I wrote a little piece a few years back on how we should not just go with the flow and play 4-2-3-1 like every other team. That instead we should play a 3-back line, as a counter to 4-2-3-1, as copying other teams with better players won't put us ahead of them.
Poch proved me wrong. By working a talented squad very hard, he managed to apply the standard system to good effect, and overtake most others.
I still remained a fan of the 3-back line though, and eagerly awaited Conte's arrival at Chelsea. He dissapointed me, though, as he applied the 4-2-3-1 system in many of his first games. A dissapointment that it was easy to get over as Chelsea crashed with the system, and were only mostly lucky to get the points that they got. Now though, after some miserable defeats against Liverpool and Woolwich, he has returned to 3-4-3, with great success.
I firmly believe that 3-4-3 would fit us and our players about a trillion times better than the 4-1-4-1 we've tried lately (which I hold to be greatly responsible to our downturn in form), and also better than 4-2-3-1.
We have two absolutely fantastic CBs in Alderweireld and Vertonghen who have both succesfully played as full backs. We have a very athletic Dier, who does have some concentration issues as a CB, who would benefit from having two other CBs around him, and who have previously shown to have qualities as a RB. We have two great, young benched CBs who seem ready to play a part in the team, in Wimmer and CCV. All the five mentioned are also good on the ball. And we have Davies, who've played some great games for Wales as a LCB in a 3-back line, and who is a good LB. They would all fit very well in a 3-4-3, at least some (Dier and Davies in particular) better than in a 4-back line.
Walker and Rose are great wing backs. We are at our best when they are involved when we go forwards. The same goes for Trippier. Davies could also do a good job as a wide man in 3-4-3.
In a 3-4-3 the CM players will be more involved going forwards than in a 4-2-3-1. I'm not certain how that would affect Wanyama, but he seems decent on the ball and may end up being a bit more adventorous in such a role, and slow us down less. The CM role is less restrictive and less demanding defensively. It would most likely give Alli more room to shine. He is, imo not a AM in 4-2-3-1 nor a DM in that system. He would fit better in the 3-4-3. I also think that Dembele would do well, although he couldn't possibly be better than he was last season. Furthermore, as it is less demanding defensively, I think it would fit players like Carroll, Winks, Eriksen and Mason (Yes, I know he's gone) better. And Sissoko.
Going forwards, I think the three offensive roles would offer both more freedom and more support than 4-2-3-1, and definately more than the horrid 4-1-4-1. I think that might suit Lamela (who I am always wrong about though), and I'm sure it would suit Son. It would let us better exploit Son's pace without him being our striker.
I truly believe that a 3-4-3 would get more out of our squad.
Pref lineup:
Lloris
Dier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen
Walker, Alli, Dembele, Rose
Son, Kane, Eriksen
Players for positions:
RCB: (Walker), Alder, Dier, CCV
CB: Dier, Alder, Wimmer, (Vert, CCV)
LCB: Vert, Wimmer, Davies
RM: Walker, Trippier, Sissoko, (Dier)
CM: Alli, Dembele, Sissoko, Wanyama, Winks, Carroll, (Eriksen, Onomah)
Att: Lamela, Eriksen, Alli, Son (Dembele, Onomah, Edwards, N'Koudou)
Strikers: Kane, Janssen (Son)
Poch proved me wrong. By working a talented squad very hard, he managed to apply the standard system to good effect, and overtake most others.
I still remained a fan of the 3-back line though, and eagerly awaited Conte's arrival at Chelsea. He dissapointed me, though, as he applied the 4-2-3-1 system in many of his first games. A dissapointment that it was easy to get over as Chelsea crashed with the system, and were only mostly lucky to get the points that they got. Now though, after some miserable defeats against Liverpool and Woolwich, he has returned to 3-4-3, with great success.
I firmly believe that 3-4-3 would fit us and our players about a trillion times better than the 4-1-4-1 we've tried lately (which I hold to be greatly responsible to our downturn in form), and also better than 4-2-3-1.
We have two absolutely fantastic CBs in Alderweireld and Vertonghen who have both succesfully played as full backs. We have a very athletic Dier, who does have some concentration issues as a CB, who would benefit from having two other CBs around him, and who have previously shown to have qualities as a RB. We have two great, young benched CBs who seem ready to play a part in the team, in Wimmer and CCV. All the five mentioned are also good on the ball. And we have Davies, who've played some great games for Wales as a LCB in a 3-back line, and who is a good LB. They would all fit very well in a 3-4-3, at least some (Dier and Davies in particular) better than in a 4-back line.
Walker and Rose are great wing backs. We are at our best when they are involved when we go forwards. The same goes for Trippier. Davies could also do a good job as a wide man in 3-4-3.
In a 3-4-3 the CM players will be more involved going forwards than in a 4-2-3-1. I'm not certain how that would affect Wanyama, but he seems decent on the ball and may end up being a bit more adventorous in such a role, and slow us down less. The CM role is less restrictive and less demanding defensively. It would most likely give Alli more room to shine. He is, imo not a AM in 4-2-3-1 nor a DM in that system. He would fit better in the 3-4-3. I also think that Dembele would do well, although he couldn't possibly be better than he was last season. Furthermore, as it is less demanding defensively, I think it would fit players like Carroll, Winks, Eriksen and Mason (Yes, I know he's gone) better. And Sissoko.
Going forwards, I think the three offensive roles would offer both more freedom and more support than 4-2-3-1, and definately more than the horrid 4-1-4-1. I think that might suit Lamela (who I am always wrong about though), and I'm sure it would suit Son. It would let us better exploit Son's pace without him being our striker.
I truly believe that a 3-4-3 would get more out of our squad.
Pref lineup:
Lloris
Dier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen
Walker, Alli, Dembele, Rose
Son, Kane, Eriksen
Players for positions:
RCB: (Walker), Alder, Dier, CCV
CB: Dier, Alder, Wimmer, (Vert, CCV)
LCB: Vert, Wimmer, Davies
RM: Walker, Trippier, Sissoko, (Dier)
CM: Alli, Dembele, Sissoko, Wanyama, Winks, Carroll, (Eriksen, Onomah)
Att: Lamela, Eriksen, Alli, Son (Dembele, Onomah, Edwards, N'Koudou)
Strikers: Kane, Janssen (Son)