4-1-4-1 or 4-3-3?

[bytholwyn]

We have definitely lined up at times under Sheehan in a 4-1-4-1 with Fulton or Allen sitting in front of the back 4 with O'Brien and Franco further forward. This has worked well and has allowed us to win the ball further up the pitch. Sheehan may persist with the same formation next season, but the addition of Widell and Inoussa may result in a change to a 4-3-3. Widell currently plays mainly as a central midfielder for AaB, rather than a DM or AM. Eom could be accommodated in a 4-1-4-1 inside of Inoussa, but perhaps a left sided position in a central three would suit better?

The following lineup is very exciting on paper:

Vigouroux

Key Cabango Darling/Low Tymon

Widell Franco Eom

Ronald Vipotnik Inoussa

On the left in particular that would be a formidable attacking combination.

 

[Skippyjack]

You haven't watched anything of Widdell, Low and Inoussa.. and for all the grief Cullen gets, Vipotnik isn't much better.. but it's formidable, can you see the error of your ways.. remember judging players on a stats sheet, on a stats sheet Gower, Orlandi, Britton and Grimes were the best in the world if you looked at the stats sheet.. but if you watched them they weren't the best players in the world

 

[bytholwyn]

You haven't watched anything of Widdell, Low and Inoussa.. and for all the grief Cullen gets, Vipotnik isn't much better.. but it's formidable, can you see the error of your ways.. remember judging players on a stats sheet, on a stats sheet Gower, Orlandi, Britton and Grimes were the best in the world if you looked at the stats sheet.. but if you watched them they weren't the best players in the world

Fair enough, exciting would have been a better choice of adjective than formidable at this point in time. My excitement is partly down to Widell's and Inoussa's stats, which are well above average in both cases, but mainly due to their highlights reels. In some cases these can be misleading, Patino springs to mind, as they don't give a complete picture of weaknesses as well as strengths. But they do give an impression of a player's technical ability and athleticism, and on that score I don't know how anyone can fail to be impressed with both. The all round stats for both players, including defensive ones, are good too, so I think we can have confidence in these signings.

Great though the job O'Brien did in turning our season round, especially as a catalyst of our massive improvement defensively, if he does return I suspect it will be mainly as a 6, rotating with Franco. I would expect Eom and Widell to be the preferred options as 10s or 8s. O'Brien didn't create an awful lot, no assists and only 30th percentile on chances created. In fact he was below average on all 9 passing metrics on Fotmob. If he returns it will be mainly as an enforcer. Given that he's on record as saying he enjoyed playing as an 8, would he be happy with that?

 

[bakajack]

The highlights reel in the Imoussa thread paint a picture of Widell being far more of a number 8 who can glide past players, spray passes short and long with incredible accuracy and also possesses a wicked shot. Just based on the players we have right now I see it being more like a 4-2-3-1 formation with Eom playing in the hole behind the striker, Imoussa on the left and Ronald on the right. Franco would anchor the base of midfield and Widell has the freedom to help out in defence or roam forward in attack

 

[Skippyjack]

Fair enough, exciting would have been a better choice of adjective than formidable at this point in time. My excitement is partly down to Widell's and Inoussa's stats, which are well above average in both cases, but mainly due to their highlights reels. In some cases these can be misleading, Patino springs to mind, as they don't give a complete picture of weaknesses as well as strengths. But they do give an impression of a player's technical ability and athleticism, and on that score I don't know how anyone can fail to be impressed with both. The all round stats for both players, including defensive ones, are good too, so I think we can have confidence in these signings.

Great though the job O'Brien did in turning our season round, especially as a catalyst of our massive improvement defensively, if he does return I suspect it will be mainly as a 6, rotating with Franco. I would expect Eom and Widell to be the preferred options as 10s or 8s. O'Brien didn't create an awful lot, no assists and only 30th percentile on chances created. In fact he was below average on all 9 passing metrics on Fotmob. If he returns it will be mainly as an enforcer. Given that he's on record as saying he enjoyed playing as an 8, would he be happy with that?

I don't know enough about Swedish football to comment on them, but like any league, there's successes and rubbish.. you've got Imbrahimovic and you have Mo Barrow.. or even a Gyokeres as an in the middle weird trajectory of rubbish to top goalscorer in Europe

 

[bytholwyn]

The highlights reel in the Imoussa thread paint a picture of Widell being far more of a number 8 who can glide past players, spray passes short and long with incredible accuracy and also possesses a wicked shot. Just based on the players we have right now I see it being more like a 4-2-3-1 formation with Eom playing in the hole behind the striker, Imoussa on the left and Ronald on the right. Franco would anchor the base of midfield and Widell has the freedom to help out in defence or roam forward in attack

Fair point, and you may well be right about the formation. However those attributes also match up in a 4-3-3. Eom may well excel as a 10, but at this point we don't know. However we do know his crossing is excellent, his crossing accuracy of 35.2 per cent is 92nd percentile, in other words up there with the best in the league. So it makes sense for him to play in the half space rather than centrally. Similarly with Widell, whose 47 accurate crosses is 98th percentile. Both should thrive as wide 8s.