Is it time to try 3 at the back?

[JAYSTAR]

I must admit I used to hate the idea of three CBs and two wing backs. But the more I think about the problem of our midfield pairing getting over run and our fullbacks (majorly Walker) getting caught out of position and our lack of aerial threat or speed at the back.... the more I think we would work well as follows:

Lloris

Dier Fazio Verts

Yedlin Bentaleb Mason Rose

Lamela Kane Eriksen
​

Our biggest problems are:

• We have three wing forwards who are poor at tracking back or tackling anyone (Chadli, Townsend and Eriksen)
• Our wing backs are expected to provide width and get balls into the box, but keep leaving the other back three exposed when caught out of position.
• Our midfield two get overrun when we are on the defensive against counters and we don't have / play a CDM
• Although pressing from the front is good, I fear that Kane and Eriksen do too much running back into midfield trying to support Mason and Bentaleb and should be released to focus on scoring goals.

I personally value Fazio's aerial domination and Dier's pace and both he and Verts are ideal for covering an absent wing back if caught out of position.
Whatever happens, we need to use the players and the skill sets they have IMO and find a way to be more defensive generally.

​

 

[mill]

Even if it is we won't

 

[dontcallme]

Pretty decent shout. Italy played it the other day and an England player mentioned how hard it was to break down.

Would give Vertonghen more opportunities to carry the ball out of defence which he has done effectively in the past.

 

[tobi]

With this group it would be worse than four at the back.

 

[Jamturk]

Looks ok on paper,

however it requires good decision making which I think being a young team is 1 of our major flaws.

 

[DaSpurs]

It's a decent shout and it's reinforced logically, but I'm not sure if it will help with the problem of the counters in behind in the high press. In fact, I fear it might even exacerbate it as you consequently have even less pace in the back, and we certainly don't have the pace to shield them from the front.

Both of these problems, the midfield being overrun and the relentless countering in behind, are due to an attacking four which are simply not quick enough to appropriately cut out counters or even blunt them by forcing a horizontal pass to afford the rest of the team more time to set up. Until we solve this problem, even good ideas like this won't help us.

Although, it would work if we abandoned the high line.

 

[JerryGarcia]

I don't know if I'm accurate but it seems to me that when teams switch to a back three system they have a period where they look as shaky as Shakin' Stevens trying to walk to the shop on ketamine. This would dash any remaining hope's of top four and we should at least be going hell for leather to finish above Liverpool and Southampto. I'm not against the idea with the right players but It would be a risk to disrupt the current system, even if it looks shaky itself at times. We are still picking up points and winning games.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

In a word - no.

Maybe, after a preseason where we practice the formation regularly. maybe then. now would be a terrible time to make that switch.

 

[yojambo]

I think Pochettino will stay with his version of 4231. It seems that's the formation he deems best to play in his style.

 

[mpickard2087]

There have been many occasions this season where switching to three at the back was an option. Games against weaker teams for instance where we could have switched to something like a 3-4-3. I'm all for flexibility and like a defensive midfielder being able to drop into the backline and shuttle between a back three and a back four depending on what the opposition is doing.

The outer centre backs need to be comfortable on the ball and in bringing it out of defence, which Dier and Vertonghen are, but also pretty mobile to defend the flanks when needed... And not sure our ones are. The central of the three also needs to be a pretty good sweeper and reader of the game.

Personally if I was going to set up a back three then I'd go either:

Dier - Chiriches - Vertonghen (Debateable as to who played in the centre and left between the latter two)

or even

Dier - Capoue - Vertonghen

But the ones in front also need coaching properly and to be disciplined in their roles which I doubt would happen, and I also don't think tactical nous is really Poch's forte.

 

[chinaman]

I think the 3rd CB needs to be more mobile and faster than Fazio.

 

[Spurger King]

In most games this season it looks like we're playing 2 at the back anyway.

 

[double0]

I think the system we play is pretty flexible, just need better CB's

 

[eViL]

Actually, if the system is working as it should.. when the fullbacks push forward a designated DCM should be the 3rd CB.

Work to do in the off-season.

 

[JAYSTAR]

I was thinking about the pre-season as the ideal time to switch. I'm pretty confident we won't and will continue to put all the pressure on two cms like we did when sandro and dembele used to do twice the work of anyone else in the team. The problem is teams know how to break us down now, even bottom of the table teams. Something needs to change and it's not just personnel.

 

[DaSpurs]

Something needs to change and it's not just personnel.

Agree with this entirely. I don't think Poch needs to abandon his system, but he absolutely needs to learn to adapt. You're absolutely right, even teams well below our quality have found it entirely too easy to map us out due to our repetition and predictability.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

I think the system we play is pretty flexible, just need better CB's

I think it's more the midfield protection in front of them tbh, as well as Mason and Bentaleb have done the pairing is very lightweight. Poch needs to sort us out on defending set-peices, and I think we should be going into tougher games with a midfield 3, rather than changing to that when we are 0-2 down.

 

[Japhet]

I think it's more the midfield protection in front of them tbh, as well as Mason and Bentaleb have done the pairing is very lightweight. Poch needs to sort us out on defending set-peices, and I think we should be going into tougher games with a midfield 3, rather than changing to that when we are 0-2 down.

We really, really need Capoue or Stambouli in midfield. I can even see Burnley giving us a hard time if we go with Mason and Bentaleb again.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

We really, really need Capoue or Stambouli in midfield. I can even see Burnley giving us a hard time if we go with Mason and Bentaleb again.

Agree, although Paulinho did well in our last match and would probably be the one that should come in if Poch does decide to go with a 3.

 

[Strikeb4ck]

Why is Lamela starting in 90% of the "potential" lineups on this site? What has he done to earn that? I just don't understand.