352

[brontebilly]

Pinched from Drummond in another thread. Very little out wide. It is the way.

Martinez

Cash
Konsa
Mings
Torres
Maatsen

Kamara
Tielemans
Mcginn

Rogers
Watkins

That naturally relies on Rogers and Watkins remembering how to play football. Sancho and Malen until that point. Elliott too. Think I'd try Guessand at full back. Plenty of depth to fill in at centre mid. What do we think?

We signed three wingers so put in a formation that doesn't have any? I like Matty Cash but he would be horrible at wing back. Mings can't kick a ball with his right foot. Tielemans wouldn't work in a 3 I think either.

[Mellin]

So you're saying there's a chance?

[dave.woodhall]

Bosnich

Charles
Ehiogu
McGrath
Southgate
Wright

Taylor
Draper
Townsend

Yorke
Milosevic

Brian signed players to fit his system and utilise what he already had. Genuine wing-backs, an impregnable defensive unit and a perfectly-balanced midfield. More than that they were all big-game players. You wouldn't get any of them not turning up when the situation demanded.

[paul_e]

In addition to all the other complaints 532 (and it's definitely a back 5 no matter how often people pretend it's not defensive) is a really dated approach. I've posted about it many, many times now but 325 is THE attacking shape of choice across all 5 major European leagues which means pretty much every decent manager is trying to find a defensive structure that quickly translates into that.

The common solution now, if you play with 3 CBs, is to play with a 343 and your RM and LM are the 2 that move forward. That means most of the team are in roughly the same position in defense and attack and, if you've got the training right the RM and RW are able to cover for each other (and same on the other side) so you're less vulnerable to quick counter attacks. If you need to make a back 4 it'll often be a CM that steps back instead of letting the wide players do all the work as it puts less reliance on them having the engine to get up and down the pitch all game.

The traditional 532 fell out of favour because it is far too easy to isolate the wingbacks. It worked well when a lot of teams played a rigid 442 though because you could outnumber teams through the middle of the pitch and force players out of position. Modern coaches are a bit to savvy to fall for that though and will find way to both counter it and overload you on at least 1 wing.

[Drummond]

I think our 3 CBs are reminiscent of that Little side. Konsa covers lost situations and reads the game well. Mings is dominant in the air and Torres can play football.

Maatsen offers width, Cash less so but can break forward.

I wouldn't have a 3, I'd stick with Kamara and Tielemans.

As for signing 3 wingers, we didn't, we signed 3 forward thinking players, but wingers they are not, they all like to play inside....

[Villan82]

If this was the 90s or 00s, a midfield three of Kamara, Tielemens and Onana would be viewed as a very balanced midfield three that had all the ingredients needed. Likewise a back three of Konsa, Mings and Pau.

I just don't think the game works like that any more. Inverted wingers, using half spaces, having a fluid attack. That's where it would fall down- the other positions.