The Christmas Tree Formation and David Moyes

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4–3–2–1 (the "Christmas Tree" formation)


Gentlemen i thought i would use this space instead of a blog to see just why there is so little support for this formation in England now and inparticular Manchester United fans and staff, Considering the success a new system of play and a narrow formation has meant for Liverpool. I had been thinking about this since around January and making a few noises on forums when Moyes bought Mata and Kagawa was still struggling and looking like a ghost of his Dortmund days. And this last few games they have started to show that they make a much better partnership than Rooney or Van Persie as Mata has 80 touches last game, Where as RVP and Rooney make about 4 passes per match to each other. And the style of play they bring to us is so much more pleasing than the longball and cross reliant system we have suffered under all season. Note that under our current system players like Young and Valencia have played almost 30 games each and yet have managed single figure assists between them all season. Juan Mata since January almost offers the same assist rates as both players nevermind Shinji Kagawa.

Wayne Rooney being the slow multiple touch hollywood passer he is simply holds up the play and gets in the way of any fluid one touch Mata Kagawa link ups in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. The only way to get him or RVP out of the problem was to my mind was play one up front alone and sell the other. Obviously we would dream of being a club with enough talent and trophies to have the luxury of rotating Wayne and Robin on a per game basis but it seems unlikely to be something neither player would accept right now, Although it should be noted that a defiant manager has both tied down to career ending contracts.

United already have a plethora of talented forward players like Mata and Kagawa and many sub standard who can leave to regenerate spending power, And aided by a formation which enables you to pack the midfield area it would leave United the luxury of being able to concentrate thier summer transfer window on finding an securing two world class midfield players and be able to offer them guaranteed week in week out starting places in thier natural positions.

Terry Venables and Christian Gross used this formation during their time in charge of Tottenham Hotspur. Since then the formation has lost its popularity in England.[citation needed] It is however most known for being the formation Carlo Ancelotti utilised on and off during his time as a coach of Milan.

In this approach, the middle of the three central midfielders act as a playmaker while one of the attacking midfielders plays in a free role. However, it is also common for the three midfielders to be energetic shuttlers, providing for the individual talent of the two attacking midfielders ahead.The "Christmas Tree" formation is considered a relatively narrow formation and depends on full-backs to provide presence in wide areas. The formation is also relatively fluid. During open play, one of the side central midfielders may drift to the flank to add additional presence.

4-3-2-1
Pros: in theory, allows greater control of games with the extra man in the middle. It plays to teams strengths in the middle – there is going to be fierce competition for midfield places in the squad.

Famous example are Milan and Ancelotti: http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/01/22/teams-of-the-decade-14-milan-2002-07/

Here Gareth Southgate does a peice on defending against the 4-3-2-1: http://performance.fourfourtwo.com/tactics/defending-against-a-4-3-2-1

 

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Note how apart from Van Persie not being featured all our players and two new midfielders are all in thier natural positions. You will also note how this formation has three midfield players over the 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 linked below.

Out of the front four players only Van Persie is in his natural position. Midfield weakened by two covering midfielders and only room for one more player unless Carrick leaves as well which is unlikely.

Again a weaker two man midfield with two players out of position in roles they lack attributes for in Kagawa and Mata. This lineup does again feature two strikers but as we have seen all season long sadly they are no partnership.

 

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Yes i based the lineup on the 2014/2015 season.

Evra has seemed content and his experience might just be needed for one last season Gilly, Although his agent stated this week things have changed and look up the rumors of United about to seal a deal for Luke Shaw for £27 million. Honestly i would put our money into the two new players in midfield and rely on a bad backline for a season as Jones and Smalling and Carrick and Evans can all play there. I see it as a sacrifice in a transition to finally sort out the rest of the team.

Also the English balance and formation choice, Its a highly technical and posession based formation so apart from Rooney and Carrick you lack UK players in the first 11 and going forward after Carrick you have Rooney Jones and Smalling not a lot is it? I think we are going to have to take it on the chin for a season or two to see if Smalling can make the grade because looking to England in 5 years after Terry and Cahill who do you see as the back 4 for England? Shaw Smalling Jones Walker? Or do you see John Stones overtaking Smalling? This is something worth investing in for a season as take a look at the back four of the other teams.


Also Gilly United have quite a few midfielders for 3 in midfield alongside Mata and Kagawa. We have Cleverley, Fellaini, Fletcher, Carrick and we had Anderson. This is why we should put every single penny we have this summer into two new players in midfield and if the opportunity arrives Luke Shaw as well. Then the season after we will have our team sorted apart from defence and we can assess it then and deal with it. It is only one more season at most which is nothing just think of the benefits if it came off having 3 of Englands back four. The last team i remember doing this is Chelsea and Arsenal and we all remember the famous Arsenal team.

The reason a lot of Utd fans dont like it is because Utd are known for their flying wingers and it will take time for the fan base to accept a different formation.

Its fair to say the game , and in particular the top division in England, has changed enough so that wingers may not be an ideal way to move the team forward.

Personally I think this summer is an ideal time to sell RvP (even if the club only get £10-15m for him for remaining 2 years of his contract) and base the new team around Rooney up top with Kagawa and Mata behind him in tandem.

Several "mistakes" on the formations above however;

1) Evra HAS to be replaced this summer. By all means keep Buttner, but Utd need a flying full back (if we are to base the new team around 4-3-2-1 formation) that has the legs to get back, which Evra unfortunately doesnt have.

I also wouldnt base the centre halfs around Jones and Smalling - both are far too injury prone currently (and have been for a couple of years). They may well become the pairing in the future but its too early to take that risk just yet. Evans + an experienced player to come in is the way to go forward imo.

Team also needs one or two good quality CM's as well.

Really hoping Kagawa can get enough games before the end of the season to prove his ongoing worth to Moyes as Utd are finally seeing exactly what he can do for the team (although a little more bulk might not go amiss)


No point putting mata or Kagawa out wide, it doesnt get the best out of each player.

I have listed new players in the formations mate and how you can only fit in two new midfielders in the Christmas Tree. As for the wingers they only get around the fullback for crosses or cut into the original position of Kagawa Mata anyways. And there is no goal behind the fullback, Nor do we posess tall players in Rooney or RVP for crosses. Kagawa Mata are not wasted on the wings either. You can see from each three formations the pro and con of each one and how many new players you can fit in and where.