Should Aitor Karanka try out this tactic at Middlesbrough?

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It is the most recognised formation in football, but how many times do you go to a game or turn on the TV to see your side line-up in a traditional 4-4-2?

Like many things football has evolved over the past few years, through a combination of foreign influences and TV money which continues to pour into the modern game.

In the bigger picture these influences have helped improve the game immensity to the point where the quality of players, facilities and overall football package is as good as it’s ever been.

However, for all the fast flowing play and neat passing though midfield, you can’t help but miss the days when nearly every team played with two banks of four and two up top.

A few years ago all the best strikers came in pairs, think of  Alan Shearer And Chris Sutton for Blackburn, Henry and Bergkamp for Arsenal or in Middlesbrough’s case Viduka and Hasselbaink in the team which reached the UEFA Cup final back in 2006.

These days though, managers tend to avoid the more open and commonly attack minded formation, as it can have a tendency to leave teams exposed further down the pitch.

In most instances the alternative is the more structured 4-2-3-1, which Middlesbrough have adopted ever since Aitor Karanka took charge in November 2013.

In that formation the Spaniard has tended to play with two holding midfielders, predominantly Grant Leadbitter and Adam Clayton, who have played behind  a more creative line of three and a solo striker who is left with the task of leading the line on his own.

The positives are that the Teessiders have become incredibly difficult to beat or score against, as shown by a run of nine consecutive clean sheets over the Christmas period.

But Karanka has never been a manager who has attempted to outscore teams and unlike their promotion rivals Hull and Burnley, Boro are yet to score over three goals in a game this campaign.

Not that that’s a major issue, as Boro have the best defensive record in the division and for most of the season they have been able clinch a game by a goal or two.

Even so there have been times, especially at the Riverside, where sides have been content to sit back and make themselves difficult to beat.

In those moments there have been cries to revert back to the more offensive 4-4-2, however Karanka has stuck to his guns and repelled the calls by keeping to his trusted system.

Even after signing £9 million striker Jordan Rhodes to join fellow forwards David Nugent and Cristhian Stuani, Karanka moved Nugent in to the so called number 10 position to play behind Rhodes rather than deploying them as a front two.

So is the once loved 4-4-2 really that outdated? Well on this seasons evidence it’s far from it.

Just look at the successes of Watford and Leicester this campaign. Both have stunned teams in the Premier League after recently achieving promotion, and both have done it by playing 4-4-2.

One explanation is that teams just don’t expect it anymore and modern day defenders, especially at the highest level, aren’t used to having to occupy two centre forwards.

Even so the 4-4-2 formation hasn’t worked for every team and sides that haven’t deployed it correctly have often been ruthlessly exposed.

Like a lot of things football will continue evolve and in recent years there have been strong signs that the old-fashioned 4-4-2 is ready to return to the very top of the game.

Whether Karanka is ready to move away from his tried and trusted system remains to be seen, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a try though.