Billionaire oligarch Roman Abramovich will have seen a few diamonds in his time. Thanks to his latest managerial appointment at Chelsea, he is observing a new one, and on initial inspection, it may be to his liking.
In the spirit of pre-season hype, much has been written about Carlo Ancelotti’s favoured diamond system. On paper, the formation seems a little narrow, with an over-reliance on overlapping full backs to provide width. In practice, we are seeing that it is an impressively fluid system, and in no small part, that is down to the embarrassment of riches the Italian has inherited in midfield.
If width is required, he can call upon the much-improved Florent Malouda, in addition to Kalou, Zhirkov and (if and when fit) Joe Cole. For tighter occasions, Ballack and Deco may be preferred. Either way, it seems Ancelotti will rotate his options in midfield according to the opponent and match situation.
Make no mistake, Ancelotti will be no ‘Tinkerman’. Expect to see the irrepressible spine of Cech, Terry, Lampard and Drogba on the vast majority of team sheets.
The early signs are extremely encouraging – Roman may have found his diamond geezer. However, a word of caution.
This time last year, Deco was shining in the late summer sun, and Luis Felipe Scolari was charming all whose path he crossed. While Deco tries to establish himself again, ‘Big Phil’ is now managing the mighty FC Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan. As Greavsie’s said so sagely, it’s a funny old game.
Listening to the Times podcast last night, Patrick Barclay made the very valid point that this ‘diamond’ formation is nothing new. Many commentators are in wonder of it as a tactical innovation – but Barclay pointed out that in fact, it was the formation used by Alf Ramsey in England’s World Cup winning side of 1966! (Stiles, Charlton, Peters, Ball). Strange how these things come around… 2-4-4 will be back in vogue next.
Yes, I think in no small part the hullabaloo is just press hype. In the Fulham game, Ballack tucked in a lot and Anelka drifted out right, especially early in the game. So in reality, it was pretty much the 4-3-3/4-5-1 favoured by Mourinho.
The difference is that Ancelotti seems keen to pair two strikers – Anelka and Drogba – week-in-week-out, which is an exciting prospect for Chelsea fans, if not opposition centre backs…
Does it say Chelsea in your passport now Walker?
Death of football….harumppph
Who is this Paul Lancester? Can we get him blocked? How many goals in Emnes on remind me…
Good god, have you chaps nothing more interesting to discuss? Don’t you know that the big one is on Sky tonight. I have already got the Becks (thats the beer, not the striker, he’s playing) in the fridge and the pizza man booked for half time. Yes, Leeds United v Grimsby in the JPT cup game @ 7-45, be still my beating heart. Forecast LUFC 6 GT 0. I can hardly wait, this is REAL football, mate