3 at the back

[SerenityNigh]

If it means Barry is out of the XI, sign me up Bobby

 

[ElPorto]

That'd be some ask for a debut for a player from a South American team who's barely trained with his new team

Much rather a baptism of fire than playing 3 at the back against Chelski or, even worse, Barry at LB...

 

[Fresh Prince of Belle Val]

4-2-3-1 is the way forward for us.

 

[Duncan Disordely]

Much rather a baptism of fire than playing 3 at the back against Chelski or, even worse, Barry at LB...

Hopefully Galloway will be fit again!

 

[Hellerad]

When healthy:

Stones - Jagielka - Mori

If any injuries:

 

[ElPorto]

Galloway is not ready to play against Prem teams. He was getting torn to pieces before he went off injured

 

[markDee]

I think we should stick with the same formation but use the players in positions that could actually work.

Howard

Coleman/Jagielka/Stones/Baines

Barkley/McCarthy

Lennon/Deulofeu/Mirallas

Lukaku

Great starting 11 in my opinion, don't think Martinez will play Deulofeu as a cam though

 

[johnnydawg68]

Sure, why not?

 

[Blue Cheese]

So to accommodate a extra centre half, we have to either play a winger as a wingback, none of our wingers, Lennon apart, are cut out for that role, or we play with our fullbacks as wingbacks leaving us with 4 unnecessary wingers in the squad.

NO, it's unbalanced.

 

[Garrick]

So to accommodate a extra centre half, we have to either play a winger as a wingback, none of our wingers, Lennon apart, are cut out for that role, or we play with our fullbacks as wingbacks leaving us with 4 unnecessary wingers in the squad.

NO, it's unbalanced.

"Unbalanced."

I don't need pretty, I just want wins.

 

[Blue Cheese]

"Unbalanced."

I don't need pretty, I just want wins.

It wouldn't work. It leaves you far too exposed down the flanks. Imagine the freedom the likes of Hazard would get.

We seen first hand how having an inexperienced left back worked out against a good side. Having no full backs at all is suicide.

 

[AaronTheBlue]

horses for courses, again.

Some teams we might need to use it, other teams no.

 

[obc]

When healthy:

Stones - Jagielka - Mori

If any injuries:

wow, that pic could have been taken about 15 minutes from my old house. had an ld Facebook cover pic pretty similar.

as for the back line, with injuries mounting Mounting MOUNTING might be short on options. unreal how cursed we seem to be at LB. tons of talent, but damned if anyone can stay healthy.

 

[SerenityNigh]

When healthy:

Stones - Jagielka - Mori

If any injuries:

How good is this T. Weed lad on set pieces?

 

[blueloon]

3-5-2 is a formation I've mooted on other threads, primarily after the U21 s switched to that formation against the RS and went from being overrun in midfield to dominating the game. The fact they played this formation effectively meant they'd practiced it, which suggests the first team have practiced it too. We have two of the best "wing backs" in the PL so there's our starter when Baines is fit. Add in two English International centre halfs , and you're then looking for the third. Well we have potentially 5 options for the 3rd CH, Funes Mori, Galloway, Browning, Pennington , Holgate.
At the moment all five are untried at PL level so it is clearly a risk. However , at least two of those 5 will need to step up to regular first team games in the next season or two. So this formation offers the chance to develop them alongside two experienced CHs with two good defensive wing backs ahead offering protection. It potentially limits the risk defensively if played right. Equally, by playing 5 in mid field we can surprise teams, flood the midfield and get more attacking play out of Ross and McCarthy .I can't see us starting this way , but it has great potential to change a game .... if Roberto has the flexibility to use it.