Yeah it's 2-1. But I think the difference is that neither Kaka nor Ronaldinho are treqqies(excuse me bastardising) in the classic Rui Costa sense. They're goal scoring mids (Or Galliani's 'attackers' vs 'strikers' thing (IMG:
style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ). So in theory, having the stereotypical hard target man in Borriello should play to the strengths of this particular formation, as opposed to the old disastrous 4-3-2-1 which depended on a goal poacher trying to get physical with the defenders. Since the classic target man messes the defenders positioning, and often gives the mids time to get into the play.
Slightly veering off course, I was thinking about this 4-3-2-1/4-3-1-2 which we play and doing a before-after analysis with Rui in the system. Remember how we were saying Sheva was dropping in goal form when we sold him. Of course he was an effective cog in the system but he wasn't the White Ronaldo he used to be.
Before we put it down to age, I was just wondering how much of it is down to emergence of Kaka over Rui and the difference in their playing styles.
Earlier Rui used to play behind Sheva, and Rui's complete play was on making assists. He was not a natural goalscorer like Kaka. And ShevaPippo was just given stuff on a plate. This along with Seedorf and Pirlo also being creative. But with the emergence of Kaka, could we say the service line was stretched thin? Not in a negative way. But I often feel Kaka while a superb player is not a pure playmaker like Rui. He often goes for an opportunity on goal if he thinks he has a chance as opposed to Rui who's more into finding an opening to put Sheva through. How many of Sheva's goals used to be off those through balls!
Basically I think Kaka as a goalscoring mid is less likely to play with his focal point as the strikers. And similarly when Kaka is also a goalscoring threat, Seedorf and Pirlo are also less likely to keep servicing the forwards alone.
My point is, that while this change in gameplay style (without the change in formation) may not have affected Pippo's chances much, but perhaps has an impact on Sheva (him being the type of player he is). So maybe Sheva was not just dropping due to age, but also a change in tactics.
Just a thought....I'm not saying either system was better. Since we still got goals...but just a harmless analysis that's all.
Of course I don't have the stats, so this could just be a baseless theory.
This post has been edited by Jack Sparrow: Oct 24 2008, 02:53 PM