The 4-4-2 may have lost its status as the reigning king of formations long ago, but it could be the answer to Leeds United’s goal scoring woes. Javi Gracia frequently fielded a 4-4-2 at Watford during the 2018-19 season and Gerard Deulofeu was at the heart of the Hornets’ success.
Gracia deployed Will Hughes and Roberto Pereyra as inverted wingers, while Etienne Capoue and Abdoulaye Doucoure acted as double pivots. Troy Deeney assumed the responsibility of talisman, which provided Deulofeu with the platform to roam freely across the final third. Deulofeu notched a career-high 10 goals in a single Premier League season, and also scored twice during Watford’s run to the FA Cup final.
Deulofeu is somewhat of a renegade and his lack of consistency perhaps underlines his positional struggles over the years. Playing a free roaming role in the Watford attack provided him with a new lease of life, and Gracia must find a way to do the same with Georginio Rutter.
