It’s a common talking point between Charlton fans at the moment. The 4-5-1 formation has become a negative in our positive season so far.
I do hear many complaints about the formation but I also get people saying it’s working because we don’t concede as many especially away from home.
For me the formation isn’t working, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t. I just think its being played completely wrong.
The whole point of the formation is that you can defend in numbers and still attack in numbers. It’s the attacking part that we get wrong.
The defensive side of the formation works well. We do not concede as many goals and we defend really well in numbers. Players like Murphy and Holland are always there acting like centre backs. Murphy has cleared a few goals of the line this season, which could of cost us points.
Now where the formation is wrong is the attack side to it. The whole point of the formation is to have one forward who is joined by the two wingers in attack. The wingers are supposed to act as 2 extra forwards when the team goes forward. Now I have seen signs of this.
Jerome Thomas is good getting forward; Rommendahl does get forward but yet to see a final product for him. And Konchesky did very well against Fulham in that role.
But where we go completely wrong is Shaun Bartlett up front. This is nothing against Bartlett; I just think he plays the role wrong. He is often seen helping the defence out which means we have no forwards on the counter. And when the ball is in the air he goes for the flick on - but with no one to flick it to.
The solution for me is Franny Jeffers. He is known as the fox in the box and he will be always up front which is what the formation needs. Of course the other solution would be to go 4-4-2 but I can’t see Curbishley doing it this season with so many other teams using 4-5-1.
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