Why has Morinho changed to a diamond

[Maldini]

I think he's realised that the formation and style he had will only get him so far in Europe because it's kind of cautious so he's decided to take a few more risks.

[Ombudsam]

If they do play a diamond I think Cole should be at the head of it but he won't do it. I don't want them to be good anyway

[Rimbeux]

how is he gonna play it? Ballack up front with cole/robben and lampard on the side, makelelelelele holding and essien substituing when needed?

 

a five man midfield seems more balanced to me. Sheva is more than capable of playing up front alone.

 

In the CL maybe, but in the premiership, it's a job Drogba is better suited to

[WelshSpikeMikey]

It's so he can accomodate his CMs and go back to the formation that he knows best.

 

It'll probably be something like:

 

Cech, Cole, Gallas/Carvalho, Terry, Ferreira, Makelele, Essien, Ballack, Lampard, Drogba, Shevchenko

 

With Essien making way for Cole/Robben (most likely the latter) every now and then, and Lampard playing in Essien's position.

[Runehammer]

I can see them having the same problem with Lampard and Ballack as Sven had with Lampard and Stevie - I hope so anyway.

[R A Softlad]

if you crush cole you get a diamond

 

Better not let him sit too close to Lumpard then.

[Taipan]

The way I see it is this:

 

Diamond = European formation. Occasioanally in the league as well, but more often than previous seasons:

 

	   Drogba	Shevchenko
		Ballack
  Lampard	 Essien
		Makelele
Cole(?)   Terry  Carvalho   Gallas
		 Cech  

 

Points of note:

- Ballack (or whoever has that position at the tip of the diamond) has a free role in attack to go wherever he likes. It is the role Deco had at Porto;

- The other midfielders have very restricted roles and will not be able to leave their positions at all. In particular for Lampard this means he will not be able to make runs into the box which is where he gets most of his goals;

- The LB and RB have far more license to attack than in the more familiar 4-3-3 system. As there are no wingers they are expected to go forward, provide the width and deliver the crosses. Delivering the crosses is a key job for the fullbacks in this formation. Having the right footed Gallas at LB is one of the reasons Chelsea has struggled with this formation. It is also the reason Geremi (who isn't a right back) has sometimes been picked at RB ahead of Ferreira - because he is a far better crosser. He might even get a start ahead of Gallas and Ferreira.

- The best Robben and Joe Cole can hope for is a spot on the bench covering Ballack's position. Maybe a start if Ballack is injured, or if he is moved back into the Lampard/Essien positions to cover an injury. SWP has no place in this formation. If he even makes the bench it is only to make up the numbers.

 

In general the diamond packs the middle of the park with a lot of players. The two strikers will be pressing the CBs who will have no time on the ball. It does give the opposition space out wide. Opposition wingers and full backs will get some space and time on the ball. The theory is that it should be very difficult to do anything constructive with it, as when they look to get the ball back inside it is packed with Chelsea players who outnumber the opposition in that part of the field.

 

I think it is a very negative system. It tries to strangle the opposition, rather than defeat them with superior football.

Edited July 31, 2006 by Taipan

[12twelve]

I think it is a very negative system. It tries to strangle the opposition, rather than defeat them with superior football.

 

That's exactly how Porto won the bloody thing