July 27, 2012
THE NUMBERS GAME
So, which does Backe go with on the Red Bulls? 4-4-2? 4-3-3? Or something else?

Hans Backe: "Every team defends in a 4-5-1 or a 4-4-2. There’s no teams in a 4-3-3, that’s numbers. It’s all about how you allow your players attack." Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images

By Kristian R. Dyer
BigAppleSoccer.com Contributing Editor

UPPER MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The numbers don’t mean much to Hans Backe. And it isn’t points so far this season, goals scored, goals conceded or even substitutes used (or not used). It is how his Red Bulls line up to start the game.

With Thursday’s announcement that the club has agreed to terms with Australian international Tim Cahill, the Red Bulls coach has an embarrassment of rich and options for his Starting XI. Since acquiring Sebastian Le Toux in a trade two weeks ago, New York has started games with what might best be referred to as a version of the 4-3-3. Now with Cahill, Backe has to weigh if that option still works the best.

“It’s just numbers, if you look at numbers and playing style it’s all about how you line up in the attacking game," Backe said. "Every team defends in a 4-5-1 or a 4-4-2. There’s no teams in a 4-3-3, that’s numbers. It’s all about how you allow your players attack.

“I’d say we play a 2-4-4 probably, I would say so, just to be a little bit, how to say, arrogant. Because that’s the way we attack.”

It can be unsettling for a team to switch back and forth between formations since there is a lack of continuity and much of practice is spent working on shape rather than playing together and actual training. But midfielder Joel Lindpere thought that the switch can work for the Red Bulls and perhaps even be an advantage when matching up with teams such as Real Salt Lake that they’ve traditionally struggled against.

A new look Red Bulls would be a wrinkle that other teams would have to prep for.

“I think, maybe it’s a good thing because we play different teams and different style of teams and we know from the past the kind of teams we struggle,” Lindpere said.

“We need to learn from these things. We can say we’re top of the East but the season is not over.”

But there will clearly be a personnel shuffle involved. Backe said that Lindpere can be used centrally or on the left wing and the recently acquired Le Toux can play up top or on the wing in the midfield.

Le Toux has stated a preference to lining up as a forward but is on record as saying he will play the midfield if that’s what is best for the club. Backe saw the Frenchman as versatile and an asset, but he too thought that Le Toux was best as a striker. If that’s the case, then the Red Bulls would likely take the field with three strikers in Le Toux, Thierry Henry and Kenny Cooper.

“With his pace he can always test the back four with his pace,” Backe said.

“It depends on which players we have available. He’s done phenomenal as a right wing and I’ve seen that before so I’m not surprised. To use him in the best position is as a striker.”