retired_adpdawn

hi, i'm valencia and i'm thinking of using a 4-2-3-1 formation with David Villa as striker. the only problem is that i am not sure how to get the best out of him, so i thought you guys might be kind and help me out here. the reason why i'm using this tactic is that i want to be in control of the midfield.
any help would be very appreciated(sp?)

thanks

retired_InTraining1976

Take advantage of his speed and play long balls/crosses in front of him. He'll have to beat a couple of guys, but he can usually do it.

I like having my wingers going forward (farrow to wide striker), so that may help.

run with ball/forward runs: often. crossing/long shots/through balls: rarely. tackling: easy. mentality: all offense. creative freedom: max. passing style: shortest. closing down: never.

retired_mthead

I also play 4-2-3-1

I would disagree with the above, Villa doesn't have the heading ability to finish off crosses so I wouldn't suggest instructing your wingers to deliver them too frequently (I have a good understanding of this from using Rooney and Tevez in the lone ST position).

Ideally Villa should be set up as a target man and the team instructed to supply him with the 'run onto ball option'. If you look at Villa's ppm's then he is ideal for this.

However, if the opposition is playing a deep defensive line then Villa will struggle to have success - if this is the case then I would turn his forward runs to rarely, run with ball to often and set target man supply 'to feet' so as to make use of his good dribbling skills to run at defenders - long shot could also be quite good in this case too.

If you wouldn't mind keeping this thread going then I'd be interested to know what setting you find successful in this formation - and of course how Villa gets on...

retired_adpdawn

thanks.

i will try this and let you know how it goes. hopefully it'll go well..

but thanks anyway.

retired_adpdawn

Thanks
I followed your advice james8 and so far Villa has played 8 games and scored 7 goals. i think it's more than OK...