World Cup 2010: New system 4-2-3-1

This World Cup has seen the birth of a new system which is coming to dominate the game. Although it has been used by some teams for years previously this is the first time it has dominated the world scene. I would guess that over half of the competing nations used this system. So how does it work?

-----------------------Striker

-Left Winger---------Forward--------Right Winger

------------Defensive Mid--Defensive Mid

--Left back---Centre Half--Centre Half---Right back

The main exponents of the system have been Brazil and Holland, and to a lesser extent Germany and Spain.

The defence sees a standard back four layout. In front are two sitting midfielders. They are there to protect the defence from counter-attacks. They provide cover for overlapping full backs and generally make it difficult to play through a team. Examples would be Melo and Silva for Brazil, De Jong and van Bommell for Holland and Schweinsteiger and Khedeira for Germany.

Further forward you have two wide men who can either be out and out wingers or inside forwards. Wide men are used to stretch the play, occupying the opposition full backs and also stretching play. Examples would be Robben for Holland, Podolski for Germany. Inside forwards tend to play 10-15 yards in field. They try to link up with the forward in the hole and create space for overlapping full backs to provide width. Brazil and Spain played with inside forwards - Iniesta, Robinho, Villa and Elano.

The forward plays off the striker and provides a link between midfield and attack. Oezil of Germany has probably been the standout player in this system at the World Cup.

The advantages of the system seem to be the defensive solidity it gives by having two sitting midfielders making it very difficult to play through the centre of a team. England were far too open and could have benefitted from playing in this style. From an attacking point of view it gives scope for four attacking players with little defensive responsibility to play in a fluid motion encouraging movement.

One disadvantage is that you only have one central striker and it can result in a lack of bodies in the box. This is especially an issue when you have six defensive minded players in the team. It has given rise to some dour games in the World Cup with many coaches favouring not losing over the gamble of trying to win.

Will we see it in the Premier League? Well we've seen fads before with the 5-3-2 system becoming very popular about 15 years ago but eventually dieing out in favour of the standard 4-4-2. I don't think 4-2-3-1 will die out as it seems to be a natural evolution from 4-4-2. I think it could be a few years before we see it in the Premier League - we could well see it in the Champions League first.

World Cup 2010: Suarez Handball

Are the rules wrong?

A lot has been written regarding Luis Suarez's hand ball in the last minute against Ghana. This handed his team a reprieve from certain elimination and ended with them the victors in the penalty shoot-out, sending them through to a semi-final. Heartbreak for Ghana but are the rules correct? Suggestions have been made for a "penalty-goal". But under what circumstance?

My take
Suarez did the right thing. I would've done the same thing in the situation. Although I'm pretty sure he could've headed it off the line looking at the replay.

The rules are flawed in this area though. The ball is going in. We should give the goal. That would then deter the would-be cheat since handballing it would have no positive consequence (unless you get away with it).

In no other circumstance than the direct prevention of a certain goal should you give such a goal though.

I would go further and change the rule regarding professional fouls. Currently if someone is sent clean through but 40 yards from goal and is then hauled down, the offending player is sent from the pitch. The attacking team are not presented with a goalscoring opportunity. Instead they are given a free-kick and a man advantage.

This too is wrong. I believe you should be presented again with a strike on goal - namely a penalty kick. So, if clean through - anywhere in the opposition half, any professional foul results in a penalty kick. That gives the attacking team the same free strike at goal that they would have had if the defending team had not cheated.

In both cases handball on the line or clean through and chopped down, the defending team very often has the man sent off, put 10 men behind the ball and sneak a 0-0. It ruins the game as a spectacle and fans who've spent good money to see a contest are left short-changed.

Red cards should only be dished out for violence and double yellow cards. They ruin the game. And they don't always dish out the justice that is deserved. That is what happened to Ghana.

World Cup 2010: England fail to deliver

England fail to deliver

England did not enjoy a good campaign. This blog has already discussed their failings in the opening game. Sadly we faired no better against Algeria. Capello to his credit did make some positive changes for the Slovenia game with Milner and to a lesser extent Defoe coming out with some credit. Sadly an over-reliance on 4-4-2 and players seemingly unwilling or unable to pass a football saw us humbled by Germany.

A brief look at the Germany game shows that we struggled to live with their system. The Germans appear to have adopted the in vogue 4-2-3-1 system with Oezil in a free-role behind Klose and Podolski and Mueller either side of him. Schweinsteiger and Khedeira sit and protect the defence.

Although Oezil looked to be the man causing problems Schweinsteiger was actually the free man. When we pushed someone up to press him it freed up Oezil who would run beyond Barry. The centre-halves were all over the shop. Instead of sitting in a line and marking zonally they began following players. Klose, Mueller, Podolski and Oezil pulled them all over the place. If we'd stuck to zones then we could've picked them up. Instead they picked us off at will.

The way to counter-act that was to either have dropped Rooney off the front and on to Schweinsteiger - its better to allow the German back four possession rather than Schweinsteiger. Alternatively drop Rooney wide left and tuck Gerrard in one. We are then matched up formation-wise and can push one of our midfielders on to Schweinsteiger with Barry covering Oezil. Barry then communincates with Terry/Upson to pass him on when he moves into their zones.
Unfortunately none of the above happened, Barry and Lampard were somewhat over-run in midfield. Gerrard tucked in to compensate and we were left with a rather ragged shape.

Selecting Matthew Upson when Ledley King had returned to full fitness proved to be a huge error of judgement from Capello, sadly not the only one. The sight of Emile Heskey coming on for Jermain Defoe was baffling. The side could also have benefitted from much needed pace - Aaron Lennon, although not in his best form after injury could definitely have been used more effectively.

A number of questions were raised about Capello's position but it appears he is now confirmed for the next two years.

Where do we go from here?

I'm agnostic towards Capello He made some major mistakes, tactically and selection-wise. However believe me, there is no way Capello would have people running out of position in the way England did against Germany. He was ranting and raving on the touchline. There is talk about preparation etc. I don't buy it. These players have had 3 different managers, all of having different management style and tactics and still they fail.

At somepoint they have to shoulder some responsibility. That time is now.


So time for new blood for the next qualifying campaign.

James - at 39 is closer to management than playing.

Terry - clearly too powerful in the dressing room - a cancer that needs to be removed. Since his indiscrections Capello's authority has been undermined.

Gerrard - Has gone over the "tipping point" of a 30 year-old. Poor form for Liverpool and is on his way down from here onwards.

Lampard - 31 - time for younger players to step forward and take their chance.

I'd also add to the list - Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Ledley King, Matthew Upson, Emile Heskey. Basically due to injury proneness and age restrictions.

So from that I'd be looking at something like this in 2 years:

-----------------------------Hart

--Richards---Dawson---Jagielka----Cole

----Milner------Carrick----Huddlestone

Lennon----------------------------------Johnson

-----------------------Rooney

Or something along those lines - Richards/Johnson at full-back. Centre-halves from Daws/Jagielka plus Lescott, Jones (at Blackburn) and one of the two centre-halves at Birmingham, with Wayne Bridge in at left-back

Midfield 3 mentioned plus Wilshere, Barry and Jack Rodwell.

Wingers - these two plus Walcott and Ashley Young.

Up front Crouch, Defoe, Bent, Sturridge (from Chelsea) in reserve.

Hopefully we can then build a solid base for the World Cup in 4 years time. The worry is that there is very little coming through beyond these players. The under-21s have been selected for their size rather than their technique. We were embarrassed in our own back yard by Greece just a few months ago as their technical players passed and moved the ball around us. Worrying times ahead indeed.

World Cup 2010: Summary

As the World Cup draws to a close England are once again conspicuous by their absence in the latter stages. The South Americans who dominated the early stages have since been usurped by the remaining Europeans. A pragmatic Dutch side and the favourites Spain have reached the final.

The Germans who entertained us so well have finally fallen at the semi-finals. Much was written about their suspect defence and lack of experience in the squad. However the tournament has shown that their youthful exuberence can take them far. The defence was always well protected and the team had a system which was superbly drilled by their canny tactician Joachim Loew. Their style showed up Argentina and their coach Maradonna as naive novices on the world stage whilst England were made to look like dinosaurs, just as Hungary showed them up over 50 years ago.

Uruguay deserve credit for getting so far although I found them rather negative, as I have at previous World Cups. Ghana were one kick away from the semi-finals but were great for the tournament as Africa's representatives in the second round and beyond. There should be honourable mentions for the likes of Chile, Paraguay and Mexico for entertaining along the way. The French were the biggest disgrace of the tournament while many of the big names failed to live up to their billing - take a bow Ronaldo, Rooney, Drogba, Torres, Kaka.

We have seen a new tactical system come out of the World Cup - the 4-2-3-1 - more on this in a future blog.

Overall I've found the World Cup a little disappointing. Fabulous for Africa and congratulations to South Africa for holding a tournament which was a success off the pitch. However on it a lack of goals, entertainment, quality and drama have left it wanting.

Let's hope the Dutch can display some of their classic skills and we get an exciting final, though I fear it will be a dour affair and one goal may well win it.