Formation count is an article to evaluate the coach’s tactics and to apply the knowledge gained by means of information. However, it is not to blame the coach or anyone else. In other words, the article is to evaluate the technical team and allow the crew to correct its mistakes before the main event, the World Cup Games. The information discovered were through research, and therefore, are facts.

Formation in football (soccer) describes how the players in a team are positioned on the pitch. Different formations can be used depending on whether a team wishes to play more attacking or defensive football.

As great players make a great team, so is strategic formation necessary to make a complete team. It is the tech team verses the playing body. All other football related matters that seek hover around winnable teams are purely cosmetic. The two units work hand in hand. Well applied formations and strategies tell which direction a team is heading or back-sliding. As we are no doubt aware, the initial 30 players have been called and justify their inclusions is in progress. At the moment, the country is holistically waiting for the final verdict. “The Great Call” as I termed it, 23 would be separated from the 30. It seems to me that most of the fans are excited to know the players who would be called but I’m afraid it doesn’t end there.

Have we noticed the formations Coach Milovan is familiar with and how many times these formations, 4-5-1 and 4-3-2-1, have helped us in winning matches? Soccer or football is a discipline spot as it adheres strictly to a perfect carryout formation and strategy in order to achieve any meaningful or maximum result. An example is the famous 5-3-2 formation which has five defenders, three midfielders and two attackers. One can recall Coach Sellas Tetteh consistently demonstrated an effective 5-3-2 formation during the 2009 Under 20 Fifa WC Tournament in Egypt and succeeded. This was a formation Samuel Inkoom, the right full-back, and David Addy, the left full-back, were given the opportunity to overlap more often than usual. It was their job to work the full length of the pitch by coordinating both the defense and the attacking machinery into a tempo that got the opposing team into frenzy employing serious and effective crosses and retrieving almost spontaneously. These two wing-backs, who operate up the flanks, play a key role in this line-up. It allows them to attack and attack. Brazilians Cafu and Roberto Carlos were masters at this. If the two attacking defenders struggle with the pace of the game, the team can be left short of support, be it up front or at the back.

According to the research, since Milovan took over the Black Stars job, his familiar formation has not been helping the team that much and here are the facts.

WC Qualify match dated September 5, 2008 the Black Stars played against Libya at Tripoli and was defeated 1-0. The formation applied was 4-5-1 with Junior Agogo alone upfront.

This was the starting line-up: Richard Kingston, John Panitsil, Harrison Afful, Eric Addo, Jonathan Quartey, Anthony Annan, Haminu Dramani, Michael Essien, Junior Agogo, Laryea Kingston then Sulley Muntari

October 11th, 2008, at Essipong (Western Region) Ghana/Lesotho, score line 3-0 Ghana won. The formation used was 4-4-2

Starting line-up: R. Kingston, J. Paintsil, H. Afful, E. Addo, John Mensah, Anthony Anna, Daniel Nana Yeboah, Appiah, Agogo, Amoah, Muntari October 15th 2008, Ghana/South Africa, venue: Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Formation 4-3-2-1 a sister formation to 4-5-1, we lost 2-1

Starting line up: Fatau Dauda, Afful, David Addy, John Boye, Jonathan Quartey, Agyman Badu, Kojo Poku, Kwame Quansah, Daniel Yeboah, Yaw Antwi and Haminu Dramani

November 19, 2008, Ghana/Tunisia friendly match in Accra ended up (0-0) with the same 4-3-2-1 formation.

Starting line-up: R. Kingston, J. Paintsil, Hans Adu Sarpie, E. Addo, Jonathan Quartey, S. Appiah, Daniel Yeboah, Samuel Kyere, Matthew Amoah, Prince Tagoe, Andre Ayew

February 11, 2009 Egypt/Ghana at Cairo International Stadium, (2-2) with our usual formation 4-4-2

Starting line-up: Richard Kingston, John Paintsil, Jonathan Quartey, Eric Addo, Nana Akwasi Asare, Laryea Kingston, Anthony Annan, Stephen Appiah, Sulley Muntari, Junior Agogo, Prince Tagoe. March 29, 2009, Ghana/Benin, the venue was Ghana with 4-4-2 formation, score line Ghana 1 Benin 0

The Line: Richard Kingson; John Panstil; Samuel Inkoom; Eric Addo; Jonathan Quartey; Michael Essien; Anthony Annan; Stephen Appiah/Asamoah Gyan; Matthew Amoah/Kwadwo Asamoah; Prince Tagoe; Sulley Muntari/Isaac Vorsah.

Jun 7th, 2009, Mali/Ghana in Bamako with 4-4-1-1, a sister formation as 4-4-2 and was later changed to 4-5-1 after substitutions were made (Ghana 2 Mali 0) Line-up: Richard Kingson, John Paintsil, Harrison Afful, John Mensah, Eric Addo, Anthony Annan, Michael Essien/ Moussa Narry, Kwadwo Asamoah, Opoku Agyeman/ Isaac Vorsah, Prince Tagoe/Haminu Draman, Matthew Amoah (Kwedwo Asamoah moved up played behind Matthew Amoah)

Remember, no one is telling the coach what to do, but rather, analyze the previous matches for corrections to be made. To leave stones unturned could be dangerous.

This is just the beginning so kindly come back for part II………..