Season 9: PLAYER ROLES MEETS FORMATION MATTERS EPISODE 19: 4-2-3-1A meets Player Roles

Soccerblog 5 Minutes

Woah… Just realized that the upcoming 4 formations are without a shadow of doubt some elite levels in terms of popularity and effectiveness. We start off with the 4-2-3-1A, a formation that is all about nullifying your opponent by causing them issues through getting as many players “in between the lines” as you possibly can. It is a formation that is primarily for ensuring that the 3 players behind your main F(C) are quite effective via giving them as much freedom as you possibly can (which is ofcourse in contingent with who you decide to play in the double pivot and DM(R,L) positions). This formation also has a close relative whom we’ll be discussing next, but for now, let’s dive into who will be considered the best and most balanced XI in order for us to get the ‘big 4’ ball rolling:

DEFENCE

With the way that the present modern game is approaching things from a tactical point of view, it is imperative that we have a ‘Modern Keeper’ within today’s formation (I’m bias, bite me…). Andre Onana’s ’91’ rating should never be underestimated because he is without a shadow of doubt one of the 4 best GK’s with the ball at his feet. No matter the situation, the pressure, or the pass difficulty, he WILL find his teammates higher up the pitch. With Onana ensuring for an easier progression, we have the D(C) 2 of John Stones and Gabriel Malgaháes, who will provide that all too familiar balance with Stonsey being exceptional on the ball and Garbriel being the enforcer keeping it simple but with enough capabilities to make an impact in possession.

When it comes to supreme balance from a possessional point of view, none do it better than who we have within our ‘Wingback’ area… Both Reece and Raphaël are quite exquisite when it comes to being all round players in today’s game. They both are great in terms of progressive passes and can also do a pretty solid job in the defensive regions. Guerreiro allows for a potential hybrid of inversion and ‘wingbackion’ (which is not a word, but whatever…), while Reece is just a very exceptional DM(R) who has pace, strength, incredible attacking instincts, and a solid defensive prowess. A top 3 DM(R), in our opinion

MIDFIELD

We absolutely love the set up of this doube pivot as we have yet another set of players who do under the radar jobs to such a high precision that you definitely miss their presence when not in the XI… Marcelo Brozović has long time been the conductor for Croatia and Inter, and in this team his role will be as the ‘Playmaker’ getting the entire attacking quartet playing to their best. Next to Brozović is a player who will work ridiculously hard for his own personal pride and for the betterment of the team in the EXTREMELY underrated Brazilian who is doing a complete madness with Aston Villa at the moment, Douglas Luiz (who also deserves an image change within his current SMW profile). Douglas is a M(C) that literally does it all and is capable of playing 5 different roles at a very good level. In this team, he will primarily offer the legs as he aims to impact both boxes via the use of his Brazilian tenacity.

FORWARDS

We have a very unique front 4 in that each player provides something quite different from the other which means that it’s a great recipe for unpredictability. Starting out in the AM(C) position, Lorenzo Pellegrini is a central midfielder who possesses all of the grit that the lads behind of him possess while also being quite effective in the attacking third. He will be floating around in an attempt to link the play between midifled and attack, taking opposition players out of the game with his movement, while using his creative insicts to play that final incisive pass in addition to getting on the end of chances created by his teammates.

In the AM(R) position, we have a player whom I had forgotten was such a versatile attacker prior to creating this episode in the Brazilian baller, David Neres. I guess it’s a Brazilian thing since David can easily play up to 4 different roles and is tasked with being a secondary ‘F.A.P’ who will be more illusive with the ball at his feet, compared to Lorenzo.

In the AM(L) position, we have a player that needs no introduction since he’s been performing at a high level since age 17. The English, Jamaican yard man Raheem “Razz” Sterling is a player who has excelled for many a season and has developed his game to new heights, and in this team his sole responsibility will be to use his world class positioning and world class movement to get in and around the box to be an extra player seeking to get into double figures from a goals point of view which could cut some of the pressure from the player who we’ll be taking about next (although, this player needs no assistance within that department).

Up top, we have The G.O.A.T, The Icon, The Legend, the greatest player to ever lace up a pair of cleats, and a man who will secure a top place finish or a last minute cup win, Cristiano Ronaldo Dos Santos Aveiro has 869 reasons as to why we’re not going overboard with his introduction. In this team, he only has one objective: Put the ball in the back of the net. Using his incredible movement and finishing insicts, Ronaldo will lead the line and be the example for the rest of the team as the main man of the entire club, and the leader whom everyone will be looking to make that decisive impact.

DEFENSIVE TRANSITION

As good as this team is in possession, it must be mentioned that there is a liability within this XI and it is the fact that for everything good that he does with the ball, CR7 won’t lift a finger in the defensive phase and is only one of 2 players who are granted that luxury within S.M.W. This is one of the major factors behind the inclusion of Lorenzo Pellegrini since, as I’ve already mentioned, he is a central midfielder who is very good in the attack which means that he has the know how and will put in a shift during the defensive phase for this team. Out of possession, the 4-2-3-1A can be converted into either a 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 based on the level of press that you apply, but for the sake of this XI, it will only be converted into a 4-5-1…

What a great way to start off the ‘Big 4’! We can’t wait to have you back for our next episode. Make sure that you do all you can to ‘B’ ready for it! 😉 ✌️

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