Formations/Tactics

[maccaliam]

After the horrible news of Simpson's injury, I think a reshuffle is in order for our boys. I have to admit, at first I wasn't overly concerned as I didn't think Simpson played particularly well in the last round of WCQ matches, but when I really started thinking about who to replace him with, I realised how truly valuable he actually is to us.

I'd love to see Hart use this extended international camp to drill a different formation/set of tactics as the old 4-2-3-1 hasn't been cutting it IMO (at least not in the way we've been playing it) and will leave us outside the top two in our group if we continue with it.

What formation/tactical set-up would you like to see for the upcoming WCQs? are you happy for the 4-2-3-1 of the last round to continue?

[maccaliam]

I'd like to see something similar to what Chelsea have done - defend deepish and narrowly with a couple of defending midfielders who may not offer much more going forward than a quick ball out or simply keeping possession but they provide needed protection in front of the back four.

---------------Hirschfeld

--------Hainault----Edgar---McKenna----Morgan

-------------------------JDG

---------------Pacheco--------Johnson

-----Hutch

------------------------------DeRo

------------------Occean

I got this from zonal marking: It's a combo of what Chelsea did vs Barca and Bayern in Champions League play.

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/04/19/chelsea-1-0-barcelona-drogba-tactics/

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/05/20/bayern-1-1-chelsea-chelsea-win-it-on-penalties/

Hutch would break forward when we get possession and try to get in beyond the opposition's left back to create a numerical advantage - much like (I've heard) Dortmund did vs Bayern, with Dero our Kagawa, always making himself available when we get possession for a quick counter.

[maccaliam]

Most importantly, IMO, is how it allows you to defend - with minimum of 8 men behind the ball, plus Dero helping out a bit making it 8.5:

---------X

----X--X--X--X

---X--X---X--X

--------X

-------X

[Soju]

I think that's exactly how we'll look in qualifying only with Jackson on that right wing instead of Hutchinson and Hutchinson starting in the middle instead of Pacheco.

A JDG/Hutchinson/Johnson midfield should take a page out of our Ukraine friendly and effectively force teams out wide, buying time for our wingers to tuck back in on the channels and give us 10 men behind the ball.

Assuming our opponents torch our full backs in 1v1 situations, we can expect to see Edgar and McKenna in a lot of aerial battles which, I think is still a strength against CONCACRAP rivals with a few exceptions.

Going up field, Occean is hopelessly isolated and does little more than chase Honduran back passes. DeRo and Jackson work up the flanks on quick counter-attacks, getting tackled but winning throw-ins which buy us time to we get men forward and eventually win a corner. McKenna nods a corner in for 1-0. We then defend feverishly, sending Voyageurs into fits of suicidal nail biting until we hold on for a narrow victory over mighty Cuba, at home.

[jpg75]

How about:

-------------------------Lars/Borjan---------------------------

----Hainault----------McKenna-----------Edgar----------------

---------------------------------------------------------Kluks

------------Johnson--------------Hutch-----------------------

Ricketts--------------------------------------------------DeRo

----------------------Jackson----------------------------------

-------------------------------Occean-------------------------

Sort of a 3 man line shifted to the left side of the formation because Kluks is pushed up almost permanently. Johnson and Hutch shade to the right slightly to balance things out. Speed and balls on the wings and two different type of strikers complimenting each other up top.

[maccaliam]

^ Soju, I included Pacheco bc I wanted another player who can complete a pass instead of just hoofing the ball forward but doesn't need the legs to chase all over as his spot would be to sit just in front of the back four at all times with one of either JDG or Johnson - but always a min of two of them. If the opposition turns the ball over, having Pacheco, Johnson, JDG deep means there are players who can play high percentage balls to feet which could make a transition game more effective and play more to Occean's, DeRo's, and Hutch's strengths. And having Hutch higher up the pitch allows him to defend on the right side of the park against Honduras' potentially more dangerous side and I think his intelligence would complement Dero's and Occean's movement and abilities very well.

[maccaliam]

^ Jpg75, at first I thought that as that would be a 3 man back line at times, centrebacks hate being pulled out wide but Edgar has played enough LB/RB to be confident o step wide. The big thing would be if Kluks would be disciplined enough to be ready at all times to slide in as an auxillary centre back when Edgar goes wide so as to not lose our shape at the back.

For me, we are never going to blow anyone away with our attacking play. The teams this round are better than us going forward, so the big thing will be if we can keep it water tight at teh back and nick a goal or two when we do go forward.

[maccaliam]

A JDG/Hutchinson/Johnson midfield should take a page out of our Ukraine friendly and effectively force teams out wide, buying time for our wingers to tuck back in on the channels and give us 10 men behind the ball.

THis is another way I had thought we could possibly go, as the U23s did with a 4-3-2-1. I think it could be effective but there needs to be a lot of discipline and emphasis on keeping shape, even when we've got the ball so as to not get caught on a counter.

[Sir Alphonso Applegate]

How about:

-------------------------Lars/Borjan---------------------------

----Hainault----------McKenna-----------Edgar----------------

---------------------------------------------------------Kluks

------------Johnson--------------Hutch-----------------------

Ricketts--------------------------------------------------DeRo

----------------------Jackson----------------------------------

-------------------------------Occean-------------------------

Sort of a 3 man line shifted to the left side of the formation because Kluks is pushed up almost permanently. Johnson and Hutch shade to the right slightly to balance things out. Speed and balls on the wings and two different type of strikers complimenting each other up top.

I like this. Or maybe a 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield. Johnson would be alright in the top but I'd start Hume perhaps. Hutch can sit in front of the D and dictate the play from a little deeper while helping protect the back line. It frees up Kluks still (or Morgan who's pretty good going forward lately). Jackson still plays right off Occean's shoulder, DeRo still free to cut in. I think this will help get Occean the ball in areas he's dangerous. Last summer, he seemed out of it because I don't think the formation played well to his type of game.

[tmcmurph]

Sorry but we need some serious speed on the flank to even begin to make up for the loss of Josh. REB? Tiebert? Josh had great control and at full speed gave headaches to the other teams. His pace will be missed.

[madmonte]

With our player types I prefer 4-2-3-1 with Morgan and Edgar in the fullback slots pushing forward (yeah I know...you'll all say Edgar is a CB...see my comment in another thread).

But it's irrelevant, since Hart will go 4-3-3 again. To change it now might actually be foolish since he's been training our guys in that role for CMT for some time...to switch now would be to sell himself out and push a system he doesn't know as well. Wait until we steal away Bob Bradley or something to get THAT system to work, ok? If Hart is our guy, it'll remain 4-3-3 under him

[madmonte]

Using 4-3-3

-------------------------------Borjan---------------------------

---Edgar----------Hainault-----------McKenna------------Morgan

--------De Guzman---------Hutchinson---------Johnson------

De Rosario----------------Occean--------------------Jackson/Hume

Still wanting fullbacks that can move up the pitch...that's why I switched Edgar and Hainault, and each has TONNES of experience at fullback/CB, just that Edgar is better on the ball and moving forward.

[Tonysa108]

If we want to advance to the next round, we have to play very offensive. In others words, we need to score goals against tough teams like Honduras and Panama. otherwise we will be out after a few games. Scoring goals was our big problem during the GC. The loss of Simpson for theese games is something really bad for our CMNT. We really are going to miss him. We do not have a lot of talented playes. I hope and wish the best for our National Team.

[Canada1]

I understand everyones concerns of what player plays and in what position but what concerns me the most is the actual team substance on the field when it comes to play. I don't want to see another under performing match by our National Team that shows a slow build up from the back 2/3rds and then fall apart as we let the opposition reorganize while we miss opportunities to attack space quickly. Intensity and Formations will be important but getting the right message on how the players need to play as a team will be the key.

I hear so much about Canada not having goal scorers well we do have goal scorers for this level and we should have as much a chance as any to get to the Hex, however, it is the coach that sets up the way the team will play and if the underperforming continues then it's time for him to go. It's not like Canada is playing Germany, Brazil, England, Holland, France at this time.

Hart will need to be held accountable if the team fails to advance. Canada has many talented players playing in quality leagues and he needs to get the tactics right this time.

[ThiKu]

Simpson has scored 4 goals in 43 appearances. Who can tell us how many assists he has?

Simpson is a wonderful player, a very key cog in retaining possession, giving width, and drawing defenders...but we don't have a prolific scoring record with him as a team, nor him as an individual.

So let's not get carried away and speak of his production along the lines of Landycakes or Chicharito.

[Keegan]

Simpson has scored 4 goals in 43 appearances. Who can tell us how many assists he has?

Simpson is a wonderful player, a very key cog in retaining possession, giving width, and drawing defenders...but we don't have a prolific scoring record with him as a team, nor him as an individual.

So let's not get carried away and speak of his production along the lines of Landycakes or Chicharito.

But it is a team game and I think relatively speaking losing Simpson is an even bigger loss to us than it would be for the US or Mexico to lose Landycakes or Cheech. Right now we are all guessing at what Hart will do or even who he might call as a replacement, those countries have depth that could lessen injuries and that's why they are the class of the region.

[David C.]

I think we'll stick to the usual 4-2-3-1 set-up, with deRosario simply taking Simpson's place on the left (Simeon stays on the right and Occean starts up front). I prefer deRo out wide anyway and he seems equally comfortable on either side of the pitch.

The (likely first choice) midfield trio of deGuzman, Hutchinson and Will Johnson remain intact, so nothing else gets disrupted.

[ThiKu]

@Keegan - fair enough.

I'll say it if no one else has. We're obviously hoping Junior agrees to the call as the "replacement" on the high left wing role!

[Sir Alphonso Applegate]

I'll say it if no one else has. We're obviously hoping Junior agrees to the call as the "replacement" on the high left wing role!

That'd be a nice surprise... like wet-dream inducing nice.

But from a position of sarcasm, Hoilett is untested in international soccer....

[Redcoatsforever]

Occean has the potential to be our clinical striker this round. He'll have been at a full Canada camp for once, he'll be starting, and if he gets the service he needs, he'll find the back of the net often enough to put us through.

[Lowndes94]

-----------------------lars/borjan------------------------------ 4-2-3-1 formation

hanault--------edgar--------------mckenna-----------kluk/morgan

------------------deguzman--------hutch----------------------

--------------------------dero-----------------------------------

---jackson-----------------occean--------------------------johnson/hume

I think dero could be VERY influential behind occean and the two of them could heavily influence the game

[BearcatSA]

... we need to make things happen in attacking dead ball situations. If we can score goals in that vital area then that will be a gamechanger for us. All three of those guys are a better threat than our attackers (if you were to put young Henry into the mix, then you'd have a fourth guy from off the bench).

[closetboostie]

... we need to make things happen in attacking dead ball situations. If we can score goals in that vital area then that will be a gamechanger for us. All three of those guys are a better threat than our attackers (if you were to put young Henry into the mix, then you'd have a four guy from off the bench).

That's a great point. It seems like the set piece goals were once a huge weapon for us relative to the rest of our attacking play. Hopefully that reasserts itself in this cycle. Anecdotally, it seems like Jackson gets his fair share of goals off headers. Which is weird, for obvious reasons.

[BearcatSA]

It was an area of weakness during the last two GCs, especially with the corner kick service from Klukowski and Bernier, during the QF loss to Honduras. When you're having trouble breaking down an opponent during open play you need to have your dead ball set plays pick up the slack. Here's to hoping!

[Sam]

JDG put in a great corner for McKenna when he scored against Armenia. His service is probably the best into the box from set pieces... but it is still up in the air whether or not he will be part of the starting XI.