Can We Use A 3 Man Midfield?

[Jumanji]

I reject this premise

Likewise. It is myth stemming from two poor collective team performances.

That said, the traditional terrier, Makele role if you will, defensive midfielder is dying amongst the top teams. The lesser teams continue to to employ them, however better sides are looking to get players that can supplement the attack on the pitch.

Look at Pellegrini loaning Barry. Look at Bayern, although they played one before in Gustavo, began phasing him out. It has since intensified under Pep. Opting against a traditional destroyer, they've sold Luis Gustavo and Emre Can. Real Madrid, Barca, Rags, Chelsea all opt for more versatile midfielders, for example.

Limited tough-tackling destroyers like Wanyama these days go to the Southamptons and such of the world. Sure you can find exceptions, De Jong at Milan for example, but these days mainly reactive managers use them...the type that want their team to sit deep, soak up pressure, hit teams on the break, and thus use traditional destroyers as a shield.

What most teams have is either a holding player, a physical presence or an intelligent player in the deep role. The rise of possession football has set a preference for the latter.

If a team does their job, and presses collectively like a Barca, you don't need a tough-tackling destroyer.

Top managers now believe that such a vital position on the pitch shouldn't be wasted on a player that can only tackle (a last resort action that means you did something wrong) or pass the ball 20 metres. You have be somewhat decent defensively, but moreso have a degree of finesse with the ball. That's why teams like Madrid can play Modric and Alonso deep in midfield. Tackling is overrated. Technique is not.

When Yaya and Fernandinho click, and we improve at team pressing (a tactic that all Pellers' side eventually get good at), we will be laughing.

While I agree with what you are saying there is a problem also......yaya isn't dynamic enough consistentlyfor it to work, esp against better teams. If we are going to adopt it then there has ri be a change in personnel and that will bea huge move.

With yaya playing as part of a pair in the middle we will always have big spaces....there needs to be a third player in there to do the dirty work....he isn't mobile enough over short distances to play that role

Yaya is not the issue.

The issue is lack of proper implementation of what Pellegrini wants, pressing and early defending high up the pitch.

When we learn to press effectively and consistently, it will be less work for everyone, and players like Yaya won't be expected to be superman and be everywhere at once.

 

[Jumanji]

Yaya is being wrongly vilified in my opinion. Take Hull for example where he was apparently 'lazy.'

After watching the game twice I noted many occasions where he was the only one pressuring or harrying the opposition.

Sure there were a few times where maybe he didn't sprint at top speed to get back into position but it's wasn't to the degree perpetrated on BM. I think people just can't believe that Hull can knock the ball about on their day so they want to blame someone.

I think we're so used to seeing teams hide their tails in between their legs when playing us that when they actually do, it's somebody's fault.

 

[Stoned Rose]

I personally think a midfield 3 of Milner, Toure and Fernandinho would be the most beneficial.

This

 

[simon23]

I wasn't blaming yaya....I was merely saying that as one of a pair in the middle he hasn't got some of the attribute

Id like to see (with poss variations of personnel)

---------hart-----
---------back 4-----------
------Milner----ferd
------------yaya-------
-----front 3--------

The front 3 would be possible variations of a central striker with the likes of Silva, jovetic nsvas supporting them

Of course rodwell could replace either Milner or ferd.

I just think yaya screening the back 4 is a major problem and also a huge waste of his talent<br /><br />-- Wed Sep 04, 2013 4:31 pm --<br /><br />I wasn't blaming yaya....I was merely saying that as one of a pair in the middle he hasn't got some of the attribute

Id like to see (with poss variations of personnel)

---------hart-----
---------back 4-----------
------Milner----ferd
------------yaya-------
-----front 3--------

The front 3 would be possible variations of a central striker with the likes of Silva, jovetic nsvas supporting them

Of course rodwell could replace either Milner or ferd.

I just think yaya screening the back 4 is a major problem and also a huge waste of his talent

 

[Blue Elmo]

Too many attacking players to play 3 in the middle. We'd have to play with one striker, or play the likes of Aguero wider and out of position to fit people in. I think we should play with 3 in the middle cause our midfield two get taken out of the game with a few passes round them, but I don't see it unfortunately. Maybe away from home to the tougher teams, but not on a frequent basis

 

[daxman]

Too many attacking players to play 3 in the middle. We'd have to play with one striker, or play the likes of Aguero wider and out of position to fit people in. I think we should play with 3 in the middle cause our midfield two get taken out of the game with a few passes round them, but I don't see it unfortunately. Maybe away from home to the tougher teams, but not on a frequent basis

We should be playing with 5 midfielders and 1 striker. Having 4 strikers makes that a problem.

 

[Braggster]

Yaya is being wrongly vilified in my opinion. Take Hull for example where he was apparently 'lazy.'

After watching the game twice I noted many occasions where he was the only one pressuring or harrying the opposition.

Sure there were a few times where maybe he didn't sprint at top speed to get back into position but it's wasn't to the degree perpetrated on BM. I think people just can't believe that Hull can knock the ball about on their day so they want to blame someone.

I think we're so used to seeing teams hide their tails in between their legs when playing us that when they actually do, it's somebody's fault.

Completely agree. Hopefully, once the players have learned to implement Pellegrini's desired systems better, and are doing so with confidence, we'll see some of the problems we have at the moment disappear.

That said, I'm not convinced we can implement the style and system effectively with two strikers, which is a problem for us because, as Dax notes, we have a lot of strikers and need to play a two striker formation if we're to give them adequate playing time. Although no doubt Jovetic will be playing from the left a lot.

 

[Any1aBlue]

As already stated Yaya and Fernadhino is currently not working and IMO we would be better playing Rodwell next to Fernandhino and pushing Yaya further forward. This will mean only one CF who for me will be Aguero.

Hart
Micah Kompany Nasty Clichy

Rodwell Fernandhino

Yaya
Navas Silva

Aguero

This puts us back to last season when we couldnt score enough because we had two holding midfield players. Neither Navas nor Silva are natural goal scorers.<br /><br />-- Wed Sep 04, 2013 6:04 pm --<br /><br />HART

ZABALETA
DEMICHELIS
KOMPANY
NASTISIC
CLICHY

FERNANDHINO

JOVETIC
YAYA
SILVA

NEGREDO

could work?

 

[billfromthehill]

As already stated Yaya and Fernadhino is currently not working and IMO we would be better playing Rodwell next to Fernandhino and pushing Yaya further forward. This will mean only one CF who for me will be Aguero.

Hart
Micah Kompany Nasty Clichy

Rodwell Fernandhino

Yaya
Navas Silva

Aguero

This puts us back to last season when we couldnt score enough because we had two holding midfield players. Neither Navas nor Silva are natural goal scorers.

-- Wed Sep 04, 2013 6:04 pm --

HART

ZABALETA
DEMICHELIS
KOMPANY
NASTISIC
CLICHY

FERNANDHINO

JOVETIC
YAYA
SILVA

NEGREDO

could work?

3centre halves what's your worry anyone a blue?

 

[Blue Elvis]

I personally think a midfield 3 of Milner, Toure and Fernandinho would be the most beneficial.

This

Couldn't agree more CTID