Conte's 3-5-2

[kremlyn]

Last season we famously played 3-4-3 and to great effect. It's direct, works very well on the counter and we had the personel to do it. Just.

It's a very demanding formation, especially on the midfield who have to do a lot of running to make it work.

This isn't Conte's only formation thoughand you could well argue that he prefers a 3-5-2. His Inter Milan side and his Juventus side were mainly playing this way. This analysis (which is excellent) shows how it works.

Antonio Conte – Inter Milan – Tactical Analysis (2020-21 Edition)

Since Antonio Conte’s arrival at Inter Milan, the Italian giants have transformed into the most effective side in all of Serie A. Other than disappointments in the UEFA Champions League and l…

themastermindsite.com

In some ways it's a mouth watering prospect. Kane Son and Richarlison vying for the 2 striker roles will be excellent but the midfield is less obvious and suggests to me that we're still short of a midfielder.

My starting 11 looks like this.

Lloris

Romero Dier Lenglet

Doherty (currently) Perisic

Bissouma Bentancur Skipp
Kane Son

Ideally I'd have Bissouma in Skipp's place and bring in a more attacking central option like Paqueta to play the 'Barella' role. Sarr looks like he could do it but is very green.

I'm really looking forward to the pre season to see of we change formation. It might give us more of a steer as to who our remaining targets would be.

How would you line them up?

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

How would you line them up?

In a 343

 

[spids]

Given he signed Bissouma and Richarlison I expect us to consistently play 3-4-3. If we'd signed Eriksen instead of those two players I'd be expecting a 3-5--2.

 

[kremlyn]

That we thought about Eriksen suggests we're considering the change and have another target in mind..

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

I doubt we are considering a full time switch to a 352.

There may be an occasional game, or mid game adjustment, but our transfer targets/business strongly suggests a commitment to the 343.

We clearly never seriously pursued Eriksen, and while we might still target another attacking midfielder, it’s not a priority. (Otherwise Conte would have insisted the player be here for pre-season when all the work would take place to change formations.)

We have 5 forwards- too many for 2 positions, and 4 CMs - too few for 3 positions.

 

[Delboy75]

With the departure of Dele likely departures of Lo celso Ndombele it’s pretty clear to me he wants a solid 2 in a 343. None of Bissouma Hojbjerg Bentancur Skipp have much attacking ability. However I would like to see us sign a lingard type. So If chasing a game he’d replace one of the 4 solid CM. Especially with 5 subs I think we need a bench player like that.

 

[dontcallme]

That we thought about Eriksen suggests we're considering the change and have another target in mind..

My understanding was that Conte didn't want Eriksen.

I believe the players we have bought suggest we are going to be playing 343 this season.

 

[Johnny J]

Even with Perisic, have far more quality in our forwards than we do in our wing backs, and we have essentially zero attacking midfielders (if we discount GLC and Ndombele). So I think he'll generally stay with 3 up top.

 

[Blake Griffin]

i remember last season we went to leicester with a midfield three of hojbjerg, skipp and winks, in theory it should have been dreadful but as it turned out we totally played them off the park. it would be good to have a more natural creative/attacking player in there but i think conte could still make it work with the current quartet. there'll be times during the season where we're missing players or just need something different so being able to throw richarlison up top with kane for example would be a great option to have.

 

[SirHarryHotspur]

In the Spursplay documentary "202 days Antonio Conte" , in around about the fourth minute Antonio states his preference for three at the back , two wing backs , two central midfielders and three strikers.
If he goes 3-5-2 then Rich & Kulu ain't going to start many PL games as Harry & Sonny are banker starters and Lucas might as well retire.
He has the midfield for 3-4-3 with Rod, PEH, Skippy, Biss and possibly Sarr able to share the work load of the two central players plus with five subs he can replace the engine room midway through a game.

 

[Trix]

In a 343

Not rocket science is it.

Tactically for the odd game I could see it, but the biggest strength we have is our world class front 3. You'd have to be a idiot to move away from that, and Conte is not a idiot.

 

[SirHarryHotspur]

i remember last season we went to leicester with a midfield three of hojbjerg, skipp and winks, in theory it should have been dreadful but as it turned out we totally played them off the park. it would be good to have a more natural creative/attacking player in there but i think conte could still make it work with the current quartet. there'll be times during the season where we're missing players or just need something different so being able to throw richarlison up top with kane for example would be a great option to have.

I always remember that game when people go on about creativity and the lack of it in midfield, we had Harry & Lucas up front think Sonny was injured and we had more goal attempts than almost any other game last season and that was before Stevie came on.

 

[GLUESODA]

If we chasing a game I would like to see this:

————————Lloris

———Romero - Dier - Lenglet

Kulu-Bentancur-Kane-Bissouma-Perisic

————Richarlison - Son

Kane drops deeper and Kulu goes right wing back

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

We need the creativity of Kulu in the side. I don’t see him being dropped very often considering the impact he made last season.

 

[EQP]

I imagine, we'll likely see the 352 deployed for certain games and maybe even used to close out games where we've dominated or taken a comfortable lead. I can see Conte using at minimum 4 subs a game to keep everyone fresh and motivated.

 

[kremlyn]

Not rocket science is it.

Tactically for the odd game I could see it, but the biggest strength we have is our world class front 3. You'd have to be a idiot to move away from that, and Conte is not a idiot.

He isn't an idiot but while he's had success with 3-4-3 he's had far more success with 3-5-2.

You know more than most about our transfer plans but I'd be very surprised if there aren't plans afoot to bring in an AM like Barella or to figure out who can already do it.

He played 352 with Winks as the dm and it worked (albeit against Leicester) so it's definitely an option for him. I'd imagine it's something he'd prefer to do if he can but he'll need the personel to do it.

 

[Trippier the RB fantastic]

Apart from playing as a wide forward Kulu can also drift centrally in the number 10 position , he's certainly got the intelligence to play there.

 

[kremlyn]

We need the creativity of Kulu in the side. I don’t see him being dropped very often considering the impact he made last season.

Kulu could play the Barella role but I'm not sure he's a natural fit. Yet...

 

[ralphs bald spot]

With the departure of Dele likely departures of Lo celso Ndombele it’s pretty clear to me he wants a solid 2 in a 343. None of Bissouma Hojbjerg Bentancur Skipp have much attacking ability. However I would like to see us sign a lingard type. So If chasing a game he’d replace one of the 4 solid CM. Especially with 5 subs I think we need a bench player like that.

Richarlson gives him other options he can lead the line and allow Kane to drop a little deeper and be a creative influence than he is already - Conte doesn't need to change the make up of the side he can make subtle changes with his front 3 and retain a solid base

I don't see us looking at a nbr 10 at all unless he can find a player who drifts on from wide

 

[kremlyn]

If we chasing a game I would like to see this:

————————Lloris

———Romero - Dier - Lenglet

Kulu-Bentancur-Kane-Bissouma-Perisic

————Richarlison - Son

Kane drops deeper and Kulu goes right wing back

Conte's 3-5-2 uses a DM rather than an AM or No. 10. One of the CMs usually plays much more advanced instead.

Do you remember Wesley Snejder? He played as a trequartista which is basically what Barella plays.