06 Sep 2026 07:07:00
EHL regarding formations, perhaps it is the overuse of video games coming away with some, but my question was more trying to learn and understand than suggest. Not all of us have any real experience training or coaching. U said in the discussion of formation the reason we were resorting to long balls was because we had 2 defensive mids coming deep to get the ball so I wondered if we were better using just 1 anchor man who comes deep instead, either with one man up top or two.
As in 4141 or 4132 in games. Never my intention to melt your brain. 😜
06 Sep 2026 07:59:34
Correct, Kaiser, against Falkirk both Devlin and Raskin naturally kept coming towards the defence to get on the ball, which limited our options.
Yesterday, Raskin and Neil offered much more variety, which did three things. One, it meant we had far more options when playing out, it made it much easier to connect with the front line, and it also left us exposed on occasions when we got it wrong.
Crucially, though, in both games we played the same system with 2 central midfielders.
06 Sep 2026 08:09:51
2 plus Penrice was inverted a lot, giving us 3 in the middle.
06 Sep 2026 08:26:16
Cheers, mate. Yes, think with time, they'll understand each other and will know when to come and go as learn when to trust each other.
06 Sep 2026 08:34:57
True, Zikos, and developing an understanding with Gassama both switching inside and out, so keeping defenders guessing.
06 Sep 2026 09:22:28
Correct Ziko.
I said a few times that the DM system is very similar to how Spain set up, which is becoming the new blueprint for a lot of teams.
So, to use that example, we certainly have seen a lot more from Sterling and Penrice yesterday, and as you say, Penrice varied his play a lot, overlapping, underlapping and creating overloads in the middle.
Just like Cucurella.
06 Sep 2026 11:02:30
Cucarella- The best in the business. I've followed his career from Brighton, where he was excellent, got his move to Chelsea, where he became world class imo. Currently at Real Madrid, and European champion and World Cup winner with Spain. What a player. Just wish he'd get a haircut.
06 Sep 2026 11:22:27
Cucarella class left back and earned his move to Real Madrid because of his superb performances for Chelsea. 👌 Regarding Chelsea full backs, it takes me back to when Chelsea signed Ashley Cole from Arsenal and what an outstanding left full back he was, and imo at one point Ashley Cole was the best left back in world football and even better than the superb Cucarella for me, and that's saying something.
👌