I am a die hard 4-3-3 fan, and I love a team designed to be a high powered offense!!!! however part of me would like to see Rutgers try a 4-4-2 with their current chess players, at least some if the time. This would allow Ali and LaPlant to be more creative, to both stay higher and potentially expend less energy on defense and more on offense because there would be more players holding, mid fielders could challenge the outlet passes from the back and the forwards would essentially stay high and be working to get free as soon as Rutgers gains possession and then the team moves forward together. While the current system is designed to prevent service from the first 1/3 rd of the field, rarely does it ever result in quality offensive pressure, partially because we always play back first but also because the forwards cannot recover and are frankly spent. Of course the intent is just that, defense, and it obviously works, let's face it Rutgers doesn't lose and they have the best defense in the Country at all 11 positions!!!! It would however be nice to get away from OT and ties. I think LaPlant is as gifted as Ali, technically, tactically, and athletically, she has as much if not more closing speed, but with this system, you almost can't have both effective defense and a high powered offensive, it's sometimes at moments in the game one or the other. Which is why we prevent so many goals but often score less. This team has the talent to light up the scoreboard with Ali and LaPlant. Often Ali is the highest player alone when she gains possession. In a 4-4-2 the top 2 players work very closely and combine in smaller spaces with a lot of combination play, this also allows runs from the week side by mid fielders and backs, opening up the game. Having 2 players higher may allow a quicker attack in transition as well, basically you're expending more energy moving to create offense as opposed to moving to defend. I like the idea of winning 3 or 4 to 1 as opposed to tying or winning 1-0. I feel like having Tierny a little more withdrawn would give Rutgers more speed and numbers in the mid field and take defensive responsibility off Ali and LaPlant so they can do what they do, apply pressure and score goals, basically that's what they would do, save energy to attack and play offense. Then again, this could also mean those 2 players may at times have to play more defensively because there's only 2 up top, which could be counter productive, it's all about design and intent. This can be done in a 4-3-3 as well, but it means the formation must constantly morph, sometimes looking like a 4-4-2, a 4-5-1, 3-3-4, 3-2-5, etc.... and the forwards would constantly be changing positions which would also allow for more recuperation, designed to allow recovery. It can be done, but is much more complicated, yet very dynamic and difficult to defend. Just a few thoughts. The good thing is the team looks very solid offensively this year when all cylinders are firing.
