Why 4-4-2 doesn’t hold the key to Portsmouth’s promotion bid this season

That’s the view of Blues writer, Jordan Cross, in the latest edition of Pompey Talk, which you can download HERE.

The system employed by Kenny Jackett was a big talking point in Monday night’s 2-2 draw at Plymouth.

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A reshuffle at half-time saw Pompey get back into the game at Home Park after being dominated for long periods and going in 1-0 down.

Many supporters viewed Ellis Harrison and Jack Whatmough’s introduction coinciding with a move from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a 4-4-2, which has been used successfully through

the side’s upturn in results since the start of October.

Jackett stated afterwards, however, he had employed a 4-4-2 for pretty much the whole game.

There was plenty of debate over that, with there long being plenty of calls for two strikers to be played.

Cross feels, however, there isn’t a need for supporters to get wrapped up in formations and systems.

He feels the evidence points towards it being the players on the pitch being of over-riding importance.

Cross said: ‘There was a whole debate about whether it was 4-4-2 in the first half on Monday, I actually thought it was a 4-4-2.

‘I think people get wrapped up in that a bit - it’s about the personnel there.

‘You could say it was a 4-4-2 in the first half, and it looked like it for me, with two banks of four.

‘But the personnel within that saw Ben Close not doing the transitions so much we see with Andy Cannon.

‘Ryan Williams was coming a bit deeper as the second striker and Andy Cannon wasn’t comfortable on the left.

‘So, it could at some points look a bit like a 4-2-3-1 because of the personnel within it.

‘Now, in the second half you had Ellis Harrison on as an out-out-striker.

‘You had Andy Cannon in the middle linking up defence and attack, so it felt like a more balanced 4-4-2.

‘So I think the personnel within it is the prominent factor, rather than people getting wrapped up in formations and having a go at Jackett about them.

‘It was the personnel not the formation which made the difference to Pompey getting back into the game for me.’

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