Further explorations of the 22 (4-2-3-1)

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4-2-3-1 is a variation of 4-5-1. So in order to evaluate 4-2-3-1, we need to take a look at the pros and cons of 4-5-1 first.

4-5-1 is the result of dropping the 2 outside forwards in a 4-3-3 to midfield. This formation was not discussed in Part.1 due to its defensive orientation. With 5 midfielders, the center pitch is packed so opponent offense wouldn't have much room to work with. Also, the tight spacing between the midfielders would make it difficult for opponents to maintain possession while pushing the ball forward. However, due to the lack of presence in upper midfield, opportunities are only created from the high wings or from defenders' long drop passes. Needless to say, 4-5-1 isn't very ideal for offensive plays and requires very well disciplined midfielders to prevent goals.
On top of that, the center forward usually need to be very physical so he could fight for the balls that can go both ways. Chelski's way of using Dragba is one of the prime examples.
4-5-1 is commonly used when the team wants a 0-0 draw or if it's ahead by a little and needs to preserve the narrow margin. This NEGATIVE FUCKING THINKING led Argentina from a 1-0 win to a PSO lost in 2006 WorldCup 1/4 Final.

6.30.2006 was A DARK DAY FOR POSITIVE FOOTBALL.
Pekerman did a tripple substitution @ 70th minute: Leo Franco for injured Pato; Cambiasso for Riquelme; and Julio Ricardo Cruz for Crespo. As shown in the picture below, we went instantaneously from a perfect 4-3-1-2 to a 4-5-1. Pekerman's intention was more obvious than a fat lady with a pink hood, he wanted to keep the 1 goal lead, even if it meant risking a draw and PSO against the king of WorldCup PK on their home turf! Pekerman did it because he's a fucking PUTO. He saw Germany giving up everything for an equalizer and chickened out. How pathetic!
Few minutes after the substitutions, Germany started to fall back. Partly due to the congestion in midfield, but quite possibily as a strategy to lure Argentina into attacking mode. If there was a trap, we fell right in (thanks to Peckerman's coaching). It's like a bear fell out of a tree in central park... Argentina was under heavy attack, but held our ground till Pato got hit. The attack was pushing into our box at this point which I persume was what scared Peckerman and forced him to choose his set of substitutions. Now Germany falling back and giving some breathing space, it wasn't a total surprise to see our boys switching gear. But by having the 2 wingers pushing up to assist attack, only 3 players were in the midfield without a CAM or even CM to link the front and back. Room suddently opened up for the Germans to infiltrate.
Anyroad, @80', Ballack gets through the midfield from their left wing and crossed in a ball that found 3 forwards ready to head it...
At this point the Argentines started pushing forward in an attempt to avoid PSO. But without Riquelme in the CAM position, they couldn't move the ball up into the box even when the entire backline was in the German half. So everyone started taking long shots. Lucho shot, Maxi shot, even Coloccini was shooting. And in the end, we could not score because the formation was just too defensive to provide enough opportunities.

Anyroad. 4-2-3-1 is the result of pushing up the center center midfielder in 4-5-1 into CAM position. LCM and RCM would then drop back a little and effectively reposition into CDM. Consequently, there's now more space between the 2 CDM and outside midfielders, making the outside midfielders more or less wingers.

4-2-3-1 remained relying on the congestion in midfield to disrupt opponent possessions, just like in 4-5-1. The formation therefore is also relatively defensive. But in comparison with 4-5-1, a CAM is now presented to support the attack from center, and more space had been free'd up on the wings giving LWM, RWM and the forward higher degree of freedom. On defensives, since the CAM and wingers still need to have solid contact with the 2 CDM in order to make the congestion in midfield effective, they cannot be pure attacking wingers and leave the midfield like in 4-3-3. This should be kept in mind when reviewing our midfield options for 4-2-3-1. Vise versa, the outside backs can join attack since 2 CDM will be screening, therefore by playing this formation we also could benefit from the wing ability of Zanetti and Ibarra.

Keep in mind, due to the defensive nature of 4-2-3-1, it shouldn't be Basile's first choice because ARGENTINES PLAY OFFENSIVE FOOTBALL .
But in the case we need to deploy a defensive formation, 4-2-3-1 will likely be the choice.

The 2 CDM of 4-2-3-1 must join the attack with CAM to maintain midfield formation, so they need to have good offensive capabilities instead of pure defenders. This requirement is similar to those of the CDM in 4-3-3. Except here we need 2 of them.
First elimination is again, Lucho. Because he's too offensive and not suited to holding midfielder role. Gago is ideal choice for one of them, leaving Cambiasso and Mascherano for other spot.

Mascherano isn't offensive at all. He likes to stay home and chase down the balls even if they were going deep into our defensive territory. I can't see Argentina in a position to start out a game with 4-2-3-1 where Mascher and Gago both played, but Gago and Cambiasso togather is still possible as the formation would look more like the offensive variation of 4-4-1-1, where Gago and Cambiasso line up more diagonally so wingers will get to play at higher positions.
Mascherano should only appear in 4-2-3-1 from a substitution to perserve advantage.

The outside midfielders in this case need to be disciplined wingers that can pull back to maintain their defensive formation. So our choices are: Lucho, Veron, Messi, Riquelme, and Aimar, in that particular order... Lucho should play right since that's his natural side, so Veron could take up the left spot in order to free up Riquelme for CAM. In the case a substitution was made to morph some other formation into 4-2-3-1 in order to maintain a lead, Cambiasso could be free'd and would be ideal for one of the wing positions, so for the 2nd lineup option he should be LWM... In this case, Lucho should be right wing and there's no need for Veron.

Riquelme is the first choice for CAM position in 4-2-3-1, but for the purpose of indicating his capability to substitute in at the positions, I'll put Aimar at CAM on the optional lineup.

The only real forward in this formation is obviously a target person. Crespo is the ideal choice, and Milito 2nd.


Return to Part.1
4-3-3
4-3-1-2

To Conclusion