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The ethos will stay the same but should we still expect a tweak to Daniel’s 4-2-3-1?

The ethos will stay the same but should we still expect a tweak to Daniel’s 4-2-3-1?

19th May 2021 By Mike Taylor 7 Comments

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It’s been interesting listening to Stuart Webber this last week. He freely admit that either Todd Cantwell, Max Aarons or Emi Buendia could still be sold if it suits everyone… which begs a question.

For me, Emi must be retained at any cost. And if you sell Aarons, you’re immediately looking for a replacement. That leaves Dereham’s Deco as the odd one out. Todd is a player that I love and I’d always have him in the squad, but, big but, we could be without Ben Gibson, Kenny McLean and Oliver Skipp (even if Tottenham play ball) going into the first game of the season.

That leaves Lukas Rupp as the only known central midfielder; it leaves us without a left-sided central defender; and Teemu Pukki and Emi as the only guaranteed source of goals. I really think it’s a Pandora’s Box of injuries.

The 4-2-3-1 formation takes sooooo long to refine (as an individual player learning the intricacies of their role) that to be without either of the core two, McLean and most probably Skipp, is going to exacerbate the concerns that were already established. 4-2-3-1 is an exploitable system unless there is explicit understanding from the entire matchday squad.

Caution, in the way of a more conventional defensive, out-of-possession shape, is a likelihood, and that means a possible change of base formation.

Likewise, at the other end, we know we lack variety in attack and distribution of goals throughout the team – two headered goals all season from the strikers – so I can’t help but think that switching to 3-4-1-2 is both the most appropriate and most exciting change that we could make: keeping Emi behind two attacking options and allowing both Dimitri Gianoullis and Aarons to play further forward as wingbacks.

Those subtle tweaks will allow for a simpler version of a central midfield unit. Simplicity will allow new signings to adapt quicker, albeit without the sensational intricacies that we’ve become accustomed to under Daniel Farke.

It will be a big ask for a new central midfielder to replace either McLean or Skipp, given the complex dynamic in Farke’s setup, which involves a lot of rotation and a lot of “double hatting”.

Either way, knee ligaments, ankle ligaments, a Spurs recall… surely Farke will be considering another viable formation option come August?

It’s an exciting summer ahead and best of all, come next season, hopefully, every one of us will be back in our seats on matchday, supporting the Championship Champions in their new Premier League adventure.

OTBC.


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Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

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Comments

  1. Bruce C says

    19th May 2021 at 11:09 am

    Interesting thoughts. I follow your logic regarding departures and injuries and I think you are spot on with how much of a wrench that could be to our central midfield. I don’t dislike the proposed formation either…but (there’s always a ‘but’) I have to say that to me a tweak is asking a midfielder to drop a bit deeper not completely changing the formation that has worked for you all season.

    In your suggested formation I see no place for Dowell or Cantwell who are the likely third/fourth source of goals for us after Pukki & Buendia. I think a quality signing in that area and a fit Kenny with Rupp as backup and the problem largely goes away.

    Interesting food for thought though and the ability to switch to a back 3 is probably the obvious formation change if things aren’t working in a match.

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  2. Alex B says

    19th May 2021 at 12:08 pm

    Transfer window is really the realm of Ronald Dalh or Agatha Christie but in the real world 🌎 we all know that every player has a price that will get the club talking.

    SW and DF have said they are prepared to lose players if the club gets unbelievable offers and it suites both parties.

    City will be inundated from agents trying to get a client they represent or be an intermediary to other players.

    Another thing is the rumour mill today we are interested in a Bosnian winger who also interests Villa, yesterday it was a player that Southampton, Leeds and Brighton wants, then you have the ex players telling anyone that wants to listen that City needs this or that player who are on a free but that comes with added costs ie signing on fee, higher salary and agent fees so not so free.

    As you say our midfield is short of numbers and soon we will hopefully see a few recruits to bolster those numbers and only time will tell if it is stick or twist with our system as a whole for next season.

    Onwards and upwards

    OTBC

    Stay Healthy and Stay safe 🙏

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  3. Ed says

    19th May 2021 at 1:32 pm

    We can only hope that the ‘Mayor’ will have recovered in time to join in at least part of pre-season and if by some miracle,we can keep Skipp even until January that would be excellent news.

    IMO, part of the reason for us conceding fewer goals was the ‘screening’ offered by McLean and Skipp (McLipp??) and if neither was fit/part of the squad to be in the starting 11 on August 14th (Sky permitting) I’m sure everyone in the Canary Nation would be very worried.

    Whilst I don’t disagree with the need for a minor adjustment to the formation, my personal observation is that the 4-2-3-1 formation pretty much prevails, regardless of who is actually playing. As Delia said in her ‘All in Yellow’ interview, DF had to play a couple of youngsters at FB in one game last season and you couldn’t see much difference in formation/tactics.

    I’m certain that ‘silly season’ will go into overdrive with the conclusion of the Euros and I’m hoping to see at least 1 or 2 experienced players added to the squad before pre-season.

    I think it was on Martin’s ‘phoney war’ article that one poster suggested around 10 new players were needed – I’m more inclined to think it’s far more likely to be 3 or 4, assuming that only one of our ‘Crown Jewels’ departs. Obviously, if more than one departs, then there will be extra funds to finance a replacement. I think we’d all agree that we’d LOVE to keep all 3!!

    Whatever happens, SW is going to have to really ‘earn his corn’ in the next 3 months or so, if we’re going to have any chance of being above 18th in May 2022. Avoiding serious injuries to key players will also play a major part in our survival over the next 52 weeks.

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  4. Tim Ball says

    19th May 2021 at 6:15 pm

    I have a feeling Mike that Daniel may tweak our formation for next season and play 3 centre halves with the full backs pushed up.

    My reasoning for this is that the times, especially in Project Crapstart, our midfield was over run was well basically every game. I still have visions of hordes of Southampton players marauding into our box at will.

    I feel he will definitely go with 2 deep lying holding midfielders if he doesn’t go with 3 at the back so strengthening that area is paramount.

    Big decisions are being made as we sit here and wonder, Sam McCallum, Adam Idah, Andrew Obobamidele, Sebastian Soto, Daniel Sinnani and Basli Mumba are just a few of our younger lads who maybe here next year or out on loan.

    Without a doubt it will be our success or failure in the transfer market that decides their situations next season.

    I think Max may already be gone so to me it is imperative we try all in our power to keep Emi Buendia, until January at least. I respect the history Aston Villa have bur surely Emi has to aim higher.

    I think Mane’s days at Liverpool are numbered, his dreadful attitude to Klopp and his poor goal return this season leads me to believe he will be away in the summer. Emi is good enough now to play for Liverpool so if I were him I would hold out for a top move.

    It is a very exciting time to be a Norwich supporter and hearing from various sources that recruitment will focus on power and pace, the two biggest reasons we went down last season, gives me great encouragement for the season ahead.

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    • MGW says

      20th May 2021 at 1:20 pm

      “I have a feeling Mike that Daniel may tweak our formation for next season and play 3 centre halves with the full backs pushed up.” that is the 3-4 part of MT’s proposed formation.
      The big question, for me at least, is Daniel Farke going with two strikers – I simply cannot see 3-4-1-2 happening. What I do see is the potential for 3-4-2-1, which suits our personnel much better and allows two from Emi, Dowell and Cantwell to play behind Pukki. The only exception I see is if one of our CAMs makes up one of the front two so that they effectively switch between 1-2 and 2-1.
      Let’s not forget tough that playing a back three puts further pressure on centre back numbers where we are already arguably a bit light.

      Reply
  5. Roger Cole says

    19th May 2021 at 9:00 pm

    Not much to add except to keep Todd, Emi and Keiran and the way they play and interchange alongside Teemu up front is vital. MF looks like a big hole to fill although cometh the Dane? We can cover Max but that central pair now Skipp is gone and Kenny won’t get a full pre-season worries me.

    Reply
  6. “Midfield Mike” says

    20th May 2021 at 12:53 pm

    Thanks all for the comments.
    The problem with Dowell and Cantwell is that if you want to play them, you can’t then play a 3rd defender and or an extra midfielder, and that’s always been by big bear with 4-2-3-1.

    As it stands, it is exploitable, and if you wish to then add more goals, you run out of players.

    Hence, although neither Todd or Dowell have done anything wrong, and both are very attacking and talented, one Emi with 2 goal scoring strikers is more valuable to me than 3 attacking midfielders and one striker…. all of which frees up space for another defender or midfielder.

    OTBC

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