Excuse all the arrows. Trying to explain my aims.
Tempted to try and go with the Cruyff 3-4-3 Diamond. What do people think?
Schmeichel the sweeper keeper allowing a high line.
Vierchowod the solid defender who sticks in position
Vasovic the ball pkaying sweeper, who pushes forward when space opens up, as he did in Cruyff’s led Ajax side in 1971
Mascherano defensively placed in the role he played for Pep all the way to the European Cup. Covers for Vasovic when he pushes into gaps in midfield.
Xabi Alonso in the role he occupied for Bayern under Pep, dropping in between the centre backs when necessary. The man dictating the play, moving the ball quickly short as necessary and over the top in the channels to the in running Salah when available.
Marcelo operating the wider left midfield role. Expands the play as necessary. Looks to run wide as he get the ball to keep the pitch wide.
Yaya Toure takes up the centre midfield role, transitioning the ball forward. Making forward runs as gaps appear, covering wide right when Salah moves central, dropping into defensive cover when Mascherano shifts central. Similar to his role in the Barca side.
Zico operates the key play maker role, with his back to goal as a default. Bouncing the ball back to Xabi Alonso and Yaya Toure when pressured to provide them quickly with a forward pass and making late runs after as Zlatan comes short and the ball goes over the top, but on occasion sucking in the defender, rolling them setting up a direct run at goal or a shift left or right to Salah or Ronaldinho.
Salah feeds off the service of Zlatan and Zico in behind from flick ons and Xabi Alonso’s pinpoint passing over the top, as space opens up from the quick passing game.
Ronaldinho is the major target for Zico when he can shift it wide. He is given a run on goal one on one with defenders unless the play deeper and compact. Pulls into the central position when Zlatan drops into the space. As he was utilised best under Rijkaard.
Ibrahimovic looks to push the ball wide and drop into space to create space for Zico and the wingers behind. When he receives the ball he can turn and shoot from deep when not pressured, or play it wide holding his run on the edge of the box for balls to be pulled back.
This system utilises the best skill set of each player, encourages a ball playing game with players all familiar to the roles.
Wim Suuriber is the backup and could be dropped in, in place of Marcelo or Yaya Toure.
How this works against PoetryInMotion’s 4-4-2 Diamond?
The front two and guarded by the back three and Xabi Alonso closed down from all sides.
The midfield is balanced in numbers but the ball playing ability of everyone in my system allows fast moving transitions that would create holes for the attacking minded players to work with. Marcelo and Yaya can expand the width of the play creating even more room for Alonso and Zico.
Defensively my players are able to close down the centre when needed and cover the wing backs if they push forward. If the ball is one back there the wingers will be open to run at the centre backs.
Zico is the focal point of the attacks, everything through him or caused by him, even if that’s because he’s overmarked creating space for others. So it’ll be crucial to balance closing him down and not giving him space to turn, with not overcommiting leaving space in behind for Zico to quickly release the ball back to Alonso to play in behind or wide directly for Ronaldinho and Salah.
The threat posed by the three up front will pin back the full backs and with them the whole side. Defensive hopes will rely on complete discipline, back to the wall defending.
Even with that the movement and pace of the ball moving side to side, back and forth, both long and short would be a nightmare for any side. With his quality across his XI, Poetry stands a chance but it’d be one hell of a performance to keep them out.
