Fernando Torres Ultimate XI

[EnigMattic1]

OK, I've just watched a video on YouTube where Torres picks his Ultimate XI. He described it as "like a 3-5-2", yet it lined up more like a 3-3-3-1. I am curious as to how people would interpret his lineup. 

Gk - Oblak

DC - Puyol, Terry, Godin

DM - Xabi Alonso, Mascherano, Xavi

MC/AM - Iniesta, Gerrard, Villa

SC - Torres

Now, he said Villa was a striker, yet was positioned out wide, much like in his Barca days, Iniesta was on the right of Gerrard and there didn't seem like there was much in terms of wing play. He also stated that he built this team with the goal of getting as many assists to the SC(himself) as possible. 

[dazza11]

id say its a bit of a shambles and hope he never becomes coach of my club!

if he wants to insist on 3 players in the dm zone then id set it all up something like this 

 

                                                       SKs Oblak

           CDd  Puyol                    CDd Godin                  BPDd Terry

                DLPs Alonso               HB Mascherano         RPM   Xavi

                                                    CMA or bbm   Gerrard

       APA or IWS   Iniesta                                                  IFA Villa

                                                   AF  Torres

Its playmaker overkill but then any team will be with alonso/xavi/iniesta - rarely did they succeed in playing together for Spain for that very reason. 

[EnigMattic1]

4 hours ago, dazza11 said:

id say its a bit of a shambles and hope he never becomes coach of my club!

if he wants to insist on 3 players in the dm zone then id set it all up something like this 

 

                                                       SKs Oblak

           CDd  Puyol                    CDd Godin                  BPDd Terry

                DLPs Alonso               HB Mascherano         RPM   Xavi

                                                    CMA or bbm   Gerrard

       APA or IWS   Iniesta                                                  IFA Villa

                                                   AF  Torres

Its playmaker overkill but then any team will be with alonso/xavi/iniesta - rarely did they succeed in playing together for Spain for that very reason. 

Yeah, I know. There would appear to be a huge gap in the middle of the pitch though because, going by his descriptions, Alonso, Masch and Xavi were dm, whereas Gerrard was amc, Iniesta alongside him and Villa out wide. Now, I can't really see Masch getting forward, and both Alonso and Xavi are better suited to sitting deep. It seems weird having Iniesta that high though. 

However, 

Could a tactic like this, irrelevant of players Torres chose, actually work? I mean, you could have at least one of the DMC as a Segundo Volante to get someone forward, but width would bother me. 

[skyline72]

Iniesta would be the perfect Mezzala. 

[dazza11]

47 minutes ago, EnigMattic1 said:

Yeah, I know. There would appear to be a huge gap in the middle of the pitch though because, going by his descriptions, Alonso, Masch and Xavi were dm, whereas Gerrard was amc, Iniesta alongside him and Villa out wide. Now, I can't really see Masch getting forward, and both Alonso and Xavi are better suited to sitting deep. It seems weird having Iniesta that high though. 

However, 

Could a tactic like this, irrelevant of players Torres chose, actually work? I mean, you could have at least one of the DMC as a Segundo Volante to get someone forward, but width would bother me. 

I’ve Previously done a 433 using one hb and two voluntes, but you really have to push the defensive line up otherwise there is just a huge gap in the midfield. 
what about if you brought the wide players into the ml/r positions instead of aml/r and moved the amc into 2nd striker?

something like 

 

                         Sks    
   Bpd (d).        Cd (d).        Bpd (d)

          Vol (s).    Hb.         Vol (a)

w (a).                                            W (s)

            AF.            Dlf/pf (s) 

bpd’s set to stay wider, set defensive width to wider as well. 
higher defensive line

positive mentality, shorter passing, maybe focus through middle as a starter

got me intrigued now, might have to give fm20 one last roll of the dice