The problems with 4-2-3-1 is:
Buffon
Caceras Cannavaro Chiellini Grosso
Sissoko Melo
Camoranesi Diego Giovinco
Amauri
This formation relies ALOT on the following:
1- DMs must intercept during defense
2- DMs must transfer the team from defense to offense
Now although our DMs can do the "1" they definitely cannot do the "2"
3- The formation relies on Fullbacks continuously pushing forward:
We are already very weak on this department.
4- The whole point of this formation is to have 3 players behind the striker who can change positions between each other to give more creativity.
In fairness sake on paper the three players can do the job. ONLY IF they had a proper DMs and Full backs who can deliver the ball to them.
Another problem with this formation is that if one of those three players (Diego, Camoranesi and Giovinco) is injured/Suspended there is no cover for him, except for Diego who can be replaced by Del Piero. Giovinco and Camo are playing too wide and upfront for any of our midfield or attackers to accommodate.
5- Where will Del Piero play?
Call me old fashioned, call me Del Piero biased, or even Del Piero's C*** sucker, I honestly don't care. But the truth is, he is one of our most influential players and not playing him when he's ready is utter madness.
Other teams envy us for having and some here are debating that we should not field him because he cannot play in a 4-2-3-1 system??
6- Because of the nature of the "3" in 4-2-3-1 the full backs are more exposed that usual. That would be a problem if we had top notch full backs but we don't. The good thing about the flat 4-4-2 system in the past two years is that it covered are full back defensively.
7- With the problems mentioned taken into consideration, playing a lone striker won't put enough pressure on the opponent --> more pressure on our midfield and full backs (who obviously cannot handle it) .