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4-2-3-1 vs 5-2-3

JollyHappy

Well-Known Member
Oct 9, 2005
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It's interesting and, I think, not a coincidence that since Sanchez was suspended plus Toby's injury, we have done much better against the "weaker" teams by having 4 at the back and being able to include Son, Dele and Eriksen.

I wonder if we had Sanchez, Toby and Jan all fit then would we have played 4 or 5 at the back against Stoke, Burnley and Southampton?

Poch has to make a choice once Toby is back whether to stick to a back 4 and have the 3 behind Kane. I'd like him to keep to that formation when we have to break teams down.
 

Blake Griffin

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2011
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38,225
would be surprised if we didn't go back to a back three once toby is fit, which will probably mean son drawing the short straw.
 

werty

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2005
25,074
26,310
We haven't played 523 all season. It's been 5311. I think the five at the back works against gung-ho teams if we decide to play a counter-attacking game. I don't think it works against teams that park the bus.
 

LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
13,456
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would be surprised if we didn't go back to a back three once toby is fit, which will probably mean son drawing the short straw.
It could be sooner than that - if Wanyama is fit, it creates a scenario where Poch moves Dier to a back-3, or worst-case scenario - plays Wanyama and Dier together....
 

St José Dominguez

Well-Known Member
Jul 15, 2014
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11,648
I'd imagine once Toby is back we'd go back to 3 at back but there's no reason we can't play this team against the majority of teams we are expected to beat.

Lloris
Aurier Alderweireld Sanchez Vertonghen Rose
Wanyama
Dele Eriksen
Son Kane

 
D

Deleted member 27855

If we return to a back 3 that would mean you’d have to sit one of Son, Eriksen or Alli. All 3 are undropable. We should only be playing in a back 3 against certain opponents. Chelsea, Liverpool, Juve, etc.

I think the more interesting problem is what we do with Dier when Alderweild and Wanyama are back healthy. Does Poch rotate DM much in the same way he rotates his fullbacks?
 

Derp

Well-Known Member
Dec 4, 2014
303
507
I prefer 4-3-3 and i think it’s the best formation for a top team. Pep, City and Barca is using it and i think those teams have shown the absolute best football we have ever seen. I think coming out with an offensive minded tactic is important for players to really out that pressure on the opponent.

Going back to us, i favor 4-2-3-1, since it’s closest to 4-3-3 and it allows us to bring in a more offensive minded player. I’m not saying that you can’t play offensive football with 3atb in some games, but i think in the long run it’s just more entertaining with more offensive players on the pitch.

It allows us to play Kane, Dele, Son and Eriksen and it means that we still have 3 offensive players when Eriksen comes deep to dictate our play. He is our Silva and KDB and we want him on the ball in the middle of the pitch as much as possible. We just don’t have anyone else who can dictate our play from deep, so it only leaves two man up front when we play with 3atb and then we have 3 CBs and two CM/DMs who are just standing behind Eriksen not being a threat at all. 4-2-3-1 becomes sort of a 4-3-3, but 5-2-2-1 becomes more of 5-3-1-1. So we get way more defensive with 3atb. Imo the only way to use 5-2-2-1 is if we player Eriksen in one of the deeper midfield positions.

With the form Son is in i much rather have him starting than another CB. We absolutely need 4 offensive players on the pitch.
 

punkisback

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2004
4,410
7,278
5 at the back is absolutely boring. Especially when you end up having Dier and Wanywama at CM we already lack creativity as it is. It has to be a back 4 with a dedicated DM rather than a back 5.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
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You can not play 3 CB against lesser teams it makes no sense at all, however good on the ball the 2 wider CB are. Against top 6 and CL definitely yes. But totally not needed against the park the bus teams. Kane dele Son eriksen have a really nice flow be tragic to disrupt that. We can Rotate Sanchez toby jan in a 2 they’d still get plenty of game time.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
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Oh actually don’t think we’ve played 4231 all season. As yesterday Dier is a single pivot. So it’s much more a 4141 or 4132.
 

lol

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2008
6,651
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this is why dier is so valuable. he gives us the flexibility to switch to 3 or 2 cb at any given moment
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
We haven't played 523 all season. It's been 5311. I think the five at the back works against gung-ho teams if we decide to play a counter-attacking game. I don't think it works against teams that park the bus.

It worked fine last season.
 

DJS

A hoonter must hoont
Dec 9, 2006
31,261
21,760
I love either formation as long as we have the players available to play it.

For a 3-4-2-1 I think we need Wanyama at defensive midfield alongside Dembele preferably or Winks as Dier more suited to 4-2-3-1 where he can drop into defense.

3-4-2-1 was very effective and we played some of our best stuff using it.

But would mean dropping Son possibly.

Playing 4-2-3-1 means if everyone fit gotta choose between Alderweireld and Sanchez. Although we’ll al have to pick between Wanyama and Dier at some point as well :nailbiting:
 

TEESSIDE1

Married, new job and Spurs on the up!
Jul 3, 2006
15,089
18,780
I don’t think the formation issue will be a problem this season as Wanyama will need to be eased in (rotate with Dier), whereas we’ve no idea if and when Toby will be back. With the murmurings that we may actually sell him in the summer then it would give us one less selection headache.
 

The Swellhead Spur

Don't take what I say as gospel
Mar 30, 2015
520
1,490
The team that started against Liverpool was quite attacking, as we all know we won't be sticking to one formation and will change depending on personnel and opposition
 

gregga

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2005
2,281
1,312
Last season by far our best football came playing 3 at the back.

I disagree that it doesn’t work against the bus-parkers: it frees the wingbacks to get further forward and overload packed defences with width.

The only downside is only being able to field 2 of our DMs. If it looked ineffective earlier in the season it was due a lack of (I) Wanyama in the box to box role and (II) the width Rose and Walker.
 
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