Are we shaping up for a potential back 3?

IrishRedDevil

Full Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2016
Messages
13,270
Location
N.Ireland
Does this work against weaker teams with Martinez pushing into DM?


---------------------Onana
----------Yoro --------------- De Ligt
Dalot ----------Martinez--------------Shaw
------------------------------Mainoo
-------------- Bruno
Amad ---------Hojlund -------- Garnacho


I believe we wanted Branthwaite to be the left-footed centre back for more balance, but have added De Ligt as I think that transfer is more possible.
 
Back 3 ... lets go a bit attacking

Onana

Yoro - De Ligt - Martinez

Amad Garnacho

Ugarte - Mainoo

Bruno

Zirkzee - Hojlund
 
IrishRedDevil said:
Does this work against weaker teams with Martinez pushing into DM?


---------------------Onana
----------Yoro --------------- De Ligt
Dalot ----------Martinez--------------Shaw
------------------------------Mainoo
-------------- Bruno
Amad ---------Hojlund -------- Garnacho


I believe we wanted Branthwaite to be the left-footed centre back for more balance, but have added De Ligt as I think that transfer is more possible.
Click to expand...
The formation with these players looks very good actually, I'd just switch Amad for Garnacho and Rashford for Garnacho.
 
tidraKS said:
The formation with these players looks very good actually, I'd just switch Amad for Garnacho and Rashford for Garnacho.
Click to expand...

That works also, I was just getting excited about the youth.
Really hoping Amad can breakthrough this season - deserves his chance.
 
IrishRedDevil said:
Does this work against weaker teams with Martinez pushing into DM?


---------------------Onana
----------Yoro --------------- De Ligt
Dalot ----------Martinez--------------Shaw
------------------------------Mainoo
-------------- Bruno
Amad ---------Hojlund -------- Garnacho


I believe we wanted Branthwaite to be the left-footed centre back for more balance, but have added De Ligt as I think that transfer is more possible.
Click to expand...

Can we please just try playing a proper, mobile DM in to play alongside Mainoo!?
 
We need a midfielder next to Mainoo who can protect the back 4 and also provide legs in being able to hassle and harry the opposition. A Bruno and Mainoo midfield just doesn’t work imo.
 
IrishRedDevil said:
Does this work against weaker teams with Martinez pushing into DM?


---------------------Onana
----------Yoro --------------- De Ligt
Dalot ----------Martinez--------------Shaw
------------------------------Mainoo
-------------- Bruno
Amad ---------Hojlund -------- Garnacho


I believe we wanted Branthwaite to be the left-footed centre back for more balance, but have added De Ligt as I think that transfer is more possible.
Click to expand...
So Zirkzee is not a part of the plan?
 
I believe we are shaping up to play 4-3-3 with a false 9. I understand this was the 'game model' preferred by Wilcox at Southampton and similar to what ETH played the last 3 games of the season. I wouldn't be surprised to see Bruno as our starting false nine and Zirkzee as his understudy. We could see Rasmus playing more from the right-hand side next season

-------Rashford/ Ganacho ---------------------Hojlund/ Anthony
---------------------------------------- Bruno/ Zirkee
--------------Mainoo/Erikson ---------------Mount/ McT
-------------------------------------Casemiro/ Ugarte
 
Switching to a back 3 would make the tactical intransigence of last season even more incredible.
 
Maybe the change we'd make with the new recruits at centreback is to play a more aggressive and higher defensive line to close up that gaping chasm where teams normally have midfielders.
 
No I don't think so, although if we sign De Ligt too then that would be a very strong back 3. United play with wingers and Garnacho is developing nicely in that role, so i can't see him disrupting that.
 
Monger said:
I believe we are shaping up to play 4-3-3 with a false 9. I understand this was the 'game model' preferred by Wilcox at Southampton and similar to what ETH played the last 3 games of the season. I wouldn't be surprised to see Bruno as our starting false nine and Zirkzee as his understudy. We could see Rasmus playing more from the right-hand side next season

-------Rashford/ Ganacho ---------------------Hojlund/ Anthony
---------------------------------------- Bruno/ Zirkee
--------------Mainoo/Erikson ---------------Mount/ McT
-------------------------------------Casemiro/ Ugarte
Click to expand...

Didn’t we play the last three games with sort of two false 9’s? In what seemed like a 4-2-2-2 or something? In attacking sort of 4-2-4.

And no, we won’t play three at the back very often.
 
Would be a complete step back to have spent all of last season pushing through with the 4 3 3 to just switch to a back 5. Reckon Ten Hag is determined to get his 4 3 3 working, which with the right players can be effective. So I doubt we'd go to a 5.
 
Back 3 plus 2 full backs, a.k.a. a back 5, is too defensive for a team that in theory should be better than most of their opponents. It would be soporific, another Southgate special.
 
Hoof the ball said:
What about Yoro or Martinez taking a "CB at FB" City thing?
Click to expand...
I think you're on the right track mate and inverting players looks the best way to form a back 3.

I don't believe we're going to start of with a back 3, but rather it could be a CB starting as a fullback and then inverting to a back 3. I think that makes much more sense and I can potentially see Leny Yoro being rotated at both RB and RCB. Martinez imo shouldn't be occupying a wide berth in the build up phase because he's our most technically gifted CB in possession as far as breaking the lines go, that it be can be counter productive to our build up potential from the back to shunt him out wide where his influence in possession is then a little more limited in comparison to playing centrally. We need Martinez to be in a position to be the first receiver of the ball from the GK.

We also don't have a proper holding midfielder if the aim is to build the play at a high level. Someone whose positionally disciplined along with having a in-possession game that can help us progress the ball at a good level. I think the way things are going, it seems like the backline will have to take on a lot of the line breaking duties.

But imo it would make sense to look for a reasonably priced holding midfielder who can be disciplined and also provide what we're missing in the build up phase as far as receiving the pass under pressure along with progressing the ball and also being someone who can stay disciplined and have moving parts around him in the form of a midfield partner and then someone who inverts into midfield from fullback or even CB. We don't have that unless one of the youngsters from the youth surprises us all. I said in the past I'd like to see us take a chance on Mats Wieffer who has now joined Brighton and currently I'd say take a chance on the Valencia midfielder Pepelu who has the attributes that are required to play a more disciplined role and also the progressive side and wouldn't cost a lot imo.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.