We have generally looked better in a 4-3-3 than in a 4-4-2, don't really think that's even open for debate tbh.
A major issue when we play 4-4-2 is that both of our first choice wingers are much more comfortable cutting inside than they are getting to the byline and whipping in crosses. This issue is compounded by our fullbacks. On one side Santon is another who is more comfortable cutting in and on the other we have Simpson who is incredibly limited offensively. The end result is that we have no width whatsoever.
This wouldn't be so bad if we had a striker who was good at linking midfield to attack, but we don't. Both Ba and Cisse play their best football in and around the box, neither are tremendous at either working the channels, dropping off the front and finding and creating space to play in or acting as a physical target man who can receive the ball with his back to goal and bring others into play that way.
If we're going to persist with this system then we absolutely need to get out there and sign a striker, I know they haven't played a lot together but Ba and Cisse don't look like a natural fit. If we sign Carroll then I fully expect he'll pretty much become our first choice striker with Ba and Cisse fighting to be his partner. Carroll the big physical target man (with Shola as backup in that role) with Ba or Cisse playing on the last shoulder of the defence.
We also need a fullback who can contribute more offensively. In our 4-4-2 the CM's both play quite deep. Any 2 of Cabaye, Tiote and Anita should provide a very good engine room and protect the defenders well. That should allow our fullbacks to bomb forward and provide overlaps for the likes of Ben Arfa, Jonas and Marveaux as they cut inside. Personally still feel we should move Santon to the right and bring in a LB, giving us good width on both sides. But I'd be very pleased with someone like Debuchy coming in too, obviously.
The reason we've looked better in a 4-3-3 is that these issues aren't really present. Jonas pushing in alongside Tiote allows Cabaye to play further forward and be the link man between midfield and attack, and Ba pushing out left and Ben Arfa pushing further up the field on the right helps us stretch teams. We still don't have tremendous width, but the positioning of our front three is much better than when we have Cisse and Ba standing beside each other in the middle trying not to get in each other's way.
My preference with our squad would have been to bring in a pacey winger/striker type, someone like a Hoilett for example, who could play on the left of a three. Tell Ba he's fighting for the central spot with Cisse and also for the left wing spot, he'd get plenty of games through the middle but he'd also have to play out left occasionally. Turn Jonas into a full time CM with he, Tiote, Cabaye and Anita fighting for three spots.
Doesn't seem like Pardew is going for that, and that's fine too if he thinks he's got a better way for us to play. I just don't see what that might be yet, and the fact that we improved significantly when we went to 4-3-3 against Spurs yet reverted straight to 4-4-2 against Chelsea makes you wonder what his logic is. Can't truly believe it's as simple as making Ba happy, no way I could see him playing an inferior system just to keep one player from sulking.
Hope he finds a way for his system to click in any case, still early doors this year and we've played two good teams. Villa game next week should tell us a lot.
