I actually think now in the hindsight we have got this appointment at the wrong time. We should have kept Ruud as the interim or got any other manager who is experienced who would get the best of the players for the reminder of the season.
Then started fresh next season with him and buy the full backs and CAMs he need for the system to work alongside the striker. He could get pre-season and drilled the team the way he wanted, and for players as well the whole process would have been smoother. Lets break down his system and the problems we are facing.
1) In the 3-4-3 system the wingbacks are supposed to be like wingers going forward and full backs when defending, whereas our wingbacks look like full backs when attacking and look like a deer in the headlights, one on one against opposition full backs and their first instinct is to always play it back instead of taking them on, making our formation 5-2-3 incredible boring with no cutting edge (takes me back to those LVG days).
2) The next puzzle in this system is the left and right CAMs. They are supposed to be in half spaces closer to striker, So in theory we should have a three man attack with two center backs being occupied by the central striker and two full backs being kept busy by wingbacks and then these two players create havoc between the lines and make it difficult for opposition full backs and central midfielders to hold their positions. What we have right now is Amad is occupying RW position (to compensate for Maz's lack of suitability), and left CAM is also starting wide but whether its Bruno or Eriksen whoever is playing does not have the dribbling, agility to play that role effectively, leaving us keeping hold of the ball without hurting opposition.
3) Another issue due to these CAMs not closer to ST but rather wide, it leaves the ST very isolated as he does not have anybody to combine, which looks very apparent specially as our striker does not have the ability to hold the ball well, turn dribble and take the shots away. Mostly he is outmuscled and outfought and then to add insult to injury, he does not have anybody combining and linking up with him close by.
4) One of the benefit of playing with three center backs is one or sometimes can vacate their position and and follow or pressurize CAM of other teams high up (mostly in the middle), we saw Martinez doing this against De Bruyne or Yoro against Maddison. It results in outnumbering 2 CMs of other team with our one CB and two midfielders (making it three for us).
However, we have seen us abandon this tactic in few games or players not following this, specially against Newcastle since they played 3 in the middle, we were outnumbered and our CBs did not support the midfield resulting us not only being outnumbered but also physically we were no match. We practically ended up with 5 defenders against 3 attackers, which makes is incredibly easy for them to outclass us in different areas of the pitch because of numerical superiority.
So keeping all these issues in mind, the crux is we don't have suitable players for this formation even if we intend to get all of these players for this manager then what will happen to Maz or Dalot or Garnacho. Because they are not bad players just not fit for the system. Then the new wingbacks and Cams they will be tailor made for this formation only what happens if Amorim does not work out, then we will go and buy full backs again and sell these wing backs?
The best option is to slightly amend the formation go with different variant of 4. Or if we intend to go for 3 at the back at least have Amad or Garnacho (both preferably) as wingbacks. At least we will be entertaining going forward and score some goals, we are leaking goals anyway, but knowing Amorim and his stubbornness i think we are in for a tough ride unless he becomes flexible.
Then started fresh next season with him and buy the full backs and CAMs he need for the system to work alongside the striker. He could get pre-season and drilled the team the way he wanted, and for players as well the whole process would have been smoother. Lets break down his system and the problems we are facing.
1) In the 3-4-3 system the wingbacks are supposed to be like wingers going forward and full backs when defending, whereas our wingbacks look like full backs when attacking and look like a deer in the headlights, one on one against opposition full backs and their first instinct is to always play it back instead of taking them on, making our formation 5-2-3 incredible boring with no cutting edge (takes me back to those LVG days).
2) The next puzzle in this system is the left and right CAMs. They are supposed to be in half spaces closer to striker, So in theory we should have a three man attack with two center backs being occupied by the central striker and two full backs being kept busy by wingbacks and then these two players create havoc between the lines and make it difficult for opposition full backs and central midfielders to hold their positions. What we have right now is Amad is occupying RW position (to compensate for Maz's lack of suitability), and left CAM is also starting wide but whether its Bruno or Eriksen whoever is playing does not have the dribbling, agility to play that role effectively, leaving us keeping hold of the ball without hurting opposition.
3) Another issue due to these CAMs not closer to ST but rather wide, it leaves the ST very isolated as he does not have anybody to combine, which looks very apparent specially as our striker does not have the ability to hold the ball well, turn dribble and take the shots away. Mostly he is outmuscled and outfought and then to add insult to injury, he does not have anybody combining and linking up with him close by.
4) One of the benefit of playing with three center backs is one or sometimes can vacate their position and and follow or pressurize CAM of other teams high up (mostly in the middle), we saw Martinez doing this against De Bruyne or Yoro against Maddison. It results in outnumbering 2 CMs of other team with our one CB and two midfielders (making it three for us).
However, we have seen us abandon this tactic in few games or players not following this, specially against Newcastle since they played 3 in the middle, we were outnumbered and our CBs did not support the midfield resulting us not only being outnumbered but also physically we were no match. We practically ended up with 5 defenders against 3 attackers, which makes is incredibly easy for them to outclass us in different areas of the pitch because of numerical superiority.
So keeping all these issues in mind, the crux is we don't have suitable players for this formation even if we intend to get all of these players for this manager then what will happen to Maz or Dalot or Garnacho. Because they are not bad players just not fit for the system. Then the new wingbacks and Cams they will be tailor made for this formation only what happens if Amorim does not work out, then we will go and buy full backs again and sell these wing backs?
The best option is to slightly amend the formation go with different variant of 4. Or if we intend to go for 3 at the back at least have Amad or Garnacho (both preferably) as wingbacks. At least we will be entertaining going forward and score some goals, we are leaking goals anyway, but knowing Amorim and his stubbornness i think we are in for a tough ride unless he becomes flexible.
