The 4-6-0

I was speaking to a colleague at work yesterday about how, if we didn’t get Edison Cavani; as long as we got Isco we’d be MORE than 'okay' going into the season with Aguero, Dzeko, Guidetti and, hopefully, Tevez.

I then went for my dinner break and the papers were full of City all-but giving up on signing the Napoli striker...and how a kind of Barcelona-style 4-6-0 could possibly be adopted by Manuel Pellegrini. Bloody press copycats…

But what if Tevez goes?

Of course if Tevez does decide he wants to move on to pastures new I personally think we need to replace him with a quality striker. And so if Cavani ISN’T joining us, that would have to be someone of the likes of Steven Jovetic, Gonzalo Higuaín (a possible target for Arsenal?), Robert Lewandowski (staying at Dortmund or, again, possibly going to Arsenal?), Mario Gomez or Stephen El Shaarawy.

But assuming, for a moment, that we start the season with our current 4 strikers (including, as I say, John Guidetti), as long as we do sign creative midfielder Isco, I for one are absolutely fine with this...more than a little excited in fact.

Not only am I convinced that under Pellegrini we’ll see a much better season from both Aguero & Tevez (tremendous quality strikers themselves let’s not forget) but I think this’ll be John Guidetti’s big chance under our new Manager. Enough has already been said about how a change in system – and introduction of at least one new winger – will benefit Dzeko greatly…and I totally agree.

So…Isco in, Cavani not in and all 4 City strikers ‘staying put’; have a look at these tasty formations.

4-5-1 / 4-2-3-1

____________________Dzeko____________________

Isco_________________Silva________________Navas

 

_________Fernandinho___________Toure___________

 

 

Clichy_______Nastasic_______Kompany_______Zabaleta

 

 

______________________Hart______________________

 

Not working? Need to change it?

4-3-2-1 / 4-3-3

____________________Dzeko____________________

 

_____Aguero_________________________Tevez_____

 

 

__________Isco_____Fernandinho_____Silva________

 

 

Clichy_______Nastasic_______Kompany_______Zabaleta

 

 

______________________Hart______________________

Or how about…

4-1-4-1

____________________Dzeko____________________

 

 

 

Nasri___________Isco________Silva__________Navas

 

__________________Fernandinho__________________

 

 

Clichy_______Nastasic_______Kompany_______Zabaleta 

 

 

______________________Hart______________________

Not working? Need to change it?

4-4-2 

_______________Aguero_______Tevez_______________

 

 

 

Isco_________Fernandinho____Toure___________Navas

 

 

Clichy_______Nastasic_______Kompany_______Zabaleta

 

 

______________________Hart______________________

Missing personnel

 

Of course I’ve not even included a whole host of Defenders; neither have I included Barry, Garcia, Rodwell, Milner, Sinclair or, indeed, John Guidetti. But you get the idea and I hope that, like me, you can see the potential for so many options and so much creativity & goals without the need to spend £52M on one striker.

In fact, if we were to sign Angel De Maria as WELL as Isco, then we could well see a 4-6-0 formation being deployed by Pellegrini. I'm not sure Aguero, Dzeko, Guidetti & Tevez would approve though…