" LINE UP NEXT SEASON? "
Thu May 21, 2015 5:54 pm
Assuming he gets Vincent Tan’s backing to carry on in charge of Cardiff City, Russell Slade has some major decisions to make for 2015-16... and one of the biggest is which formation to utilise.
By Terry Phillips
21st May 2015
He has stuck fairly rigidly to 4-4-2, dubbed old-fashioned by many and criticised heavily by the fans.
Far too often Cardiff were overwhelmed in the midfield, Slade’s central duo of Peter Whittingham and Aron Gunnarson unable to influence matches and control that area of the field.
So, is it time for change?
Possible line-up: Marshall; Peltier, Manga, Turner, Malone; Pilkington, Dikgacoi, Whittingham, Noone; Doyle, Jones.
5-3-2
This could be a possibility. City have the defenders to suit three-centre-backs and two wing-backs. Fabio and Declan John in particular would relish those offensive duties.
They would be able to use their instincts to switch from defence fast and threaten the opposition, but would have to be at the peak of fitness to ensure City are not left short on numbers at the back.
Ben Turner, Bruno Manga and Sean Morrison are three defenders who would form a solid barrier at the centre of defence. Semi Ajaya, a 20-year-old centre-back who finished last season with City on loan from Arsenal and looks certain to make that permanent for 2015-16, could also come into the equation.
City don’t have anybody who would fit naturally into a sweeper role. Juan Cala would have been effective, while from the past Mike Ford would have played there.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer switched to 5-3-2 at times without the planning and preparation needed. If City were to go for 5-3-2 they would have to work on playing that way in training - and be ready when the time came.
Possible line-up: Marshall; Fabio, Manga, Turner, Morrison, John; Dikgacoi, Whittingham, Ralls; Jones, Doyle.
4-4-1-1
This formation is ideal for Joe Mason, who likes to drop deeper into the number 10 role and make things difficult for opposing defenders with well-timed runs. Someone like Mats Daehli would have been perfectly suited to it.
It’s difficult to stop Mason when he floats into the space behind a main striker and arrives in the box at the right moment.
That would give City extra options.
Possible line-up: Marshall; Peltier, Manga, Turner, Malone; Pilkington, Dikgacoi, Whittingham, Noone; Mason; Doyle
4-5-1
Helps teams keep possession - and needs a powerful centre-forward able to win aerial duels and hold up the ball until support arrives.
Neither Kenwyne Jones or Alex Revell seem ideal to play a role where the striker plays a lone role. He can get isolated and fitness levels are tested to the full.
The five midfield players provide a solid base for the team - and one or more must get forward in support of the main offensive focal point at the right times.
Possible line-up: Marshall; Peltier, Manga, Turner, Malone; Pilkington, Dikgacoi, Whittingham, Ralls, Noone; Jones (replaced by Revell or Macheda after an hour).
4-3-3
An offensive formation, but Slade is unlikely to embark upon this route.
Kenwyne Jones could be he spearhead up top, with Joe Mason and Federico Macheda either side of him. That, though, would mean Mason and Macheda, or even Eoin Doyle, forced into wide areas where their threat would not be at its most potent.
City don’t have the midfield players to suit this system. Peter Whittingham, Aron Gunnarsson and Joe Ralls would be options, but are they the men to form a tight midfield trio and protect the back four?
Would Dikgacoi, Stuart O’Keefe or Tom Adayemi do any better in these roles? Possibly not.
Possible line-up: Marshall; Peltier, Manga, Turner, Malone; Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Ralls; Mason, Jones, Macheda.
By Terry Phillips
21st May 2015
He has stuck fairly rigidly to 4-4-2, dubbed old-fashioned by many and criticised heavily by the fans.
Far too often Cardiff were overwhelmed in the midfield, Slade’s central duo of Peter Whittingham and Aron Gunnarson unable to influence matches and control that area of the field.
So, is it time for change?
Possible line-up: Marshall; Peltier, Manga, Turner, Malone; Pilkington, Dikgacoi, Whittingham, Noone; Doyle, Jones.
5-3-2
This could be a possibility. City have the defenders to suit three-centre-backs and two wing-backs. Fabio and Declan John in particular would relish those offensive duties.
They would be able to use their instincts to switch from defence fast and threaten the opposition, but would have to be at the peak of fitness to ensure City are not left short on numbers at the back.
Ben Turner, Bruno Manga and Sean Morrison are three defenders who would form a solid barrier at the centre of defence. Semi Ajaya, a 20-year-old centre-back who finished last season with City on loan from Arsenal and looks certain to make that permanent for 2015-16, could also come into the equation.
City don’t have anybody who would fit naturally into a sweeper role. Juan Cala would have been effective, while from the past Mike Ford would have played there.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer switched to 5-3-2 at times without the planning and preparation needed. If City were to go for 5-3-2 they would have to work on playing that way in training - and be ready when the time came.
Possible line-up: Marshall; Fabio, Manga, Turner, Morrison, John; Dikgacoi, Whittingham, Ralls; Jones, Doyle.
4-4-1-1
This formation is ideal for Joe Mason, who likes to drop deeper into the number 10 role and make things difficult for opposing defenders with well-timed runs. Someone like Mats Daehli would have been perfectly suited to it.
It’s difficult to stop Mason when he floats into the space behind a main striker and arrives in the box at the right moment.
That would give City extra options.
Possible line-up: Marshall; Peltier, Manga, Turner, Malone; Pilkington, Dikgacoi, Whittingham, Noone; Mason; Doyle
4-5-1
Helps teams keep possession - and needs a powerful centre-forward able to win aerial duels and hold up the ball until support arrives.
Neither Kenwyne Jones or Alex Revell seem ideal to play a role where the striker plays a lone role. He can get isolated and fitness levels are tested to the full.
The five midfield players provide a solid base for the team - and one or more must get forward in support of the main offensive focal point at the right times.
Possible line-up: Marshall; Peltier, Manga, Turner, Malone; Pilkington, Dikgacoi, Whittingham, Ralls, Noone; Jones (replaced by Revell or Macheda after an hour).
4-3-3
An offensive formation, but Slade is unlikely to embark upon this route.
Kenwyne Jones could be he spearhead up top, with Joe Mason and Federico Macheda either side of him. That, though, would mean Mason and Macheda, or even Eoin Doyle, forced into wide areas where their threat would not be at its most potent.
City don’t have the midfield players to suit this system. Peter Whittingham, Aron Gunnarsson and Joe Ralls would be options, but are they the men to form a tight midfield trio and protect the back four?
Would Dikgacoi, Stuart O’Keefe or Tom Adayemi do any better in these roles? Possibly not.
Possible line-up: Marshall; Peltier, Manga, Turner, Malone; Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Ralls; Mason, Jones, Macheda.
Re: " LINE UP NEXT SEASON? "
Thu May 21, 2015 5:55 pm
Too early for this, wait until the transfer window is over. 
Re: " LINE UP NEXT SEASON? "
Thu May 21, 2015 6:03 pm
Bridgend_bluebird wrote:Too early for this, wait until the transfer window is over.
Ellliot, Well according to Slade,Terry Phillips and Tan only a few new players are coming in.
But they forgot to mention,plenty leaving,if they can offload them.
Re: " LINE UP NEXT SEASON? "
Thu May 21, 2015 6:15 pm
Forever Blue wrote:Bridgend_bluebird wrote:Too early for this, wait until the transfer window is over.
Ellliot, Well according to Slade,Terry Phillips and Tan only a few new players are coming in.
But they forgot to mention,plenty leaving,if they can offload them.
Oh dear, gonna be another fun season then.
Re: " LINE UP NEXT SEASON? "
Thu May 21, 2015 6:35 pm
Bridgend_bluebird wrote:Forever Blue wrote:Bridgend_bluebird wrote:Too early for this, wait until the transfer window is over.
Ellliot, Well according to Slade,Terry Phillips and Tan only a few new players are coming in.
But they forgot to mention,plenty leaving,if they can offload them.
Oh dear, gonna be another fun season then.
Elliot still always exciting,wondering who is going to come in.