BWoolley wrote:
Not sure I completely understood that. You mean more a Ramsey than an Ozil type CAM?
Yup - as I understand it the 2 CMs provide cover for the CBs and the flanks as the FBs are used to get forward and provide width, and the CAM is more a midfielder / reverse B2B type rather than an AM playmaker or forward. The objective is still to have numbers and play in the opposition half but the CAM tracks back into midfield but starts from higher on the pitch.
Essentially it's still much like a 433 in terms of player types and roles, but with a pyramid midfield 3 instead of being inverted.
Key factors being the high D-line leaves little room for a DM to play between the lines, and the 4231 provides another player to provide numbers in the high press, with the CAM stepping up alongside the CF to press the CBs, and 1 CM would also go forward into the hole to provide a 5 man press and numerical overloads. The closest we've come previously was the hybrid 4213 under AW at the start of 2010-11 when we played a front 3 of RVP flanked by AA & Eduardo with Fabregas sitting at the top of a midfield pyramid. Biggest difference being that Emery reportedly likes to attack using the flanks and width with overlapping runs from the FBs, and the 2 CMs provide cover whilst the CAM supports, and the front 3 are the primary attack and aren't expected to provide cover as much as under AW.
