++ [ originally posted by Stuart ] ++
A 4-2-2-2 of sorts with wide AMs rather than central AMs definitely sounds like a good idea to me. Like Lampard, Maresca would be given license to roam forward, while Appiah would take up a more defensive role like Makelele. I think I would prefer Tacch to Appiah though..
NOT a good idea to me. This system with wide AMs is common to clubs like Chelsea as you said, and also Arsenal. The 4-2-2-2 system is primarly used when you have two good wingers like Ljungberg and Pires for Arsenal. Now in the case of Chelsea, Lampard is, as you said, given the license to roam forward. But as we saw with Monaco, this system can be very easily broken down through the middle, especially on counter-attacks. I am not in favor of this basic 4-4-2 with attacking wingers because it does not work well in the Champion's League for various reasons.
Like I said before, the top clubs in England use this system, and we know by looking at the facts (English clubs have only played in one C.L. Final in the past 15 years), that it does not work in Europe. Opposing clubs usually find a way to break down this system, whether it be just closing down the sides or striking on a counter-attack through the middle, like the Chelsea-Monaco match. And sometimes this system promotes straight forward play with less creativity. With this system, crossing the ball into the box repeatedly becomes a possibilty after a scoreless while, and teams will then just shut down the middle. Yes, there are interchanges between flank players, but not as much in the center of the pitch.
For these reasons, I prefer a more balanced team with more depth, sort of like what we have now or what Milan uses. It just depends on what changes are made this summer personel wise. But if we get another playmaker like Rosicky or vdV while keeping Nedved, this is what should be used:
-------------------Buffon-----------------------
Thuram--Mexes?---Ferrari?---Zambrotta-
-Maresca(Appiah)-Tacchi---Nedved-------
-------Rosicky (vdV)--Del Piero-------------
-----------------Gilardino----------------------
Or maybe an even better idea if instead of getting another playmaker like Rosicky, if we get Jankulovski we could have a system I highly reguard, which is the 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2. This system IMO generates depth all over the pitch, and chances can be found in the same fashion. If the right type of players are in place, this system could be the system of all systems. If we get Jank:
----------------------Buffon------------------------
-----------Thuram--Mexes?--Ferrari?----------
Zambrotta-Maresca-Tacchinardi-Jankulovski
---------------Nedved--Del Piero----------------
---------------------Gilardino----------------------
I love this system; it even looks good on paper! This system could be a combination of your 4-2-2-2, along with mine. What I love about this is that the two wingers Zambro and Jank are both able to attack and defend, with the former able to push more forward and attack than he does now at LB. With Jank on the left, he could do the same. This system could also give Maresca a chance to shine, because he could be given more freedom to roam if Zambro comes inside or Neddy comes back while Enzo storms up field like a Ferrari (No, the car, not Matteo
). Nedved will have his usual position behind the strikers. Like I said before, chances can be created all over the pitch; on the wings and through the middle. I remember that Ancelotti used this when Zidane was here, with Pessotto in Jank's postion. I have a feeling that Jank would produce more attacking muscle than Pessotto though. I know that Roma uses this system to my amazement, but the players I have listed here would fit the system better IMO, except for Tacchi and Emerson. Man, I really love this formation!
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