3 at the back

[Colonel_Klinck]

I'll admit I was worried when I saw us line up 3 at the back today. Fair play though they played it very well. Just wondering if that could be an option away at Chelscum. Dier, Verts and Toby. I wouldn't play it at home against Spammers but that away game will be a tough fixture.

 

[BSJ93]

It worked well. Most of Arsenal's chances came from balls being thrown into the box as they weren't getting much joy down the middle.

Although, I recall them doing the same in this fixture last year.

 

[Hercules]

I was thinking before today that we are suited for this system. It frees up Dembele, Lamela, and Dele. With the width that Walks and Danny gives us, will also bring goals and flexibility.

 

[onthetwo]

It gave us more options playing out from the back, certainly much better than Wednesday night when our mistakes created roughly half of their goal attempts.

 

[Hoops]

It suits our personel. we should keep it IMO

 

[THOWIG]

Couldn't believe all of the fuss beforehand about the formation. We pretty much played with a 3 last season.

I thought it worked well. If only we had someone to play on the right up front we'd have won today.

 

[Syn_13]

I think it could be an option for us, and certainly an alternative to what we've been doing recently when it's not working. Wimmer was okay for the most part, but he's not Alderweireld. When Toby is back sitting at the heart of it flanked by Verts and Dier it could be very solid. Our version of the Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli combo. Walker and Rose are suited to wing backs and Wanyama will hold.

That'll free up the others to press from the front and push forward. Whether you go 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 it mostly ends up working the same way, just got to be mindful of the person who partners Wanyama in midfield.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

does not really change much in our attacking options.

When we play 4, Rose and Walker still push up to provide width. If anything, it hurts our attack, because now we have 3 in the back, plus Wanyama who are not part of the attack.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I still think our best formation, when everyone is fit, is the 4-1-4-1.

It keeps Toby and Jan back, with Wanyama shielding in front. Rose and Walker attacking from the wings. It gives space for Eriksen to drop in to get the ball, and with Son and Lamela attacking from the channels, and Kane and Alli in the middle, we have our best attacking players in positions where they can make a difference.

 

[Syn_13]

I still think our best formation, when everyone is fit, is the 4-1-4-1.

It keeps Toby and Jan back, with Wanyama shielding in front. Rose and Walker attacking from the wings. It gives space for Eriksen to drop in to get the ball, and with Son and Lamela attacking from the channels, and Kane and Alli in the middle, we have our best attacking players in positions where they can make a difference.

I'd agree on that. But I certainly think the 3-5-2/3-4-3 is definitely something to have in mind for certain games. We need that plan B, and it can't just be changing the players the around from a 4-1-4-1 to 4-2-3-1, but essentially keeping the same structure. It adds something completely different.

Your previous comment about hurting the attack is only true to an extent. Look at Chelsea at the moment. Kante and Matic both in the midfield, and are known for their defensive roles. By that logic it means they've essentially got 5 working defensively, if you include the back 3.

 

[Colonel_Klinck]

I still think our best formation, when everyone is fit, is the 4-1-4-1.

It keeps Toby and Jan back, with Wanyama shielding in front. Rose and Walker attacking from the wings. It gives space for Eriksen to drop in to get the ball, and with Son and Lamela attacking from the channels, and Kane and Alli in the middle, we have our best attacking players in positions where they can make a difference.

I'd agree and why I wouldn't use it at home or against teams we shouldn't really struggle against. However Chelsea are on fire at the minute and play this system. Just suggesting we mirror it and give the defence some more protection.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Could be a good option against Chelsea, not sure I'd play it on a regular basis.

 

[glacierSpurs]

IMO, Eriksen should be a great benefactor of today's lineup.. In more attacking sense, he can play beside Wanyama and start the passes from there.. He will have the utmost protection from Wanyama and the 'extra' popping up fencing him.. That can give him spaces and time to see his options ahead of him than those short passes he quite often loses out.. Leave the no.10 to Lamela/Alli.. If time/space allows, Eriksen may still bomb forward to score some, yet without opening the space he occupied at deep, as Wanyama and the 'extra' CB can now provide the protection..

In games which we needed more defensive structure like today, Dembele was the perfect guy for this position..

 

[alex3]

Could use sissoko as a wing back in this formation why not try him out there!

 

[hughy]

Back to a flat back-4 when Toby is back for me. Jan's been fantastic in his absence and Toby is one of the best CB's in the league. I can't see a 3 being needed.

 

[VoteMe4Prez]

It's a great option to have and we have proven that we know how to play with it

 

[Cravenspurs]

It gave us more options playing out from the back, certainly much better than Wednesday night when our mistakes created roughly half of their goal attempts.

Do people actually believe this? We looked just as bad going forward.

Too reliant on our back line to build up play.

Playing it back constantly.

A middle pairing that never looks likely to click (Dembele/Wanyama).

We have completely lost the ability to utilize the middle of the pitch. Our build up is either long ball or through the FBs. People hating on Walker vs Bayer because he was our talisman in attack and today again, our build up was solely built up via Rose or Walker sans Dembele's trot forward.

 

[@Bobby__Lucky]

I liked it and was probably our best performance of the season alongside the city game.

I've always liked this formation and when played correctly can be lethal. The Hoddle version tore up Chelsea in that cup game 5-0 or 5-1, also Arsenal I believe 5-1 in that game if my memory serves me. Defo the Chelsea though.

Suits our personnel and hides our weaknesses. Well played pochhy, you needed to show us today after poor tactical show against Leverkusen, and you brang it.

 

[Strikeb4ck]

Suits our personnel as we have no good wingers but 4 good wingbacks...a plethora of CB talent...strong CMs...and some players that can be tossed up as attackers in the 3 up front.

 

[Cravenspurs]

I think it can work. I am not hating on it as I think it the formation offers a great versatility, but it is still bloody obvious that the issue offensively is in the CM2.

The middle of the park is a god damn joke and being totally neglected. Until we figure that out any formation will look the same, inept.

Defense and shape hasn't been our issue for years now. Poch has given us a spine. Offensively? We still have far too much difficulty getting the ball into attack at a steady clip. It is damn near impossible for us to get the ball in the final third in a scoring posisiton.