's like saying Mancini drilled our team for 2-3-5 formations he fielded in the last 15 minutes at times

 

[Il Drago]

Till recently i was convinced the best formation for our squad was 4-3-1-2 but since Skriniar has fully adjusted to a back 3 and Conte also managed to implement Eriksen and Perisic into his system then i think our current formation is our best right now.

Handanovic/Radu/Padelli
Skriniar/D'Ambrosio - De Vrij/Ranocchia - Bastoni/Kolarov
Hakimi/Darmian - Barella/Gagliardini/Vecino - Brozovic/Eriksen - Eriksen/Vidal/Sensi - Perisic/Young
Lukaku/Pinamonti - Lautaro/Sanchez

But we should also have 4-3-1-2 as a plan b when our plan a doesn't work.

Handanovic/Radu/Padelli
Hakimi/Darmian/D'Ambrosio - Skriniar/D'Ambrosio - De Vrij/Ranocchia - Bastoni/Young/Kolarov
Barella/Gagliardini - Brozovic/Eriksen - Vidal/Sensi/Perisic/Vecino
Eriksen/Sensi/Sanchez/Perisic
Lukaku/Pinamonti - Lautaro/Sanchez/Perisic

 

[ADRossi]

Martinez - Lukaku
Eriksen
Vidal - Brozovic - Barella
Bastoni - de Vrij - Skriniar - Hakimi




Martinez - Lukaku
Perisic - Brozovic - Barella - Hakimi
Bastoni - de Vrij - Skriniar - D'Ambrosio

​

These are the only realistic alternatives to how we currently play, in my opinion.

If we're speaking in general terms, my preferred formations are the 4-3-3 and 4-1-2-1-2.

 

[H_D_Swagger]

We should stick with the 3-5-2 as it's working, but we need a plan B, especially for when we are behind.

 

[Bluenine]

Martinez - Lukaku
Eriksen
Vidal - Brozovic - Barella
Bastoni - de Vrij - Skriniar - Hakimi​

This is what I was gonna post as my favourite formation too. Maybe swap the positions of Eriksen and Vidal, considering how well Eriksen is doing as a mezzala. If Sensi is fit, he could take Vidal's spot. Also like Hakimi-Bastoni as an attacking-defensive FB combo in the lines of Maicon-Chivu.

I usually don't like 3 man defences, but since our current formation is working so well, I wouldn't change anything right now. Perhaps this 4-3-1-2 could be our plan B.

 

[brehme1989]

I'm probably the only 3-5-2 fan here and I don't like our setup one bit

The good thing is that Skriniar has picked it up and having Hakimi and Barella around him helped. I can't seem to recall the details, but did Barella play mostly on the left side last season? I think Vecino was used in the right hand side more but I honestly forgot the last game he played for us

 

[kurt0411]

Martinez - Lukaku
Eriksen
Vidal - Brozovic - Barella
Bastoni - de Vrij - Skriniar - Hakimi




Martinez - Lukaku
Perisic - Brozovic - Barella - Hakimi
Bastoni - de Vrij - Skriniar - D'Ambrosio

​

These are the only realistic alternatives to how we currently play, in my opinion.

If we're speaking in general terms, my preferred formations are the 4-3-3 and 4-1-2-1-2.

That 442 will be horrific in game. Sacrificing a midfielder to add in Dumbo and play Bastoni out of position. Dreadful. All of you guys that are placing Bastoni LB do realize that on the pitch it will be exactly as we are now right?

Hence why the 41212 can never work with Bastoni LB either. You would have to ask for Vidal to give us width which maybe 10 years ago he could, certainly can’t now.

Our best formation right now is without a doubt the 352, it always was. People blamed the formation for our CL exist Lol...clueless. The only way we can play a 4atb is by getting a proper LB ( which we need to do anyways-LWB) and buying actual wingers

 

[ADRossi]

That 442 will be horrific in game. Sacrificing a midfielder to add in Dumbo and play Bastoni out of position. Dreadful. All of you guys that are placing Bastoni LB do realize that on the pitch it will be exactly as we are now right?

Hence why the 41212 can never work with Bastoni LB either. You would have to ask for Vidal to give us width which maybe 10 years ago he could, certainly can’t now.

Our best formation right now is without a doubt the 352, it always was. People blamed the formation for our CL exist Lol...clueless. The only way we can play a 4atb is by getting a proper LB ( which we need to do anyways-LWB) and buying actual wingers

I don't think anyone here is advocating switching formations. I'm certainly not. But Bluenine asked the question, so I've suggested the only realistic possibilities. I also don't think it's overly harsh to blame the 3-5-2 for being the reason we crashed out of Europe when the formation consistently allows the wings to get overrun. I can't think of any teams that have had tangible success playing with three at the back in Europe. Even Juventus often used a back four under Allegri.

Bastoni started several games for Parma at LB when he was on loan there. It's not a far fetched idea.

 

[kurt0411]

I don't think anyone here is advocating switching formations. I'm certainly not. But Bluenine asked the question, so I've suggested the only realistic possibilities. I also don't think it's overly harsh to blame the 3-5-2 for being the reason we crashed out of Europe when the formation consistently allows the wings to get overrun. I can't think of any teams that have had tangible success playing with three at the back in Europe. Even Juventus often used a back four under Allegri.

Bastoni started several games for Parma at LB when he was on loan there. It's not a far fetched idea.

Allegri rotated a lot between 3 and 4 in Europe and had decent success. 352 got us to a Europa League final and there wasn’t a single CL game this season where we got overran on the wings. The Europa League final we definitely did but when you have Dumbo on one side and Young and Gags on the other it’s hardly a formation problem.

I’m not even a 352 fan but it’s by far and away our best formation. I would love to see a 343 incorporated at some point but it’s impossible to fit both Lautaro and Lukaku in that which sucks. Conte’s 343 at Chelsea was absolutely magical to watch

 

[Sawyer]

What is your preferred formation with the existing squad?

We discuss this all over the forum, perhaps formation and tactics needs to have a dedicated thread. It will be interesting to see what everyone thinks is the best suited formation for our squad, and how that changes with the players we buy after every mercato.

To start it off, our current formation is:

Martinez (Sanchez) - Lukaku (Pinamonti)
Perisic (Young) - Eriksen (Sensi) - Brozovic (Gagliardini)- Barella (Vidal, Vecino) - Hakimi(Darmian)
Bastoni (Kolarov) - De Vrij (Ranocchia) - Skriniar (D'Ambrosio)
Handanovic (Radu, Padelli)​

Is this the best formation for our current squad?

The team in bold is by a long mile, in my opinion our best 11 hands down. There is not one position I would question at all for the players we have available.

 

[Fitzy]

Bastoni would be absolutely fine at LB. He's shown he can get forward even in his current role, and as Valentino Rossi mentioned has played there before.

Who would've thought that the 352 might be our best formation when we've had two years worth of transfer windows signing players to fit it?

- - - Updated - - -

Allegri rotated a lot between 3 and 4 in Europe and had decent success. 352 got us to a Europa League final and there wasn’t a single CL game this season where we got overran on the wings. The Europa League final we definitely did but when you have Dumbo on one side and Young and Gags on the other it’s hardly a formation problem.

I’m not even a 352 fan but it’s by far and away our best formation. I would love to see a 343 incorporated at some point but it’s impossible to fit both Lautaro and Lukaku in that which sucks. Conte’s 343 at Chelsea was absolutely magical to watch

I remember a poor Real Madrid side taking advantage of the wings in the away game. Zidane had them constantly switching the point of attack and exposing the space behind the wingbacks.

 

[Raul Duke]

Our best lineup is the 3-5-2 mentioned above.

As far as the FIFA lineup of cramming our best 11 players on the pitch:

Martinez - Lukaku
Sensi
Eriksen - Brozovic - Barella
Bastoni - de Vrij - Skriniar - Hakimi​

On a side note, I wish we had seen more of Kolarov playing on the left wing.

 

[Universe]

Our best lineup is the 3-5-2 mentioned above.

As far as the FIFA lineup of cramming our best 11 players on the pitch:

Martinez - Lukaku
Sensi
Eriksen - Brozovic - Barella
Bastoni - de Vrij - Skriniar - Hakimi​

On a side note, I wish we had seen more of Kolarov playing on the left wing.

Surely you'd swap Eriksen and Sensi?

 

[Il Drago]

Allegri's success in Europe was more than decent. 2 participations in a cl final and 2 more in quarterfinals in 5 years.

 

[kurt0411]

Bastoni would be absolutely fine at LB. He's shown he can get forward even in his current role, and as Valentino Rossi mentioned has played there before.

Who would've thought that the 352 might be our best formation when we've had two years worth of transfer windows signing players to fit it?

- - - Updated - - -



I remember a poor Real Madrid side taking advantage of the wings in the away game. Zidane had them constantly switching the point of attack and exposing the space behind the wingbacks.

a poor Real Madrid side? What the same one that won 3 champions league's in a row hahahaha?

 

[brehme1989]

a poor Real Madrid side? What the same one that won 3 champions league's in a row hahahaha?

The same? Apart from Modric and Kroos being older, the only other players that helped them to multiple CLs in that fixture were Varane and Carvajal.

I don't recall Hazard, Courtois, Mendy, Nacho, Lucas Vazquez, Odegaard, Vinicius and Rodrygo being part of a CL 3peat for Real Madrid.

 

[Il Drago]

The same Real Madrid side that lost twice to Shakhtar.

 

[kurt0411]

He was talking about the Juve game against Madrid not ours lol

Oh wait nvm...he was talking about ours. I mean we caused them as much issues as they did us, we should have never lost that game and arguably should have won it. We had a poor first half but second half we battered them with freaking Perisic up top. The Madrid game's still leave a sour taste in my mouth, our home game was ruined with a pen straight away and then Vidal getting sent off.