Ok here goes...

it's a formation which relies heavily on having a lot of talent in the forward midfield role (best exercised by Pirlo for Italy/Milan 2003-2006) and fairly defensive players in the other 3 midfield positions.

One of the key reasons for this is the full backs are heavily exposed in the diamond. Also the full backs need the fitness to get up and down the pitch for 90mins.

It's to Lambert's credit that when he realises the key man Hoolahan is stifled in games, he is able to change it. Usually by introducing width on one side of the pitch. This of course requires the team to be drilled in knowing their positions, something we clearly are brilliant at is knowing how to play once we switch away from our main formation. Many teams struggle with this, even full of world class players. Witness for example Brazil in the world cup, their Plan A had worked for so long that they relied on it to much, it was also a formation which heavily exposed the full backs.

The role of the offensive midfielder died out around the 2003-5 in europe with as I said before only Milan making it work with a deep lying defensive midfielder. If you recall correctly many teams in Italy and Spain especially had a classic number 10 in the role just behind the strikers. Many of them Argentines that are now back playing in their home country where the typical number 10 role is still commonplace.

Posted By: Brandonio, Sep 22, 19:40:30