352/532 Formation

[Don Giovanni]

Why?

Seems like an odd thing to hate out of principle.

Because it is a foundation of defensive football.

 

[Nabil Bentaleb]

Lloris
Anderson Toby Milenkovic
Aarons Hojberg Lo Celso Tanguy Regui
Son Kane

 

[ryuzakiluke100]

At Chelsea, did Conte not play a 5-2-3?

Hazard Costa Pedro as the front 3.

Kante plays a huge role. Matic was still great too. So that plenty of defensive cover from midfield to release the front three.

After Matic left in his second season ( he wanted to keep him), he had to play more midfielder since Bakayoko, Drinkwater and Barkley were barely even used, while Cesc Ratregas fell off the cliff.

 

[Igula]

Foyth is so good on the ball, by far and away the best ball playing cb at the club. Chelsea under Conte utilized Luiz as a ball playing cb who could sometimes go into midfield.

A big problem with our current squad is that we don't have many options who can receive and redistribute the ball well. I recall our game against Chelsea earlier in the season where they dominated us and won 1-0. Despite playing an extra defender to us they had way more players on the pitch who could receive a pass, redistribute and play one touch, this is something I feel Foyth would give us.

I agree that Tanganga is a promising player and even less error prone that Foyth but I think that Foyth would give the squad something different.

Toby is better on the ball than Foyth and much less reckless, if we are playing 3-4-3 like at Chelsea Toby would be a much better player for that role. Maybe Foyth as a back-up but I think Villarreal are goi g to trigger his release clause anyways, which for me isn’t a big loss as I don’t see him close to being a top 4 player now or in the future.

I would use the money to buy a top quality CB.

 

[Igula]

Going on my earlier comments of PEH not being a good fit for the 3-5-2 and the deep lying midfielder being an important player in Contes system I wonder about going for Brozovic.

He is older than I like at 27 but clearly was very important to Conte, likely could be bought in the cheap as he is on decent wages and Inzaghi has already talked about “reviving” Sensi’s career so he could take over that role.

I know most will want to focus on Barella for the midfield but I do t think he is coming and I think there are other options, internally and in transfers to fill his role.

 

[deadleyledley]

Skipp can do the deep lying midfielder role.

I would still like us to buy Bissouma.

 

[AlabamaSpur]

Id be fine with this

 

[Igula]

Skipp can do the deep lying midfielder role.

I would still like us to buy Bissouma.

Skipp in the starting 11 is a risk. I like him starting out in the bench and showing he can do it before we give him a starting role.

 

[VirginiaSpur]

I have a strong hatred and contempt for any formation that involves 3 CBs.

I have a strong hatred for any post that in any way implies that wingbacks don't still carry major defensive responsibilities.

 

[FightingIllini]

Am I supposed to image those 1 touch passes made between Dier, Doherty & Sissoko?
If we had Cruyff & Neeskens maybe we could play total football - but we don't.

We used to play clever one-touch football with the likes of Dier, Danny Rose, Lamela, etc.

 

[JDM]

Kante plays a huge role. Matic was still great too. So that plenty of defensive cover from midfield to release the front three.

After Matic left in his second season ( he wanted to keep him), he had to play more midfielder since Bakayoko, Drinkwater and Barkley were barely even used, while Cesc Ratregas fell off the cliff.

Agreed, I think we will play 352. Several times we were overrun in midfield when we had 2 up against 3 players so it makes sense. Kane and Son as a front 2 is very strong. 3 in the middle will hopefully make us harder to break down but it does mean we badly need another midfielder or 2. Reguilon, Sessegnon, Doherty and Aurier (although likely to leave) are all suited to playing as wingbacks, and I think Bergwijn could fit the bill as well. 3 at the back will help extend the shelf life of Toby and be good for Rodon and Tanganga; although we will need to sign a couple of new centrebacks. I think it says a lot about Jose’s reign that after 18 months he still didn’t have a set system but we already know Conte has one despite not even signing yet. We have a clear plan and it’s exciting.

 

[mummy]

I reckon 532/352 would be better. Having 532 at the back might ensure no goals conceded (as long as Snachez, Reguilon & Dier aren't there somewhere) , and 352 attackers might just allow us to score the odd goal.
VAR permitting, of course.

 

[postbox]

Surely we'll be all over Skriniar if we land Conte.

Its a connection made with any manager going into any new job, but how often do managers really join a new team and take players from the old one with them?

I have it in mind its far less than seems to be thought.

That said, we do have a long standing interest in Skriniar, and Inter do need to sell...

I also wonder if a back 3 would be the making of the likes of Rodon and Tanganga, could be we already have the makings of a good defence.

Id be fine with this

Most of all what I like is players moving purposefully into spaces, they know exactly where they are meant to be and are actively doing it - rather than reactively chasing shadows.

Have to love when a team is obviously coached, wouldnt that be nice?!

 

[Kopspur]

Why?

Seems like an odd thing to hate out of principle.

It seems much more challenging to get 3 CBs in sync than 2. We probably always had dumbarses trying it but typically it has been a comedy disaster. You also have to have a good blend in the 3 and at least 1 great ball player among them as they’re going to have to move up into CM in possession and not be shit, those players can’t be found in the bargain bin Levy goes for.

I have the same reservations.

 

[Igula]

When it comes to players, I've seen a lot of people going for GLC - Ndombele - Hojbjerg in the midfield. That would work under Guardiola, not Conte. Conte wants at the very least 2 engines/warriors in the midfield, so it would be far more likely to see Skippy there or, god forbid, Sissoko. The reason why Inter and Juve worked in the past is because the midfield could withstand and outrun the teams that pressure a lot without the ball to get it back as soon as possible (the 4-3-3 of Guardiola or Sarri for example). Brozovic - Barrella - Sensi or Vidal - Pirlo - Marchisio were nowhere near good enough when it comes to on the ball (guess who aside), but they could run for days.

Sorry if I am misunderstanding the bolded part are you saying that the players you mentioned weren't good with the ball?

All those guys are much better on the ball compared to PEH and Sissoko who you listed. I think GLC has the motor/engine to work in a MF under Conte.

To me what we seem to be missing is a versatile MF like Brozovic, Vidal, Marchisio that can play multiple roles and is good with the ball and defensively as well as a deep lying play maker like Pirlo or Brozovic.

 

[Igula]

It seems much more challenging to get 3 CBs in sync than 2. We probably always had dumbarses trying it but typically it has been a comedy disaster. You also have to have a good blend in the 3 and at least 1 great ball player among them as they’re going to have to move up into CM in possession and not be shit, those players can’t be found in the bargain bin Levy goes for.

I have the same reservations.

I see somewhat of the opposite. Many teams that play 3 at the back seem to be able to get guys that struggle in a partnership to work better because of their specific skills and what they are asked to do.

I think you obviously want the right kind of mix of players but with Conte's experience I have little concern that he can't make it work.

 

[postbox]

Oh I get the logic, I suppose I was thinking a bit more broadly - how often does that sort of thing really happen?

In this instance it might, given Inters situation - but I wouldnt be surprised at all if we just look elsewhere.

 

[postbox]

Not as often as the press suggests, but not never either.

Was thinking Mourinho + Matic, Moyes + Feillani, Harry and whoever had a nice brown envelope

But then I started to struggle to think of more. Of course it can happen, but I agree its not often at all

 

[Zomb]

I agree with all that although I don't see the resemblance to Hojbjerg but think you have more confidence in PEH's ability with the ball than I do. It was a major problem last season that he can't move the ball from the CB's to the more advanced MFers and it looks like it will still be a problem under Conte.

I think we will play PEH because but I don't see who is going to play the Brozovic/Pirlo role of dominating the ball and moving it from deep.

And if Skipp is going to start for us next year, yikes.

Edit:

I think Sissoko is gone. After his comments and with his zero ability there should be no place for him. Maybe I am basing this on hope more than reality but if Conte sees Sissoko as a useful piece and part of the squad I actually have zero interest in him coming in. That would ruin all the excitement I currently have for him and indicate that his time here will be a disaster.

Also, why the concern re: Skipp starting? Surely a much bigger change of him doing well and improving, than the basic PEH

 

[Zomb]

My concern is that he is 20 years old with one year of Championship experience and it seems like if he comes in he will be relied on to have a very important role.

I think it makes more sense to ease him in and give him a chance to show that he is ready for the jump right into the starting 11 of a team with top 4 ambitions. If he is ready then he can replace Hojbjerg or someone else if we bring them into the team in the summer. There will be plenty of games for him to play in.

If he’s no better than Holberg after a stellar season in the Championship, we may as well sell him as PEH ain’t good enough. I would rather throw him in with 15 consecutive games to see how he does