Discussion Thread: Tactical Changes that we can consider going forward

So in the light of the loss to Swansea, I don't like the use of the current 4-4-2 with Eze and Freeman on the wings; this is a tricky one as we aren't having a fantastic season and some of our "best" players are being played out of position. I have tried to look at how a couple of our best creative outlets have been playing and how we could slot them in better.

**Ebere Eze:** He has looked great when played in a number 10 role when in behind a striker (Nakhi Wells or Tomer Hemed) but he's been put on the right wing a lot which has left our right back exposed in a 4-4-2. Often drifts inside with Freeman doing the same on the left which makes us look like a 4-2-2-2 and vulnerable on the counter. That said, he's a young player who has recently gotten a full run of games so he has a lot to learn.

**Nakhi Wells and Tomer Hemed** Really have made a difference for us, although they haven't been banging them in they have been putting other players into dangerous positions. With a little bit more luck things could have gone our way a little more recently.

**Luke Freeman** He has looked OK, but definitely not at his best of late in my opinion. Often runs into dead ends and the final ball isn't always great, although his through balls with Wells' pace have been very good and they have looked dangerous playing off of one another.

**General Tactics**

I think tactically we struggle in a 4-4-2, square pegs round holes type of deal, Luongo has been having a *very* poor season in central midfield (has not had a single good game recently imo) and paired up with Geoff Cameron there is no real creativity in the centre of midfield.

I think a change in formation may do us some good, a 4-1-2-1-2 would allow Cameron (or Scowen) to drop in to the defensive line making it easier for the right and left backs to close down the wide areas. It would also put Eze in behind the 2 strikers where he thrives. The midfield 2 would be Freeman and Luongo with Freeman playing the ball to either the strikers or Eze in the hole. Wells has shown a really incredible workrate in getting back from what I have seen, so if he is dropping deep to get the ball then we still have Hemed as a long ball option and Eze to start a counter attack higher up the pitch, thus:

-------------Lumley--------------- Rangel--Lynch--Leistner--Bidwell -------------Cameron-------------- --Luongo--------------Freeman-- ----------------Eze---------------- -------Hemed------Wells---------

The other option would be to play a 4-4-2 but with an out an out winger on the right (Pawel Wszolek or Bright Osayi-Samuel) and Eze in behind the striker up top. Either way, the experimentation couldn't really hurt as the current 4-4-2 system with both Hemed and Wells hasn't been getting goals for either of them (1 goal in 6 games between them). I feel like this addresses our lack of creativity in midfield - Eze can drop a bit deeper and look for through balls to Freeman and Wszolek, thus:

----------------Lumley--------------- Rangel---Lynch---Leistner---Bidwell Wszolek--Luongo--Cameron--Freeman ------------------Eze------------------- -----------------Wells---------------