Kerry07 wrote:4-4-2 is not a good formation in the modern game.
It leaves you outnumbered against a team that play 4-3-3 (Barca), 4-2-3-1 (Madrid).. the two best teams in the world dont play it. Barca have not played 4-4-2 since pre Cruyff (1988).
Gerrard's natural position being in advanced midfield means two central midfielders behind him. This system means we player either 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. If we played a 4-4-2 with Gerrard in a 2 man central mid we would get ripped apart.
With the personnel we have.. i think a 4-3-3 would be our best formation because Luis cannot play alone upfront in a 4-2-3-1... so a 4-3-3 with him on the right, Downing on the left.. and Soldado (dreaming) in the middle. The midfield trio being Javi Martinez (well its in the Mirror), Lucas.. and then Gerrard advanced.
----Downing--Soldado--Suarez
------------------Gerrard
-----------Martinez---Lucas
We don't play R.Madrid and Barca on a weekly basis it's an irrelevant analogy you've made there. We play the likes of Sunderland, Bolton, Stoke, West Brom and Norwich etc on a weekly basis. Teams who come to Anfield and defend (most of the time). With the formation you've put down and the formation WE'VE ACTUALLY used this season - the proof is in the pudding!
Forget the new chestnut that 4-4-2 can't be played in the modern game, we've seen it under Kenny (earlier this season) being played in a pass and move style akin to the LFC team he managed in the 80's.
@ Benny. I'd play Spearing in the center alongside Gerrard. I'm not going to concern myself that 'Spearing can't do it on a weekly basis' because neither can Adam or Gerrard do it effectively enough in a 4-2-3-1. Spearing is mobile, combative and tackles better than Adam. I'd have no hesitation in putting Spearing back in, going back to a simple and effective formation that attacked with aplomb like it did earlier on in the season. We need to win games and score goals, changing the shape of the team may make this much easier than it already has with the 4-2-3-1 formo.