3-4-3

[ijjysmith]

Howard
Stones Jagielka Distin
Coleman McCarthy Barry Baines
Barkley
Mirallas Lukaku

Simples .

MODS?!

343 sounds like it's great. I'm not sure on it thought. And as much as I like Jags and Distin I think we'd need more cultured defenders for it to work.

 

[billycopper]

Three at the back doesn't work against decent attacking teams.
Just ask Liverpool.

They seemed to try a zonal marking system against Giroud. It actually made it easier for Arsenal because he could draw two centre backs over to one side, leaving only the third centre back to cover the rest of the pitch.

If you're up against one striker you could man mark him and then the other two centre backs could cover left and right.

 

[SpurtingLesbian]

Think a lot of it depends on the opposition.
If there's a credible threat right across the midfield then it can be dangerous, you can get pulled into all sorts of shapes you don't want, leaving you exposed.
If on the other hand they are overly reliant on a main striker (or 2) then you can get away with it.

 

[Pabbers]

I keep saying it, but I can see both Jags & Distin replaced within 18 months.

 

[billycopper]

I keep saying it, but I can see both Jags & Distin replaced within 18 months.

Jags is England's first choice CB, our captain, he loves the club and he's only 31. His passing has improved quite a lot too, such as the side foot pass into the channel against Spurs for McCarthy to run on to and cross or the pinpoint crossfield pass he made about a month ago.

Distin will be 36 in just over a month's time. Surprisingly he looks as quick as ever and no one is going to displace him on form.

We could try and sell Heitinga in January but we've had no takers for him so far, so it might be an idea to let him see out his contract as back up so that Duffy can stay with Yeovil for as long as possible. In the summer I'd then look at taking Lescott back on a bosman to replace the Dutchman. Maybe then we could phase the milkman out or switch to three centre backs with Jags and Joleon either side of Distin?

 

[Furey1878]

With this lineup Barkley would make way for Stones. It wouldn't make any sense for us to do it.

Barkley would replace either of the CMs, and we'd play more of a diamond shape midfield:

--------------Howard-------------
-------Stones Jagielka Distin-------
----------------Barry-------------
--Coleman-----------------Baines--
---------------Barkley-------------
Mirallas--------------------Deulofeu
---------------Lukaku-------------

 

[Goat]

Barkley would replace either of the CMs, and we'd play more of a diamond shape midfield:

--------------Howard-------------
-------Stones Jagielka Distin-------
----------------Barry-------------
--Coleman-----------------Baines--
---------------Barkley-------------
Mirallas--------------------Deulofeu
---------------Lukaku-------------

So you have taken out a player from midfield and put him in defence, it simply doesnt make any sense.

I honestly dont understand why we would need to play 3 CBs, we have conceded 10 goals in 10 matches, what benefit does 3 CBs give a Club like ours, we have 2 of the most attacking fullbacks in the League. The only real "issue" I feel we have within the side is the fact that McCarthy and Barry are the same sort of player, we could probably do with adding somebody a tiny bit more creative, direct.

 

[Bungle]

So you have taken out a player from midfield and put him in defence, it simply doesnt make any sense.

I honestly dont understand why we would need to play 3 CBs, we have conceded 10 goals in 10 matches, what benefit does 3 CBs give a Club like ours, we have 2 of the most attacking fullbacks in the League. The only real "issue" I feel we have within the side is the fact that McCarthy and Barry are the same sort of player, we could probably do with adding somebody a tiny bit more creative, direct.

Moutinho?

 

[Goat]

Moutinho?

 

[FTY]

She's kinda hot when she's not all moody isn't she?

 

[Furey1878]

So you have taken out a player from midfield and put him in defence, it simply doesnt make any sense.

One DM and one AM. It's what tends to happen when you play 2 CMs anyway. Usually one's more attacking and creative than the other.

I honestly dont understand why we would need to play 3 CBs, we have conceded 10 goals in 10 matches, what benefit does 3 CBs give a Club like ours, we have 2 of the most attacking fullbacks in the League. The only real "issue" I feel we have within the side is the fact that McCarthy and Barry are the same sort of player, we could probably do with adding somebody a tiny bit more creative, direct.

3 CBs is supposed to be more suited to passing football and building from the back. We've played 5-2-3 a few times since Martinez got here and honestly I don't think only having 2 in midfield works. I'd rather see us play 3-5-2 / 5-3-2 but we've only got one good striker.

Anyway I'm not suggesting we should play it. Just establishing how we could play it.

 

[Sozzled]

One DM and one AM. It's what tends to happen when you play 2 CMs anyway. Usually one's more attacking and creative than the other.



3 CBs is supposed to be more suited to passing football and building from the back. We've played 5-2-3 a few times since Martinez got here and honestly I don't think only having 2 in midfield works. I'd rather see us play 3-5-2 / 5-3-2 but we've only got one good striker.

Anyway I'm not suggesting we should play it. Just establishing how we could play it.

I think we're sound as we are. Only thing that I ain't convinced on is Barry and McCarthy partnership. It's done ok but it doesn't look solid in there.

 

[Furey1878]

I think we're sound as we are. Only thing that I ain't convinced on is Barry and McCarthy partnership. It's done ok but it doesn't look solid in there.

4-3-3 is the way for me.

---------------Howard-------------
--Coleman---Jags--Disitin---Baines--
---------------Barry----------------
-------McCarthy-----Barkley--------
Mirallas---------------------Deulofeu
--------------Lukaku---------------

 

[Sozzled]

4-3-3 is the way for me.

---------------Howard-------------
--Coleman---Jags--Disitin---Baines--
---------------Barry----------------
-------McCarthy-----Barkley--------
Mirallas---------------------Deulofeu
--------------Lukaku---------------

I think the 4-2-3-1 works but we could have done with Gibbo about.

 

[billycopper]

Barkley would replace either of the CMs, and we'd play more of a diamond shape midfield:

--------------Howard-------------
-------Stones Jagielka Distin-------
----------------Barry-------------
--Coleman-----------------Baines--
---------------Barkley-------------
Mirallas--------------------Deulofeu
---------------Lukaku-------------

In your case McCarthy has dropped out. I don't think that we can afford to sacrifice anyone to bring Stones into the side and I don't see the case for his inclusion. What would we gain?