After four games I think we've all more or less formed an idea of what this team is capable of. Our strengths, our weaknesses, the areas of potential growth etc. So, what is in your opinion the formation Pippo can play based on what you've seen so far?

Obviously the player choices can be different, I just went with the most popular ones (like Rami and Alex as CBs). Also I believe we can all agree that Menez and Honda are best utilized as free roamers behind the striker in choices 2 and 3, but another option would be for Honda as AM behind Menez and Torres.

Please vote and give your opinion.

PS: Move thread to Polls if possible as I can't post in there.

Kinda close to your first link, this is I believe our all-round best team:

Since Bonera will continue to start, we need a special change. Everyone at the back!

Back 3 is the way to go in Serie A IMO.

Indeed. I've always felt 3 in the back opens up a lot of possibilities. Creative possibilities up front, and you can add that extra player anywhere depending on the situation. But those three CBs have to be really good, and at least 2 of them should stay back at all time. The middle one can play as a sweeper.

Sadly, we neither have the quality, nor the stability to undergo such an adventure. If we go this route, the defense should be set in stone and don't change every other match.

First formation for me is the best choice for us I think

Oh and I'll move the thread to the polls section

It's a tricky matter. I keep having a change of heart every now and then, although in all honesty I think all three formations look good.

4-2-1-3 would allow us to have a more modern approach to the game, using attacking wingers and as well as the trequartista, plus giving enough cover to the defense with the double pivot.

4-3-2-1 is perhaps the more rational one, closest to what we've been playing, and with a more fluid midfield with Bonaventura instead of Muntari.

However, I think I'll have to agree with Kurt that a 3-man defense is perhaps the best way to go in Serie A. I actually like it a lot. It just clicks in everything. Defensive stability, use of wings and enough attacking power upfront. I just wish that if Pippo decides to go with it, he doesn't use a 5-man midfield like Juve, but 3-4-2-1 as I've put it above, because I absolutely want Menez and Honda behind Torres. I think it's more balanced as well, whereas 3-5-2 is more pragmatic and defensive-minded. Not to mention we would need different players in midfield.

So yeah, I'll give my vote to the last one this time.

I don't think we'll ever use a 3-man midfield, it might morph into it during a game when we're attacking for example, but I can't see us actually utilising such a system, and I personally wouldn't want us to as I don't think we have defenders capable of pulling it off, they're already struggling in a system which in theory they should be comfortable with, can't imagine them trying to adapt to a 3-man defensive system

Anything is possible.

Well of course, but I just don't think that will be something Pippo tries tbh

I don't want 3 at the back. I'll say that now. Milan do not use a 3 at the back and to have one that works requires astoundingly hard working wing backs plus 3 excellent CBs who have a borderline telepathic understanding with each other.

It's something you take ages to work on - we don't have that luxury of time.

Furthermore a 3 at the back requires the defenders to be particularly big and strong. Only Alex fits into that. Mexes is a liability although he is big and strong, while Rami is neither big nor strong. Zapata is physical and fast but hardly a man mountain.

Nah, 4 at the back for me.

Agree with this completely. It's why I said that I don't like a 3-man defence in the other thread, because so many factors need to be taken into account and it's a complex tactical system to actually make work

One of the fundamental problems at Milan is playing players out of positions particularly midfielder interpreting wing roles. Now Menez is an accomplished winger why not flank both him El Sharaawy and put Honda behind the striker? If one of El92/Menez is unavailable then Honda/Bona can be improvised wingers.

I know where you're coming from, but the thing is that Menez is our best player in terms of, well, everything. Speed, skills, vision etc. so Pippo wants to give him a free roaming role that can best utilize his strengths. If played on the right wing it would limit his positioning and impact (funny though how that doesn't apply to Honda for him). That's why I think a 2-1 attack with him and Honda as free roamers behind Torres would be best.

I think you're exaggerating there. Juve switched to 3-5-2 in mid-season under Conte when their 4-2-4 wasn't working, it immediately brought results. We have hard-working fullbacks, that's not a problem. Our CBs might need some time to adapt, but I don't agree that they're not "big" nor "strong" as you put it. Mexes, Alex and Rami are all that. Zapata is not big but he's very strong. Though I think we would need at least one left-footed CB for it to work properly.

That being said, I understand why some of you are skeptical about it. It's something entirely different, but that doen't mean we can't give it a try. 7 out of 20 Serie A teams already utilize it.

Well 4-2-3-1 f*cked up as well.

How about a 10:10:8:5?

It's not exactly a 4-2-3-1 though, if your wingers are Honda and Bonaventura, and your AM is Menez.

It is getting silly. Why the hell do managers refuse to play their best teams - we have a term in the UK - square pegs, round holes.

Rangers tonight got trashed by the second bottom team at home 3-1. Yes, with the CB at RB. Yes with the striker at CB. Yes, with a DM on the wing. Yes with a totally out of form CM who just keeps his place regardless. Yes with a LB at LW.

Is there some sort of obsession with never showing your opponents your full card till it's too late and you're staring down the barrel with 5 minutes to go?

I feel like Pippo (and Ally) and other managers have this notion that starting with their strongest team is in some way a sign of weakness, a sign that they're putting their cards on the table before the match has started.

Unfortunately football isn't a game of poker - you have to put your best available XI with as many players in position as possible from the start.

Otherwise you're just a Joker.

I think it's coaches trying to be too smart for their own good