Considering the players Jose Mourinho has at his disposal at Real Madrid, it is obvious that he will make them play offensively, despite the no-brained opinion of a clown by the name of Gerard Pique.
Real Madrid will probably use a formation which is hard to explain through the conventional formations. It is much more dynamic, it keeps on changing, like the resonating structures of Benzene.
Lets not get into Resonance, Benzene or Organic Chemistry because I suck at it and I only know the basics, okay, lets talk football.
For the sake of the post, I have chosen a team of: Iker, Sergio, Carvalho, Albiol, Marcelo, Xabi, Khedira, Leon, Ozil, Cristiano and Higuain. I have kept out the players who are injured (barring Raul Albiol). This team should not be taken as the final team, it is just for the purpose of explaining and reasoning how Real Madrid will play, it might be that Arbeloa plays at left-back and Di Maria starts over Pedro Leon.
- 4-3-3
You can see Cristiano Ronaldo on the right wing, but Cristiano won't be just on the right, his mobility is what makes the formation so versatile.
Cristiano will move from the right wing to the left, then behind the striker and will also pop up as a striker. Pedro Leon (or Di Maria) will keep on switching between the wings giving Sergio Ramos or Marcelo a chance to bomb on forward.
Ozil will take up the role of the playmaker operating behind Higuain and will also be swapping places with Crsitiano Ronaldo and Pedro Leon.
Some expected Sami Khedira to play a sweeping role in midfield tucking in just ahead of the back four running and winning balls, but that is not the case. In the pre-season friendlies, Khedira played ahead of Xabi Alonso, winning the ball forward in attack. We have all seen Sami's stamina in the World Cup and know that he'll be back helping in defense as well as attacking, the role that Pellegrini had for Lass last season (the job which Lass sucks at).
Xabi Alonso will sit deep, winning balls along with Khedira in the midfield. Xabi is probably the most important player in the team, he is the one who is supposed to distribute the ball to the attacking players, as we saw in the Bayern Munich game, when Xabi Alonso (Xabi didn't have a bad day, he was just tired) is struggling the whole attack suffers.
- 4-4-2 Diamond or 4-1-2-1-2
Even if he doesn't, the shape of the formation will change during the game and it will be a diamond at some point in the match with Cristiano Ronaldo joining Higuain as the striker.
Ozil will take the top of the diamond and Xabi Alonso and Khedira will take turns to be the lowest point in the diamond, Pedro Leon will join on any one side of the diamond.
The width will be provided by the full backs—Marcelo and Sergio Ramos.
- 3-5-2
But after a few pre-season games, it became clear that it will be a Higuain-Cristiano pairing if the 3-5-2 is applied. The photo I have used shows the formation changing into a 3-5-2 during the game, where Marcelo will take the role of the left-sided winger. If this formation is to be applied when Arbeloa is playing left-back, substitutions will be made.
I do not believe that Real Madrid will start a game with a 3-5-2 but the 3-5-2 will defenitely be a "Plan-B" against stubborn, defensive teams who just want to sit behind.
Hala Madrid!
I would like to thank my friend Mary, for helping me out in this post, I had lost confidence on this post, and she is the reason this post is published, thanks Mary. :)
thanks for taking the time to explain TSO's possible formations! lol, made things much clearer tactically for the general public (ie. me). it will be interesting to see how TSO approaches la liga games, can't wait, wish it would just start already....
ReplyDeleteHaha no problem mate. :D
ReplyDeleteWoow this is a nice one.
ReplyDeleteI bliv in the 4-3-3 formation. i see that as the main formation with pedro leon and di maria to fight for places. i see di maria adapting faster than pedro leon so far. I would like canales to start ahead of ozil. the rest seems to be permanent for now. I woul also love to see marcelo develop to be the new roberto carlos as we expected 4yrs ago.
the 4-4-2 is good. but i bliv christiano likes the freedom to utilize the wings. but thats this is very good. to know how tactically our team will play. thanks a lot
ReplyDeleteThanks mate. :)
ReplyDeleteCanales might start over Ozil, I just chose this squad for the sake of the post, the formation can be one of these three but the players can be different. :)
---------------------------CASILLAS--------------------------------
ReplyDeleteRamos----Pepe---------Carvalho---------------Marcelo
----------------------Xabi----Khedira------------------------------
DI Maria(BENZEMA)----Ozil------------------KAKA'------
-----------------CRISTIANO RONALDO----------------------
..............Por favor Mourinho...
Where's Higuain?
ReplyDeletedo u think kaka and ozil will make a good combination?
ReplyDeleteDoubt they'll ever play together. They might when Di Maria isn't playing.
ReplyDeleteMuy buen blog, realmente excelente
ReplyDeleteGracias