Western Sydney Wanderers have had an issue with getting results in recent weeks.
After picking up three wins from three, including a 1-0 win against Sydney FC in a top-of-the-table derby, they fell, not managing to win a game in November.
They struggled against Brisbane Roar at home, before losing three games in a row to Western United, Melbourne City and Newcastle Jets respectively.
Against the Jets, they created chances but struggled to make use of them. They had an astonishing amount of shots (22) but only managed four on target.
So how did Markus Babbel set up his side against Newcastle Jets?
On paper, he employed a conventional 4-2-3-1 formation. His front four included Nicolai Muller in the playmaker or attacking midfielder role, Mitch Duke on the left, Bruce Kamau on the right and Kwame Yeboah up front leading the line.
But as Nicolai Muller is more of a known winger, he wasn’t playing the traditional role of a playmaker.
He was trying to get the ball in attacking pockets of space and run at his marker. Instead of coming on the ball and looking to play a pass and/or turn, he looks to attack the space in between the fullback and the centre back. This allowed Mitch Duke to cut inside and receive the ball.
However, Mitch Duke is not the most creative player and is better at using his physical attributes such as his pace and strength, meaning that the role isn’t best suited for him.
Because of Nicolai Muller being told to get forward into that space in between the centre back and the fullback, it means that they play with very few players who get on the ball deep, so it is hard to play it out from the back and they are almost playing a 4-2-4 formation.
(Photo by Nigel Owen/Action Plus via Getty Images)
This formation could work and has certainly worked before, but the way Markus Babbel plays makes it so hard for the two central midfielders. The problem against the Newcastle Jets was that they tried to keep possession and play out from the back. One of the central midfielders often dropped into the defensive line to play the ball out, a strategy used by many coaches in the A-League.
However, by doing this, it meant that there was often only one person in the line of midfield. The Wanderers then consistently tried to play the ball out onto the wing, but Duke was too far up consistently and every time Kamau got the ball, two players automatically swarmed on him, meaning he had to play it back. This made it impossible to play it out from the back, and every time they did get it into the midfield line, they were swarmed and lost the ball.
But what’s an alternative formation and style of play that can allow Markus Babbel to play out from the back?
This may sound crazy, but my solution is a 4-2-3-1 with Alexander Meier in a playmaking role. But Meier wouldn’t be a normal playmaker, having spent most of his career as a striker.
He would try and receive the ball with his back to goal, the way he plays at striker, except just further down the pitch. He is lethal in the box, and you wouldn’t want to take his height away from crosses, so he would also be told to get into the box.
The way space will open up for him in the box is by having the striker consistently drifting wide to get the ball on the wing. This would drag one or two of the centre backs over, meaning that he would be tracked by a defensive midfielder or multiple.
By doing this, it creates three different ways they can open up the play and find a shot on target.
The first way is that with the extra numbers on, for example, the right wing, the striker would drift wide. That can allow for players to combine and get the ball through the fullback, meaning space can open up for either a shot or a cutback, as seen in the video below.
Another way is just getting the ball into the box, with the illusion of the striker getting wide while the ball is on the wing confusing the defence.
The final way is that the centre defensive midfielders will need to track Meier, which could open up space in the middle of the park around the D. Keanu Baccus has hit some screamers in his time in the A-League, and placing him around the D invites another option.
Markus Babbel has a very good team of players, but the system in which he is trying to play them doesn’t suit them, and the players don’t seem to enjoy it.
He needs to change the system, and this could be the way to go.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Against Mel City in the last home game their second goal came about through very poor coverage on the right side of the defence; then when that had failed nobody was picking up inside the box. As for the third, it was classic kick and chase stuff - well they call it counter attacking at pace these days but essentially it was a long clearance good pass, run down the line, cross into the penalty area and a reasonable marksman on hand to Despatch it. The side should have been awake to the potential. We could see it from where we sit - just behind the visitors coaching box so I’m sure they were alert to it as well. Poor across the park really.
Jack George
Roar Guru
That's true, but what I was trying to say in this article is that it's not just results that are looking grim for the Wanderers. They have a gem of a goalkeeper in Daniel Lopar, but their centre-backs need to improve concentration-wise in my opinion.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
I’m not sure I understand Mr Babel’s plans except to look like Peaky Blinders. He does seem willing to experiment though so there is hope.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
really like the spine of the team (gk & cbs) they just need to tighten up a bit at the back and they'll be ok, think the main thing is hanging in there. This season is unbelievably close; a few wins on the trot and it doesnt look so bad
Jack George
Roar Guru
Markus Babbel has stated that he sees him as an eight, which he doesn't seem to want at the moment. Could you see him fit into Babbel's plans?
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Personally I want to see young Sullivan given more time on the field. He lacks experience and guidance it seems and so flits in and out of the game but when he has played well he is quick and skilful and will take on defenders and create extra space..... more game time, more experience he could be a playmaker before too long.
Jack George
Roar Guru
With a formation comes very many little tactics involved, very few teams play a formation in the exact same way. I am not really even changing the formation, it's more the way they play it, as you may have seen in the article. When you think about it, as a manager or head coach, you are in charge of a formation and the tactics behind it, and you need to find the right one for the players. Formations are not the cause of a team winning or losing, but tactics can play a big part. You could have a formation and a set of tactics that may not fit for the players involved, and that will most likely cause for you to lose, as seen with the Wanderers. In my opinion, most of the Wanderers need to improve mentally, but Babbel needs to find a system that suits them and that works. I have suggested not just a formation but the tactics as well, and although your belief may differ from mine, I think that we both can agree that something needs to change at the Wanderers. All I was doing was suggesting what could be changed.
Nemesis
Guest
I don't believe formations are the cause of teams winning, or not winning, in real football matches, played with real players and a real ball on a real pitch. As opposed to virtual football matches played by someone controlling a video game. For WSW to win, their players need to improve technically, tactically & mentally. Individually and collectively. Also, a bit of luck helps. As when they beat Sydney FC. Nothing to do with formation. Just one terrific goal, then mental toughness to defend with discipline and a lot of luck.
Jack George
Roar Guru
Completely agree. They have a lack of a 'pass master', someone who is composed on the ball and picks out the pacey wingers or strikers. Unfortunately for the defence it seems that the same problems have arisen; the back four seems to switch off at the key moment. This is unusual because the back four is completely different from the one last season, yet they still seem to switch off. But how can this issue be solved? Babbel has already tried a more conservative formation with three centre-backs, but that seemed to be even worse and they let in more goals.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Old battle over whether you like a system and so you try and fit the players to a system or whether you look at the squad and work out the formation based on your playing strengths. What I like is flexibility in approach and making good use of the bench especially where games may not be going how you want - be prepared to change it. After all,we all understand the principle of doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. On the playing side, I really thought Babbel would have developed an uncompromising pacey back four that would not give much away in the way of goals; sadly that is far from the truth. Still seeing far too many basic errors that lead to goals. Going forward and being creative is the other area of concern. To unpick defences, get around the back, make incisive runs onto incisive passes requires more than pace and passing skill and there is still a lack of players with the skill and confidence to really test defenders and have them “on the back foot”. There’s still time but it needs another look.