Formation, Tactics and what not., 4-4-2 Diamond with Rui Costa ? Options

[Orange_Hitman]

This thread is to discuss what formation is most adapted to our squad considering all the new signings :

Despite Antoine Kombouare's reluctance to give up his precious 4-4-2 last season, one can not but think he will be forced to change his formation towards a 4-2-3-1 adapted specifically for Pastore.

However with the latter's delayed vacation, and Hoarau's regain of form during this summer transfer window, we will most likely start the season with the following 4-4-2 :

---------------------------Sirigu-------------------------
Jallet-------Bisevac---------------Sakho---------Tiene
--------------------------Matuidi-------------------------
------------------------Chantome-----------------------
Menez-----------------------------------------------Nene
------------Gameiro---------------Hoarau--------------

Some uncertainties remain :
- Will Menez be fit by next weekend ? If not what are the alternatives ?
- Ceara or Jallet ? The latter have the advantage considering the Brazilian has only partaken in 1 test game, because he was recovering from injury during the summer. However, the competition will be fierce for the starting Right Back spot.
- Chantome or Bodmer ? Both players have impressed last year and in the friendly pre-season games, however the former seems more fit and have the adequate skills to cover this position in the 4-4-2, Bodmer being more of a traditional slow play-maker.

[Varino]

More than a formation, I feel like it's a philosophy, a style that Kombouaré wants his team to follow. We saw glimpses of it 2 years ago, it was definitely here last year during the first half of the season, and now the recruitment is following the same pattern.

- Players with good technical skills, capable of moving intelligently on the field according to their partners movement. Quickness is appreciated but speed and physical strength are not required. This is visible even with the profile of the defensive players recruited (namely Matuidi and Bisevac).
- Team possession, although so far a lot of the goals have been scored on counter-attack. Something I expect to change this year as we improved our attack.
- High number of passes, a caracteristic of the jeu à la nantaise Kombouaré learnt under Suaudeau. That is why technical players are prefered to pure athletes.
- Mobile players moving around the field. This is particularly true with the offensive player, and something you cannot separate from the Nantes passing style.

We have only seen short sequences of this last year, it takes some time to develop, but I expect the team to use this style a lot more in the future with players like Gameiro, Matuidi, Pastore and Menez all good technicians adding to the Nenes, Chantomes, Bodmers...

No matter what formation is chosen, 4-4-2, 4-3-1-2, 4-2-3-1, I feel like we will see a variation of this style of play, or at least that's what Kombouaré wants to achieve.