It’s that time again… time to play mad scientist and draw crazy formations using our beloved Celeste. This time though I’m using 3 formations that are ultra-defensive with an eye on the 2010 World Cup. So I’m going with a 5-4-1 formation, a 3-3-1-3 formation and finally a 4-6-0 formation. Sure these are bizarre formations that will never see the light of day, but they should be pondered nonetheless.

The 5-4-1 or the “Blue Cheese Formation”

Not to be confused with the 4-5-1 formation (see recent entry written by FourThreeThree) this is the lineup I would go with against France, it would employ the “double-five” (Gargano & Perez) albeit a short double-five. There’s no offensive creator but who needs one right? Cebolla on the Left & Lodeiro on the right have complete and total freedom to create on the fly while Forlan is left upfront and forced into a striker role. You still utilize the fullbacks, like Caceres & Pereira. Defensively though you can add 3 in the back and not worrying about leaving them undermanned. Coates & Scotti could play alongside Lugano to protect the back. While the Fullbacks would move up (and they would if Caceres & Maximiliano Pereira are the starters) the three that are left behind are all brawn. Should France be in an attacking mode Uruguay’s 5 defenders can turn this match into a goal-less bore but give us the “golden point.”

The 4-6-0 “The Parreira Formation”

How fitting that Uruguay use the very formation Carlos Alberto Parreria (see above picture) warned way back in 1994 would be the formation of the future. Alvaro Pereira sneaks into the lineup, allowed to go all the way upfront if needed. Cebolla is placed closer to the central midfield but allowed to go up if needed, you can still use Diego Perez in the middle (or Gargano if that’s your Yerba Maté) with Lodeiro acting as a wannabe distributor but with the freedom to attack via the right. The other Pereira, “El Mono” would also be allowed to move up to spell relief for Lodeiro. The back four would include Caceres, Coates, Lugano & Fucile. In fact, I’m keeping the “Porto three” intact (Alvaro Pereira, Cebolla Rodriguez & Jorge Fucile) and you’d be a fool not to use these three guys who play all the time at Porto together. Despite the sacrifice of the so-called centre-forward, I think Uruguay could score at least one on South Africa using this formation.

The Unorthodox 3-3-1-3

Not exactly the “Urulona” formation championed by Ruben & Nico. This one is really a variation of the 4-3-3, this formation like the above one would also strip Uruguay of a playmaker like Nacho or Cannobio. Instead I’m going with the same back three from the previous above-formation against France; Coates, Lugano & Scotti — these guys are not moving up, in fact the only movement allowed would be horizontal coverage. I’m getting rid of Caceres for this lineup formation though, I’m going instead with Alvaro Pereira, Diego Perez in the middle as the de-facto “Cinco” & Mono Pereira on the right. Only Mono & Palito would be allowed to move up without having to force these guys to go all the way back. My lone playmaker would be Alvaro Fernandez but not really since I wouldn’t ask him to distribute the ball, merely to keep the ball in play, a pass here, a pass there and then we can concentrate on the offense. I got Cebolla, Forlan & Lodeiro, aka the Puntero trifecta. I’m thinking this formation could work well against a team like Mexico in the World Cup, drive them crazy with our “Camouranesi” (Alvaro Pereira) and our “Gattuso” (Mono Pereira). Lets say you don’t like Alvaro Fernandez, fine replace him with Jorge Martinez. Whose our offensive creator though? Lodeiro who would be allowed to go anywhere on the field, since Mono can zip up if necessary. This formation would protect guys like Forlan & Lodeiro and free them up to pick apart an opposing opponent’s defense. While Cebolla could also create on the left but protected by Alvaro Pereira on the left. Lets say one of these guys is suspended or injured by the time we get to Mexico, fine, Japo Rodriguez could replace Cebolla, Cavani can replace Forlan, Suarez can substitute for Lodeiro, I already mentioned Martinez as a replacement for Flaco Fernandez, while Caceres can replace Alvaro Pereira, Gargano can jump in for Perez, Fucile for Mono. Defensively though Godin, Valdez & Victorino (If you want to take them) would replace the Coates, Lugano & Scotti back-three. Muñoz or Carini can replace Muslera.

My final 23 Man Roster:

Basically I’m going with more defenders than play-makers, again why take play-makers who can’t pass and scorers who can’t score.? Why waste a spot on dead weight when you can load the team with defensive muscle and scrape Uruguay into the 2nd round. Diego Forlan, Cebolla Rodriguez, Diego Perez, Nicolas Lodeiro, Maximiliano Pereira, Alvaro Pereira, Martin Caceres, Sebastian Coates, Alvaro Fernandez, Diego Lugano, Jorge Fucile, Fernando Muslera, Jorge Rodriguez, Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez, Jorge Martinez, Andres Scotti, Mauricio Victorino, Diego Godin, Sebastian Eguren, Walter Gargano, Carlos Diogo & Fabian Carini. While for some reason you’re supposed to take 3 goalkeepers, why bother, take an extra defender (Diogo). Muslera & Carini should be fine with Muslera as the starter.

   

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