Diamond set up

Not sure when we’ll see the Diamond formation again but I’m quite looking forward to seeing Brad Potts on the right of midfield….I think it will really suit him.

It's mainly against teams that play with a back 3/build up in a back 3 that we've been using that formation.
 
Well I hope he gives it a go at Norwich….can’t be any worse than the shape at Ewood.

It'd just be quite a bit more difficult to make work.

Against a back 3, it makes it relatively simple to go man for man, so it does work really well. And we'd smash it if most teams played that way, because he's found a great way of playing against that.

But against a back 4 that has both full backs pushing up you'd either be very deep, with your wide midfielders going across and tracking the full backs, leaving just two up top pressing the central buildup, or you're completely exposed at the back by having your wing backs really high up and not marking the wingers but pressing the full backs instead.

Personally I think the answer should be to play a 442 out of possession, which can then become the favoured back 3 in possession to try and combat it. But whatever it is, he does need to try and find something to play against it in the same way he's cracked the back 3. As these are the games we're really struggling and are very meh in.
 
It'd just be quite a bit more difficult to make work.

Against a back 3, it makes it relatively simple to go man for man, so it does work really well. And we'd smash it if most teams played that way, because he's found a great way of playing against that.

But against a back 4 that has both full backs pushing up you'd either be very deep, with your wide midfielders going across and tracking the full backs, leaving just two up top pressing the central buildup, or you're completely exposed at the back by having your wing backs really high up and not marking the wingers but pressing the full backs instead.

Personally I think the answer should be to play a 442 out of possession, which can then become the favoured back 3 in possession to try and combat it. But whatever it is, he does need to try and find something to play against it in the same way he's cracked the back 3. As these are the games we're really struggling and are very meh in.

They used to say football is a simple game!
I think I’ve nearly cracked this but when you play with a back 4 out of possession how do you decide who the 4th man is?
 
They used to say football is a simple game!
I think I’ve nearly cracked this but when you play with a back 4 out of possession how do you decide who the 4th man is?

I'd have it something like this:

Woodman
KKH, Porteous, Gibson, Meghoma,
Holmes, Thor, McCann, Greenwood
Milly & Mads

Could easily swap Mads and Greenwood or have Potts instead of Holmes depending on the opposition. But I'd prefer Holmes for the most part as he's better on the ball and can actually go past a man. I know McCann is suspended for the next two, but that'd just be for in general 😄

Then in possession you have the two full backs going forward, because we don't have proper wingers, so you'd need that from them to provide width, and we have two that can do it now. Thor dropping in deep just ahead of the CBs, then whoever the forward player is of Mads or Greenwood to drop in to pick up the ball in the middle and final thirds.
 
I'd have it something like this:

Woodman
KKH, Porteous, Gibson, Meghoma,
Holmes, Thor, McCann, Greenwood
Milly & Mads

Could easily swap Mads and Greenwood or have Potts instead of Holmes depending on the opposition. But I'd prefer Holmes for the most part as he's better on the ball and can actually go past a man. I know McCann is suspended for the next two, but that'd just be for in general 😄

Then in possession you have the two full backs going forward, because we don't have proper wingers, so you'd need that from them to provide width, and we have two that can do it now. Thor dropping in deep just ahead of the CBs, then whoever the forward player is of Mads or Greenwood to drop in to pick up the ball in the middle and final thirds.

I think I’ve got it!
 
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