Ronald Koeman

[Horatio]

Relax guys, 3-5-2 is decent as long as Dembele is fit and makes runs in space constantly. It's a temporary fix of some of our problems. Not more than that. Besides, it's as our assistant said, as long as you press, run a lot and apply intensity on the opponent's possession spells, you're generally fine with most modern systems.

Assistant only says that because he can't single out Lenglet as having been a disaster for more than a handful of games. It's clear they tried a 3-5-2 because of defense issues. Otherwise what's the point of switching if it is so similar.

 

[serghei]

Assistant only says that because he can't single out Lenglet as having been a disaster for more than a handful of games. It's clear they tried a 3-5-2 because of defense issues. Otherwise what's the point of switching if it is so similar.

More than that. Lack of pure wingers, slowness of Busi, and having extra men near him, meaning a narrower, more compact midfield.

There are some sacrifices for that, and if Dembele's form dips again, as it often does, we are left with very limited offensive solutions. Somehow, vs Sevilla he delivered in both games.

 

[Horatio]

More than that. Lack of pure wingers, slowness of Busi, and having extra men near him, meaning a narrower, more compact midfield.

There are some sacrifices for that, and if Dembele's form dips again, as it often does, we are left with very limited offensive solutions. Somehow, vs Sevilla he delivered in both games.

Forgot relieves Alba and Dest of defensive duties.

 

[serghei]

Forgot relieves Alba and Dest of defensive duties.

Yea, and both are good offensively. Dest has some nice dribbles in him and is a smart player, but raw and inconsistent in his take-ons.

 

[Marshall D Teach]

Oh yeah this 3-5-2 is probably our best bet right now. Was just pointing out that it's a temporary solution.

Koeman's probably going to go back to a 4-3-3 next season.

 

[Joan]

The main benefit we're getting from the three at the back setup is the third defender. Sevilla is a good team, even though they didn't play their best, we looked more solid at the back and left them with very few chances.

Could help us in bigger games this season.

Obviously offence is still better with 3 attackers. Otherwise we're Dembele dependant and we know that's not sustainable.

 

[Blaugrana Bull]

The main benefit we're getting from the three at the back setup is the third defender...

You cracked the code man.

 

[Birdy]

Seems the best system thus far against opposition that can hurt us at the back.
I wanna see 3-5-2 against PSG next week.
If we win or put a decent performance there, then from now on it should be 3-5-2 against the big boys and 4-3-3 against weaker sides

 

[Horatio]

Seems the best system thus far against opposition that can hurt us at the back.
I wanna see 3-5-2 against PSG next week.
If we win or put a decent performance there, then from now on it should be 3-5-2 against the big boys and 4-3-3 against weaker sides

How would you like to see us against Bilbao in Copa final?

 

[Birdy]

3-5-2 again, and switch only if circumstances during the game dictate it.

We won convincingly 2-3 in our first LaLiga game against them, but that was before Marcelino tactics took effect.
The next 2 games against them were both set for draws (we lost one in ET, and narrowly won the other). They effectively shut us down.

I think the 3-5-2 offers more defensive stability and control, and allows us - after making sure we don't get threatened - to make a claim that we can create a few good chances to win it. It does not allow for tons of chances (especially clear ones) from what we have seen against Sevilla, but it will allow for a few.
I think it also depends a lot of Dembele. His movement yesterday while in 3-5-2 was worse IMO compared to Saturday:
Yesterday he practically played CF, whereas on Saturday he drifted wide, which is key to exploit spaces -> moving and accelerating in the left half-space created 2 big chances: the first goal after Messi's pass, and one he created himself with his dribble in the 2nd half.

 

[Horatio]

We had a lot of chances against Sevilla actually. Would go for 3-5-2 as well. Think we gain more defense than what is lost in offense.

 

[Birdy]

At Pichuan we had 1.57 cumulative xG with basically 2 big chances (the goals) and a semi-good chance. The impressive was that Sevilla had 0.13 analyzed in 0 chaces. We completely shut them down.
I think the exact same happened yesterday until the formation change, but I have to confirm that through numbers.

EDIT: Finally found an xG map from the game yesterday!!!
WOW, we battered them:

Again Sevilla 0 chances until our change of formation.
3-5-2 seems to offer security. Can't wait to see how it responds against PSG

 

[Messigician]

The main benefit we're getting from the three at the back setup is the third defender.

Thank you captain obvious

 

[Porque]

What is "actual success in World Football"?
352 and 343 have been used by Italian teams with Juve for example and it was working just fine too in their league. Conte won the EPL title with it iirc?

Winning silverware. Your right about Conte and the EPL too.

Football formations go in cycles. We saw how Pep tried to shift from 433 to 343 in the end of his tenur here to try and evolve. But still, 433 persists for him due to the reason mentioned in the bottom sentence.

From initial observation I am wondering if with the right personel the way to disrupt the 433 is with a modernised 352. One that during the match you can positionally change the setup to a 433 in attacking phases- mainly due to having either the RCB or LCB (or both) being able to play CB,RB/LB (both for attacking and defensive phases.

A role very hard to find in football (Ramos, Abidal... Mingueza, Kounde). Yet none of Alba, Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Ruben Dias, Van Dijk or even Dani Alves could be this).

You then need a midfielder who can go to AML/AMR. Easier to find in the world of hybrid attackers. De Bruyne for City, Pedri for us right now.

Not 343 to 433 being the interchange as previously attempted, as it leaves the wings overly exposed comparatively, while little possessional difference to the 352.

 

[Joan]

Thank you captain obvious

Anytime boys!