Blimey, we loose 2 games on the trot, one against a very good liverpool, and one that we should have been 2=0 up af half time, then we're beaten by a freak goal, and suddenly we need to change the formation.
What we need is too bring in the players we bought. We need more creativity through told middle - meyer, we need a big strong box to box midfielder - Kouyate, and most if all we need a centre forward who csn put thd ball in the back of thd bet - Ayew.
Personally I think if you put thsee 3 into our formation, well have one hell of z team

Back from the game - really didn't think we were too bad, just far too profligate in front of goal.
However, I'm really beginning to think that with Meyer & Kouyate signed (and Loftus-Cheek no longer around), we should switch back to a 4-3-3.
Having Loftus-Cheek out on the left last season meant that we had a really potent attacking threat which Schlupp, as hard as he does work, just can't provide. We looked far more dangerous when we did eventually switch to a 4-3-3 for the last 20 mins, with Zaha & Townsend off Benteke, and Meyer, Luka & Macca in the middle - maybe we should start like this next week against the Saints?

Agree the change of formation allowed us to bring Meyer into the fold who took up a similar position how Punch used to. I think we actually wen 4-2-3-1, which for me is how we should start again on Saturday.

GK Hennesey
RB AWB
CB Sakho
CB Kelly
LB PVA
CM Mili
CM Macca
LW Townsend
AMC Meyer
RW Zaha
CF Benteke

I think what people miss in this constant desire for a change of formation, and for Wilf to be back wide, is that Roy’s 442 is an extremely versatile system and often changes throughout the course of a game. The 442 is only rigid in a defensive sense, and I personally think it’s spot on when we’re defending.

The reason Wilf plays as a “forward”, and I use the word “forward” rather than “striker” as he has the freedom to move all accross the front line, is to free him of the shackles of defensive responsibility and allow him to just focus on attacking. This is 100% the right idea when it comes to Wilf, even if he should be drifting wide more often against certain opposition. He had the same issues centrally last year against Watford at home.

How many times last season did we see Townsend start on the right and RLC on the left of the 4. But when we were in attacking scenarios, Townsend advanced into an attacking right winger, Wilf drifted left and RLC shifted more centrally. That was a fundamental premise of Roys system. So effectively in attacks we were playing 4-3-3 a lot of the time anyway.

It’s also the reason I think Meyer should take RLC’s spot in the team and not Cabaye’s. Because in attacks we need him to act as the creative midfielder in the side, as opposed to the defensive engine Cabaye was converted to in his later years.

I think people are getting too bogged down on formations and Wilfs “position”, when the reality is the team and Wilf have the freedom to rotate throughout the game anyway. The problem may be, that in certain games, Wilf isn’t drifting away from the centre often enough. But I for one don’t want to see the days return of Wilf having to track back 50 yards every time the opposition attacks. His days as a defensive winger are over, he’s too good for his game to to be restricted by rigidness and defensive responsibility. He’s our main man.

Edited by Mstrobez (29 Aug 2018 10.37am)

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I agree that Meyer seems most likely to replace Schlupp in a 4-4-2 formation essentially performing in the position that RLC performed last season.
It will be interesting to see how this works as he is a very different player to RLC.
Meyer tends to shift the ball quickly and looks a neat passer of the ball.
RLC is a good at beating players and a powerful runner who created space for Wilf and PVA through drawing defenders to him when in possession.
Hopefully in time they’ll work it out and if will be just as successful as when RLC played.