Time to bin 4-3-3

By Chris Kirwan
December 5 2002

Last nights loss to Chelsea was another example of Everton’s failure to get to grips to the 4-3-3 system. Despite the fact that Moyes has 3 top quality forwards in Campbell, Radzinski, and Rooney it has become apparent that the system does not suit the players that Moyes has at his disposal.

The system meant that the Blues never had control of the game; the ball was lost to often as a result of the desire to get quick ball to the front three, and when Campbell did win the ball he had no options in the form of wide midfield players or overlapping full-backs. Campbell is a striker who operates best when he has a fellow forward on his shoulder, and too often last night he was rendered useless courtesy of the excellent Gallas and Terry.

Moyes has built Everton’s success on a quartet of hard working midfielders, but too often in the 4-3-3 formation Gravesen, Li Tie, and Pembridge (and later Naysmith) were outfought and failed to win the loose ball. Moyes was forced into dropping Radzinski and Rooney deep, but this only served to limit Campbell further.

Of course Moyes was forced into changing the system due to the personnel he had available, but on Saturday he will have to find somebody to plug the gap on the right flank. Whoever plays on the right will need to help the Blues get back to the work ethic that has brought the recent success, and restrict the space in which Zola was allowed to excel. It has become apparent that the Blues work best as a team when playing in the simple but effective 4-4-2, and hopefully they can return to winning ways on Saturday.

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