Formations and Tactics under Martinez: The 3-5-2?

[Royal Blue Jersey]

Right, someone had to start it, so let's start it. Who reckons this might work?

Jagielka - Heitinga - Distin

Coleman - Gibson - Fellaini - Baines

Osman

Jelavic - Anichebe


Thoughts?

(I know the title promised more but it's late, I'll let you lot fill in the tactical discussion if you are so willing. The Executioner's Blog is one of many useful sources for this kind of thing. I'll be back tomorrow with more!)

 

[Goat]

That team and formation makes baby jesus cry.

 

[Goat]

Howard
Coleman - Jagielka - Distin - Baines
Fellaini - Gibson
Mirallas - Barkley - Pienaar
Jelavic​

 

[stinger]

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/05/16/wigan-stay-up-after-a-switch-to-3-4-3 and this http://www.zonalmarking.net/2013/05...stifle-city-and-attack-with-tremendous-width/

I don't think it will be our main formation, but I believe we will see variations of 3-4-3/3-5-2 more aften during the season that it was under Moyes. Especially that we have a players who are suited very well to playing this way. But a lot will depend on Martinez moves on transfer market, it will be interesting if he will move for players with background from Italy or South America, who have experience playing this way.

Playing 3-main backline would have two biggest positives for me - it gives Baines and Coleman even more freedom to attack and it pushes Mirallas further forward. Potentially it can also give us possibility to field one more tall player, making us even bigger threat with set pieces and crosses.

There are also "public" weaknesses, but I won't point them, as there will be a lot of other members doing this for me, like - this formation got Wigan relegated (they would be relegated with 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 season before), nobody is playing this way in Premier League (for me it's more of a positive than negative, because it gets opponents out of the comfort zone when playing us), it caused Manchester City to lose a title (I don't believe - for their standards - they have a right players for this system) and we don't have a players who have experience playing this way (which is actually a legitimate concern and you never know how players will react when applying it during training work).

 

[WA Toffee]

Isn't 4-2-3-1 the preferred formation for the top teams nowadays? It worked for Barcelona, Spain and Bayern among others.

Howard

Coleman - Jagielka - Distin - Baines

. Felaini - Gibson

Mirallas - Osman - Pienaar

. Jelavic

 

[LTblue]

'koff Martiniface

 

[Christiffa25]

Don't see him playing it tbh. Well not as our main formation anyway. I think in his presser he eluded to the fact that we had one of the best defence's in the league, finished 6th and were clearly doing alot right currently so he wouldn't be looking to come in and making massive changes. (Which I was happy to hear)

As said the formation these days of the best teams is 4-2-3-1, which is pretty much what we have been playing. A formation along with 4-3-3 that Martinez has favored himself until last season.

Stick to those two formations and maybe tweak a little with better players and we will be fine.

Not a bad plan b to have in the locker tho if a games going against us.

 

[Hilga]

He'll play 4 at the back. He made it pretty clear from the first moment he was announced, that he is only going to make slight changes.

 

[Michael Tsui]

Would rather see Martinez play a XY3 formation, rather Bielsa-like, where X is 4 when there is an odd number up for the other side, and 3 when there is an even number up. We have the players for this kind of defensive setup change without making subtitutions: Backs who can play a wide midfield role, centre-backs who can play full back or step up to become defensive midfielder. Expect a lot of rotations at the back, and probably only one personnel change (another LB/CB, god forbid Lescott?) would suffice.

For the front three, It seems Martinez prefers a lone forward-stretcher-creator system. There will always be someone stretching play on the wings and provide runs in the back, someone to use the ball between the lines (often off-centre, but can be a central player or a false-ten which unfortunately we soon won't have), and a lone defensive forward whose main job is to hold the ball up, retain possession, and lead counterattacks if needed.

There will be two central midfielders left, and in general Martinez seemed to prefer industrious players rather than prima donnas. Osman and Gibson will do the job, but ideally we can use another box-to-box as this combination tends to be a bit lightweight.

 

[Tree13]

Right, someone had to start it, so let's start it. Who reckons this might work?

Jagielka - Heitinga - Distin

Coleman - Gibson - Fellaini - Baines

Osman

Jelavic - Anichebe


Thoughts?

1) No Mirallas?
2) No Pienaar?
3) Heitinga is outta here the moment a decent offer comes in for him;
4) Felli may well be gone, if the release clause rumours are true;
5) Osman is all but done

In summary, nein danke.

 

[KevMirallas]

I really hope he swerves the three at the back nonsense.

-------------------Howard---------------------
Coleman--------Jags-----New CB---------Baines
---------------Gibson----New CM----------------
New Winger----------Barkley--------------Mirallas
-------------------New Stiker--------------------

 

[Jags..class]

Recken we wont use this to much at the start, at the moment our players suit the formation we play, Pienaar and Gibson and Osman not suit this formation and then we will lose games. Maybe if we are getting beat or if nothing working against a team. Can Jags or Distin play as a sweeper. Coleman and Baines would suit it tho.

 

[toffeeben15]

Stick to a 4-2-3-1 then mix it up to a 4-3-3

 

[stinger]

Recken we wont use this to much at the start, at the moment our players suit the formation we play, Pienaar and Gibson and Osman not suit this formation and then we will lose games. Maybe if we are getting beat or if nothing working against a team. Can Jags or Distin play as a sweeper. Coleman and Baines would suit it tho.

Pienaar would be very good in this formation IMO and I think Gibson would be asked to do similar stuff in every formation, so it wouldn't matter to him.

 

[Blue 1]

That team and formation makes baby jesus cry.

This. Absolutely ****ing terrifying thought.