There has been a lot said recently regarding the return of set pieces and long throw-ins in the elite levels of football. While possession with a purpose still has a place, is moving the ball forward quicker now the preferred style? In recent seasons, Notts have employed three at the back and two wingbacks and we have enjoyed some success playing that way. In more recent times particularly the wingbacks have been less effective going forward and usually aren’t the best defenders. Would we be benefit from a four four two formation? Going to a back four with two full backs that can defend and still have the option to overload down the flanks when required. The four across the middle could include either one or two who could play as wingers or or attacking midfielders and two up front, one of which could double as a ten. Or could it be it doesn't matter what formation we use, just need good players with the right mentality and the desire to win!

There’s a saying that what goes round comes round, who’d have thought that Premier League Clubs would be adopting long throw ins but now it’s come back in fashion across the leagues, so I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see 4-4-2 come back.

I certainly would look at different formations in the future. A 4-4-2 would be worth looking at or even a 4-5-1 for away games

As I have said in other threads, Notts have never really got to grips with how other teams set up against us. They allow Notts to have the possession & just sit back employing the high press against us & just wait for the Notts mistake when Notts give the ball away, which they always do during most matches.

I would prefer a more direct approach & I would also consider Notts playing a counter attacking game, especially when they are playing away.

I don't think that Notts should drastically change the formation mid season because the players are used to what they are doing, & I think it would be too disruptive mid season.

It could be tweaked a little such as going to a back four occasionally or two up front, but a major change would be better planned at the start of a season.

We’ve played with a variation of a 3-5-2 (3-4-2-1) for years now and it’s worked for us so far. Also when you look at the teams that were promoted last season Bradford, Port Vale and Wimbledon all played some variation of a 3-5-2 as well.

Every formation has its strengths and weaknesses, I think the 4-4-2 covers the pitch well but you can be overrun in midfield if you face a team that plays with 3 centre mids or a box midfield. With the 3-4-2-1 we are very solid in central areas but it demands a lot of the wing-backs because they almost have to do the job of two players and they sometimes get pinned in if facing a full back and a winger.

I’m not overly concerned with the formation, I think it works well for how we want to play, the two attacking midfielders and two central midfielders mean we should be able to get a lot of control in the middle of the pitch and dominate. Sometimes I just wish the wing-backs play a tad higher, they were really deep under Stuart and that seems to have followed on with Martin. Maybe Luke Williams has warped my mind as to how wing-backs should play (because under him they were basically wingers!)

I think the approach to how you play is probably more important to us and that is to be brave (not sit too deep) play forward and be relentless with the press to pin-teams in. We’ve done it in phases and stages this season, just in the last two matches the intent and bravery hasn’t quite been there for me but there's no reason to suggest we can't get back into a positive approach.

Top post @menzinho 

These days I think a radical change of formation is a summer thing or an act of a struggling, desperate team. Our squad has been assembled and prepared for 3-4-2-1 this season. As you said it's served us well since 2021. The variations can come from 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2, the height of the wingbacks and many other subtle moves the coach can make.

And there's the thing that always seems to happen on the rare occasions we've played with a back 4 or something different, the players look really unfamiliar with it and the impression given is that they think the formation is being evaluated and not them.