Formations & Tactics

[Paddy]

GK: J. Ruddy

LB: Hammell
RB: Moutaouakil
RCB: Craigan
LCB: Reynolds

CM: Hately
CM: Forbes
CM: Coke

LWF: Slane
RSS: O'Brien
CF: Sutton

Corner Kicks: O'Brien (right) Hammell (left)
Free Kicks: Forbes
Free Kick 2: Hammell
Penalty Kicks: Forbes.

[clinon]

Porter plays for Derby County

[Paddy]

*FacePalm*

I meant to write Sheridan

[clinon]

This formation needs an update

[Paddy]

Do you want to make it?

[PMC]

lemme know when u guys do Ruddy

[konstantinl]

Jim Gannon tends to tweak his tactics depending on the opposition but generally Motherwell have lined up in a 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation with two wide attacking players tracking back when defending.

Both our wing backs (right side Moutaouakil, left side Hammell) are both very attack minded and often find themselves over lapping with the wide attacking players, this can leave gaps at the back when the opposition counter attacks.

Ruddy is the first choice goalkeeper with Yassin Moutaouakil and Stevie Hammell at wing back. Mark Reynolds plays on the left centre back position leaving the right centre back position to Steven Saunders, Shaun Hutchinson or Stephen Craigan.

The midfield trio looks to be fairly well established with Tom Hateley playing in a sort of anchor man role, Giles Coke at right centre midfield and Ross Forbes at left centre. Of the two centre midfielders Forbes is the more likely to go forward and has already scored 7 goals this season.

The centre forward is normally John Sutton and Jim O'Brien usually plays as one of the wide attackers. Paul Slane looked to have claimed a place on the left wing but got injured and has only recently returned to training. If Slane plays O'Brien will play on the right, however if Slane is out the side O'Brien plays on the left with either Jamie Murphy or Lukas Jutkiewicz playing on the right side. When Lukas Jutkiewicz plays he plays closer to Sutton than Murphy who will stay out on the touch line. Chris Humphreys can also play this role but usually comes on as a substitute.

The team line up then will be something like this

RUDDY - MOUTAOUAKIL, CRAIGAN (or SAUNDERS or HUTCHINSON), REYNOLDS, HAMMELL - COKE, HATELEY, FORBES - O'BRIEN (or MURPHY or JUTKIEWICZ), SUTTON, SLANE (or O'BRIEN).

Corner Kicks are taken by O'Brien (right/left) or by Hammell (left)
Free Kicks are taken by Forbes or Hammell.
Penalty Kicks are taken by Forbes.

[Paddy]

Thats a great 1st post man! Keep it up!

[konstantinl]

Update on Motherwell formations.

There have been several permutations but the current and seemingly quite successful formations is as follows.

Randolph plays in goal. Right full back is Tom Hateley and left full back is Stevie Hammell. Under McCall the full backs have more defensive duties than as mentioned above under Gannon. They will still get forward but usually to support rather than overlap the midfielders. On the right side of the two centre back position is Shaun Hutchinson, while on the left is either Stephen Craigan or Tim Clancy. Stephen Craigan has held the position for most of the season but Tim Clancy has recently deposed him.

In midfield the wide right position is held by Jamie Murphy. He plays as a right winger when in possession but when the side is attacking down the opposite wing he often makes runs into the box playing almost as an additional striker. On the left side of the midfield is Nicky Law. Law is more of a wide midfielder than a winger and less aggressive than Murphy at getting to the byline or running at defenders but he works well with Ojamaa (see below). The central midfield partnership is Keith Lasley and Steve Jennings. Generally Steve Jennings plays to the right side, Keith Lasley to the left side of central midfield. Steve Jennings is more defensive minded, rarely joining attacks. Keith Lasley, a better player on the ball than Jennings, has some licence to get further forward, often lingering around the front third and hitting shots from 20 to 30 yards out, a number of which have hit the back of the net in spectacular fashion.

Upfront Michael Higdon is the main striker. He is not the most mobile but is strong in the air and acts as a target man holding the ball up and laying it off to players with better technique. Worth noting that due to his strong aerial ability Higdon often comes back to defend corner kicks or set pieces. The second striker is Henrik Ojamaa. He generally plays to the left of Higdon, often drifting wide left so that when the side is attacking the 4-4-2 can turn into 4-3-3 or a 4-2-4 with Murphy coming inside on the right and Ojamaa moving outside on the left to give a three pronged attack. When Ojamaa drifts left this sometimes allows Nicky Law to come inside from left midfield and become an attacking midfielder who makes a run into the centre.

McCall has generally not used many fringe players sticking to a small band of trusted players but others that feature include Chris Humphrey, mainly used as an impact substitute due to his blistering pace. Humphrey plays right wing. Omar Daley is another attacking option. He is versatile and can play any forward position but is mainly used as a winger, left or right, but has also played up front or as a support striker. Occasionally McCall will use youngsters McHugh and Carswell. McHugh is a stocky centre forward, Carswell a defensive minded midfield player. The highly promising defender Steven Saunders has been injured for almost all of the season.

Almost all set pieces are taken by Tom Hateley, right and left corners and free kicks. Stevie Hammell is most likely to step in should Hateley not be on the pitch to take them. Michael Higdon is the penalty taker.