Problem with this is that we have to play with just one up front to accommodate the 5th midfielder and we don't have much choice for the role of lone striker, mainly because of our managers decision to include a kid he cannot play. The system is workable, but would need more time, as we discovered when we played it once recently.
I like the idea of freeing both Lampard and Gerrard with the option of not just one or the other but, often, BOTH along with Joe Cole. Good goal from SG yesterday, and although Lampard missed chances (mostly difficult ones which required a touch of luck) he does get into those positions where Owen now doesn't. His record shows that goals will come.
The best way to add this option and retain 4 midfield (better when Rooney is back) is to play a more defensive holding midfielder in the 4 and probably at the expense of Beckham. Carra playing at right back, as seems likely, makes this an even better option right now.
J Cole, Gerrard and Lampard are not slow in tracking back to defensive positions, they do it for their clubs all year, and Rooney, when fit, has a great engine and also never shirks defensive action. This should give us the fluidity which has been missing.
Ferguson once said he didn't understand all this fixation with numbers as his sides had always played 4-6. Man U did well with it. So did Arsenal and now also Chelsea. We have the players for a fluid attacking midfield, but unfortunately, not the manager to impose it.
LC
