The 4-4-2 experiment
By Glen Williams
Wednesday 4th November 2020
It was pretty clear Neil Harris had to name an attacking team to face Barnsley on Tuesday night.
Following two very ineffective forward displays from City against QPR and Derby County, the Bluebirds needed to produce a statement of intent from the get-go.
And when the team news dropped an hour before kick-off, eyebrows were raised at just how attacking it looked.
Notably, it was the first 4-4-2 system we have seen employed by Harris this season, with the two big strikers in Robert Glatzel and Kieffer Moore getting the nod together up top.
There were teething problems, notably in the high press when the German had to be reminded by team-mates and the dugout what his duties were without the ball, but overall it was an experiment with very promising results.
Few can deny that Moore has enjoyed a promising start to his Cardiff City career, but so often he has been left isolated after winning an aerial duel or having held the ball up with his back to goal.
But we saw some lovely little interplay between the two players at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday night and as such they both had their fair share of chances to get on the scoresheet. It's incredible that neither did.
"It's been in my mind and we have been close to doing it a couple of times," Harris said of the 4-4-2.
"The other day [against QPR] Bobby pulled out with illness and I certainly wouldn't have taken him off after 60 minutes if he hadn't been struggling still.
"I saw bits [against Barnsley] in the performance where they showed they can be a good pairing. It took a while for me to see it and understand them coming together.
"I think tonight showed that Barnsley played in a 3-4-3 and it really suited us to play a 4-4-2. I thought the combination up front was strong and the centre midfield pairing was strong."
It might not always be that system, the 4-2-3-1 has suited them for most of Harris' reign and that might be the case against Bristol City this Friday.
But Junior Hoilett also found it incredibly beneficial having two front men to bounce off.
JUNIOR HOILETT:
"We had a game plan early on to be more direct," Hoilett said.
"We were winning second balls as well.
"Off the front two it was magnificent to run the channels and they set a platform. We got round each other and created chances off their movements.
"It was good to have the extra striker to help us be more direct and get the ball up front quicker. It was more effective."
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