O Formation, Where Art Thou?

I can understand the need to switch up the formation/line-up due to heavy fixture congestion or player injury, plenty of teams do that. However, we’re only 4 games into the season, no one should be tired. I don’t believe anyone was injured for those games either, save for Califf. You can take that one how you want.  With that being said I can’t figure out Nowak’s tactics (or lack there of) for the life of me.  Here’s a quick look back

@ Portland: In this game, based on player positions and our shape, it looks like we were trying to run a 4-2-3-1.

          Zac MacMath

 Williams, Califf, Valdes, Lopez,

         Gomez, Carroll

       Adu, Marfan, Martinez

             Pajoy

Martinez (Mwanga 60)

Freddy (Jack Mac 74)

Keon Daniel (Marfan 79)
Ended With: 4 def, 3 mid, 3 fwd

Colorado: Appears as though we went with a 4-2-2-2 (4-4-2). Two d-mids, 2 cam’s and 2 forwards. This is the game that Califf was mysteriously absent from with an “injury”

                  MacMath

     Williams, Albright, Valdes, Lopez

               Carroll, Gomez

               Marfan, Daniel

  

               Pajoy, Mwanga

Albright (Torres 63)

Daniel (Hernandez 72)

Carroll (Martinez 79)

Ended with: 3 def, 4 mid, 3 fwd

@ Chicago: The one game that I actually didn’t watch, it appears as those they were set up in a 3-5-2

          

          MacMath

   Albright, Valdes, Lopez

       Carroll, Gomez

   Marfan, Torres, Daniel

       Pajoy, Mwanga

Torres (Garfan 45)

Mwanga (Martinez 60)

Albright (McInerney 80)

Ended With: 2 def, 5 mid, 3 fwd

Vancouver: (4-4-2)

          MacMath

Williams, Califf, Valdes, Lopez

Daniel, Gomez, Carroll, Garfan

       Pajoy, Hoffman

Lopez (Marfan)

Hoffman (McInerney)

Daniel (Mwanga)

Ended with: 4 def, 3 mid, 3 fwd

These choices have left me so befuddled, I just DON’T get where he’s going with it all. It’s not like we are playing teams that are so incredibly dominant that we need change up our formation in order to accommodate the oppositions offensive prowess.

I just want some semblance within our squad, an identity if you will. Take RSL for example, with their diamond midfield, LA with the traditional 4-4-2, or Sporting KC’s 4-3-3. The Philadelphia Union do not need to mimic those teams styles or formations, just form an identity of their own and continually build on it, rather than reinventing the wheel on a weekly basis.

From the four games played, we’ve lined up in a 3-5-2, a  4-4-2 /4-2-2-2 (one with two cam’s and one with a more LM/RM look) a 4-2-3-1 and my favorite. A 0-0-10! I’m exaggerating of course, but late in games as you can see above, Nowak tends to “go for it” and put a ton of attackers on the field at the same time. I’d like to clarify that I am not opposed to any of the formations used so far. I just want us to pick one and stick with it.

So let me take you back to RSL, because I think they’re a great MLS example of a team with a system. Everyone has a role and they fill it beautifully. If Borchers or Olave goes down, then Schuler is there to step in. Beltran and Wingert are the starting defensive backs with Tanaka looking like the backup. Beckerman out, no problem, Alvarez is there for cover. On the flanks RSL have their first choices, Johnson and Gravaboy, with Steele, Velasquez, and Gil providing cover. At the top of the diamond is Morales, with Gil as his direct back up. Finally we move on to the two striker positions, occupied by Saborio and Espinola, Paulo Jr. and Cody Arnoux play the roles of replacements.

Now that RSL team did not just happen over night, it took a couple seasons to get to where they are today, I get that, but Kreis/management always seemed to have an idea of where they wanted to take that team. In contrast, I do not believe Nowak has the slightest clue of where he wants this team to go, at least from my point of view. It looks like he just picks names with reckless abandon and tosses them on a line up sheet.

On the Union side of things: we have two, that’s right folks, count them.. TWO legitimate CB’s on our entire roster: Valdes and Califf. I assume that if either were to go down we could toss Gomez, Albright or Okugo back there, more than likely we would probably just shift players around and play 3 in the back.

Pretty decent coverage for the outside backs. On the right we have Williams, Albright and Gaddis and on the left we have Lopez and Garfan

We have three D-mids: Carroll, Gomez and Okugo. I’m fine with this.

Now for the midfield, drumroll please… Adu, Daniel, Marfan, Garfan, Hernandez, McLaughlin, Peffer and Torres. All of these players stand in line to receive playing time this year and none of them are miles ahead of the other in term of playing ability. I will say, that out of this group, in the words of Bruce Arena, we’ve got three players who “try sh**” Torres, Adu and Marfan (had the chip-shot goal against Real Madrid, was finalist for ROY. That’s how I differentiate between the twins). To me, those three bring that little something extra and unexpected onto the field.

At the forward position we have Chandler, Martinez, Mwanga, McInerney and Pajoy. Again, all of these players look like they’ll be sharing minutes. Pajoy I guess is the one definite out of the group.

Saying that Nowak has a selection problem would be something of an understatement and given the gaffer’s propensity to play with two defensive midfields that leaves 2-3 spots open for 8 capable midfielders and then 1-2 spots open for 5 capable strikers.

So there it is, I’ve given you guys an example of what a balanced team with a system looks like, RSL, and I’ve given you one with no clear cut plan in place, the Union. When you break it down like this you can clearly see why our rotation is jacked up and why we are currently struggling to put together a complete and cohesive match.

The formation that I would use for this team is a 4-1-3-2. With all the options that we have up top I think two need to be starting and in the midfield one of Torres, Adu or Marfan needs to be in the line-up.  Outside of those three I don’t know who delivers that final pass, so one of them being on is a must.

Phew! I know I rambled on for a minute there but this constant lineup shuffling, which goes back to last season, is extremely bothersome to me as a fan and I felt like it was an area that needed to be addressed. I’d love to hear some comments or your own suggestions or remedies to our Union woes. And no, a simple “fire Nowak” is not a sufficient enough answer J Enjoy the game today. DOOP!