Has anyone seen a formation shaped like this before?
Basically dropping one of the wingers in a 433 and replacing them with a more defensive minded player
It is a cross between 442 diamond and a 433.
The left mid is usually an attacking left back used to nullify an oppositions very attacking right back
The right mid is basically a center mid, in a shape trying to mimic the destroyer/passer/creator shape so as not to get outnumbered in the center of the pitch
One of the strikers is more of a winger/striker capable of providing width and or tracking a fullback
When I heard Real madrid aquired the services of Coentroao and where playing on keeping Marcelo this is the shape I expected. Of course RM probably also wanted depth in the squad but nonetheless. Conetrao as the LM in response to Dani Alves?
This is not necessarily about Real madrid as I believe they have bigger problems in stopping the false 9 and the additions of Fabregas and Sanchez will complicate things.
Soo have you seen this shape before? is it effective?
It's effectiveness is bound by the talents of the AM. Some minor national teams have punched above their weights with this. Denmark with Laudrup, Romania with Hagi and Bulgaria with Stoichkov comes to mind.
I reckon that this formation could work in theory if used in an appropriate situation.
I guess Valencia have used something similair but wheree the MCr is pulled back into a DM role and the 2nd striker is pulled further out to the right.
Dunga's Brazil worked quite similar, "lopsided 4-4-2" with a terrific right-side deploying Maicon full back and Dani Alves as the right midfielder (sometimes ramires), and robinho as the left-winger, who combined pretty well with Kaká and Luis Fabiano. Also Boca Juniors team 2005-2007 worked like this, winning domestic leagues more than once and internationalt trophies. I think that this system is really fluid and cohesive, and is one of my favourites alongside the 4-6-0
Also Pekerman's Argentina 2006. Check out this amazing display of football http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGc_0cRImpE
