Joao Cancelo

[Larry Stranger]

When last season?

Pep is known for having many formations and changes even during a single game. Against Arsenal at home Dinho played as a DM in possession and dropped into a CB position when we didn't have the ball. There are times when it's pseudo formations and the players need to be flexible.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I've seen City dropping into a back three at the back many times within one game never mind starting with a back 3.

Zincy tends to come inside to help city dominate the midfield creating overloads.

Walker tends to hold his position as does the defender next to him with Laporte moving over to the left of a back three.
We have no need for a static back 4 with the amount of posession we have in games.
There was one or two games last year when we essentially started as a back three but fern when we were out of position constantly dropped into the back to create a back 4. They did it home in the Prem but at least once in Europe.

That isn't a back 3. That's the positions players get in when the ball is in certain zones.

We don't play a forward 7 at corners, for instance.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Played 3 at the back against Huddersfield, no right back.

I kind of accept that, although we did play with an out of position John Stones at right back.

We still played 4 defenders though.

Playing 5 defenders now seems pointless as we have 70%+ of the ball.

 

[Neville Kneville]

That isn't a back 3. That's the positions players get in when the ball is in certain zones.

We don't play a forward 7 at corners, for instance.

It happens quite a lot though, so much so it's an 'almost' back 3.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Laporte, Fern, and Rodri in a back 3? Are you being serious?

Yes. Pep loves midfielders and in that scenario, for long balls, Laporte and Rodri would be behind Fernandinho, who would screen the forward from in front of him, with the other two mopping up any lose balls.

In possession, it would give a double pivot, allowing more time to create, if necessary, without losing an attacking player.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

It happens quite a lot though, so much so it's an 'almost' back 3.

I agree, it is a 3 of sorts when the ball is in certain zones and varies pendent on the pressure on the man on the ball.

It's still a game set up of 4 though. At kick off, it's a back 4 and in normal defending, it reverts to a 4.

It's a 3 when we first lose the ball as one full back will have joined the attack.

 

[Neville Kneville]

I agree, it is a 3 of sorts when the ball is in certain zones and varies pendent on the pressure on the man on the ball.

It's still a game set up of 4 though. At kick off, it's a back 4 and in normal defending, it reverts to a 4.

It's a 3 when we first lose the ball as one full back will have joined the attack.

It does tend to be mainly Walker defending though, so we kind of have a 3 who are mainly defenders with Zinchenko dropping back in.

Neither Walker nor Zinchenko are that productive wide so you could imagine Mendy/Angelino & Cancello attacking down the flanks & Rodri being the extra defender but then also starting attacks as a midfield player.

All kinds of interesting options.

 

[birchwoodgingerste]

Yes. Pep loves midfielders and in that scenario, for long balls, Laporte and Rodri would be behind Fernandinho, who would screen the forward from in front of him, with the other two mopping up any lose balls.

In possession, it would give a double pivot, allowing more time to create, if necessary, without losing an attacking player.

Was thinking the same we would be more solid as a unit.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

It does tend to be mainly Walker defending though, so we kind of have a 3 who are mainly defenders with Zinchenko dropping back in.

Neither Walker nor Zinchenko are that productive wide so you could imagine Mendy/Angelino & Cancello attacking down the flanks & Rodri being the extra defender but then also starting attacks as a midfield player.

All kinds of interesting options.

I agree, although I can't see any scenario where we play 3 out and out centre backs. Against Liverpool, it might be Laporte, Stones and Walker as a back 3 with Cancelo on the right. Walker's pace would be very useful in that scenario.

Otherwise a back 3 would be made up with Walker/LB/DM adding to the 2 centre backs.

 

[TonyM]

Looks like he's in The Time Tunnel

Spoiler: The Time Tunnel