One centre-forward vs Two centre-forwards...

This Forum is the main messageboard to discuss all things Claret and Blue and beyond
Post Reply
Mala591
Posts: 1887
Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2016 4:02 pm
Been Liked: 681 times
Has Liked: 428 times

One centre-forward vs Two centre-forwards...

Post by Mala591 » Mon Aug 08, 2022 10:49 am

I’m a great fan of playing two central forwards and have always liked our 4-4-2 formation. On Saturday we seemed to play more of a 4-3-3 with Barnes struggling by himself ‘up front’ against two reasonable quality centre halves.

I’m not against change and am looking forward to seeing Twine in our starting line up but where will he play in a 4-3-3 formation?

Mattster
Posts: 1275
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:02 am
Been Liked: 349 times
Has Liked: 117 times

Re: One centre-forward vs Two centre-forwards...

Post by Mattster » Mon Aug 08, 2022 10:57 am

Hard to make predictions because of the limited number of strikers we've got available at the moment but it looks like we'll see a fair bit of variation this season. We started both games so far with 1 striker (Barnes) and 1 wide forward on the right (Costelloe then Vitinho off the bench). For the second half against Luton it was 1 striker with a wide forward either side of him (Benson and Costelloe/Vitinho). Would we have played 2 strikers out and out striker if Jay was fit or would he have started wider? We won't know until he's back or we bring in another striker - Costelloe played his best football as a striker last season but hasn't been deployed there yet.

We may alternate between 2 strikers, 1 striker & 1 wide forward and a front 3 depending on opposition/available players all season or maybe Kompany will settle on a system once the recruitment is complete.

I was disappointed not to see Richardson on the bench as another alternative striker, if Kompany isn't going to bring on Phillips it makes more sense to have a striker on the bench and I assume he's fit as he scored against Blackpool midweek.

RVclaret
Posts: 13836
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 8:30 am
Been Liked: 3707 times
Has Liked: 2499 times

Re: One centre-forward vs Two centre-forwards...

Post by RVclaret » Mon Aug 08, 2022 11:45 am

His main shape at Anderlecht during the past two seasons was 4-4-2/4-2-2-2 with Zirkzee and Kouame the front two. Zirkzee more deep lying and Kouame a runner. In pre season we saw this formation used with Jay and Barnes up top. When this system is employed you see Cullen dropping into the right of a back 3 in the build up phase, with the right back providing the width on the right. We haven’t see this yet due to the lack of options up front.

Instead, its been Roberts dropping into RCB during the build up phase and Costelloe / Benson providing the width on the right. It’s been quite interesting to see Kompany’s tactical flexibility so early on. I’m sure we will see more of the 2 up top system when he has the options available, though. Like mentioned, it could be opposition / form / player availability dependant.

Jambo
Posts: 844
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 11:48 am
Been Liked: 211 times
Has Liked: 240 times

Re: One centre-forward vs Two centre-forwards...

Post by Jambo » Mon Aug 08, 2022 12:16 pm

Hasn't really had the options due to injuries - I wouldn't mind seeing Costelloe more central on Friday with Twine and Rodriguez still out. Benson or Vitinho could play the wide role. I think sometimes we will play with two 'out and out' strikers, sometimes Twine will be wide, sometimes deeper as a second striker - we aren't going to be as predictable as under Dyche when it was basically 4-4-2 with the same lads in the same shape every week.

Top Claret
Posts: 5125
Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2016 11:50 am
Been Liked: 1127 times
Has Liked: 1238 times

Re: One centre-forward vs Two centre-forwards...

Post by Top Claret » Mon Aug 08, 2022 12:19 pm

Does anyone have the low down on Jay and Twines injuries ?

warksclaret
Posts: 6594
Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2016 7:13 pm
Been Liked: 1676 times
Has Liked: 754 times

Re: One centre-forward vs Two centre-forwards...

Post by warksclaret » Mon Aug 08, 2022 12:23 pm

I think we need to forget about Jay-not played since getting injured in the warm up at Watford.Too many times last season he did not make the team, and that was without injury sustained in the previous game. Soon we will be into 3 games in 7 days-we cannot afford to nurse people like Jay and JBG. We need a young Vokes, and a young Gray

Mala591
Posts: 1887
Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2016 4:02 pm
Been Liked: 681 times
Has Liked: 428 times

Re: One centre-forward vs Two centre-forwards...

Post by Mala591 » Mon Aug 08, 2022 12:28 pm

I’d play Benson up front in a free roaming role just behind Barnes until Rodriguez and Twine are fit. Costelloe attacking on the right and Maatsen on the left.

Jambo
Posts: 844
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 11:48 am
Been Liked: 211 times
Has Liked: 240 times

Re: One centre-forward vs Two centre-forwards...

Post by Jambo » Mon Aug 08, 2022 12:29 pm

Apparently Kompany said Twine and Jay are both out for Watford.

Top Claret
Posts: 5125
Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2016 11:50 am
Been Liked: 1127 times
Has Liked: 1238 times

Re: One centre-forward vs Two centre-forwards...

Post by Top Claret » Mon Aug 08, 2022 12:32 pm

warksclaret wrote:
Mon Aug 08, 2022 12:23 pm
I think we need to forget about Jay-not played since getting injured in the warm up at Watford.Too many times last season he did not make the team, and that was without injury sustained in the previous game. Soon we will be into 3 games in 7 days-we cannot afford to nurse people like Jay and JBG. We need a young Vokes, and a young Gray

In hindsight we shouldn't have given Jay a new contract he is an expensive liability

milkcrate_mosh
Posts: 199
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2021 5:23 pm
Been Liked: 84 times
Has Liked: 19 times

Re: One centre-forward vs Two centre-forwards...

Post by milkcrate_mosh » Mon Aug 08, 2022 12:35 pm

warksclaret wrote:
Mon Aug 08, 2022 12:23 pm
I think we need to forget about Jay-not played since getting injured in the warm up at Watford.Too many times last season he did not make the team, and that was without injury sustained in the previous game. Soon we will be into 3 games in 7 days-we cannot afford to nurse people like Jay and JBG. We need a young Vokes, and a young Gray

I don't think we should be quite so quick to permanently write off a player who made 30 appearances last season. He was only not included in the squad twice before the watford game.

KRBFC
Posts: 18018
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:18 am
Been Liked: 3784 times
Has Liked: 1071 times

Re: One centre-forward vs Two centre-forwards...

Post by KRBFC » Mon Aug 08, 2022 12:38 pm

It's more of a 4231 than a 433 or 4222, need to get the wide attacking midfielders into the box more.

Stayingup
Posts: 5551
Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:02 pm
Been Liked: 914 times
Has Liked: 2726 times

Re: One centre-forward vs Two centre-forwards...

Post by Stayingup » Mon Aug 08, 2022 12:55 pm

Twine came injured and looks like he still is. Very disappointing. The way they are playing is slow build up and the striker has to keep moving around non stop really. We only looked to have any dynamism when Benson came on and to some extent also when Da Silva came on. Even then we only managed one shot on goal - from which we scored.

tiger76
Posts: 25697
Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2017 9:43 pm
Been Liked: 4644 times
Has Liked: 9849 times
Location: Glasgow

Re: One centre-forward vs Two centre-forwards...

Post by tiger76 » Mon Aug 08, 2022 3:31 pm

Top Claret wrote:
Mon Aug 08, 2022 12:32 pm
In hindsight we shouldn't have given Jay a new contract he is an expensive liability
That decision confused me at the time, Jay has just turned 33, and he's not shown enough consistently in the last 2 seasons to justify awarding him with a new 2 year deal.

Barnes seemingly we had no choice in whether to retain or not, but Jay could have been released to free up a squad place, and save on wages.

They just feel out of place given how we're lowering the age in other positions, and surely if we do sign a striker or two, and when everyone is fit they'll both be warming the bench.

duncandisorderly
Posts: 2443
Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2016 8:58 pm
Been Liked: 970 times
Has Liked: 232 times

Re: One centre-forward vs Two centre-forwards...

Post by duncandisorderly » Mon Aug 08, 2022 3:49 pm

Jay will have a better season than Barnes, IMO.

claretandy
Posts: 4751
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:47 pm
Been Liked: 953 times
Has Liked: 238 times

Re: One centre-forward vs Two centre-forwards...

Post by claretandy » Mon Aug 08, 2022 4:40 pm

duncandisorderly wrote:
Mon Aug 08, 2022 3:49 pm
Jay will have a better season than Barnes, IMO.
*If he can get, and stay fit.

Post Reply