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

 

[Topbins]

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.

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.

I know what your saying but I was speaking in simplistic terms. The reference to the position of players in certain zones makes no difference to what the average fan which I am will see with their own eyes when one or two of the full backs moves into an inverted position in the midfield.

I don't think I indicated that City forming a back 3 was a static formation nor that City would hold this shape throughout the game leaving City to play a front 7 at corners.
Further the length of time City tend to have the ball often that 3 becomes a 2, subject to what your saying about zones of course.
Take note at 1min 19

 

[Neville Kneville]

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.

Well our 2 cbs play midfield quite a lot anyhow.

If we sign Rodri then in theory we have two midfield players in the squad who can drop back into a 3.

I could also imagine Angelino playing in front of a left back on occasion IF he takes to the Prem & Zinchenko in midfield.

The signings we are rumoured to be making, quietly improve the squad by some way, provided they can hack it.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Well our 2 cbs play midfield quite a lot anyhow.

If we sign Rodri then in theory we have two midfield players in the squad who can drop back into a 3.

I could also imagine Angelino playing in front of a left back on occasion IF he takes to the Prem & Zinchenko in midfield.

The signings we are rumoured to be making, quietly improve the squad by some way, provided they can hack it.

That's exactly why I see us playing 1 recognised centre back more than 3. Our CBs play in midfield half the game. Why not have proper midfielders in there that can defend when needed? Better than defenders that try to be midfielders.

I see Cancelo as the forward thinking RB we need to break down low block 10 behind the ball teams. Walker would be used against teams with pace up front or have any attacking intent.

 

[PragueBlue]

If we sign Cancelo and Angelino (not forgetting Mendy when fit), I could easily see us playing 3 at the back at times. They are far more effective going forward than defensively, so it wouldn't really be like playing 5 defenders at all. Our CBs are all comfortable enough on the ball that they could step into midfield as and when required.

 

[foggy1974]

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.

 

[foggy1974]

We didnt play with four defenders
Stones, Kompany, Laporte at the back
Fernandinho as defensive midfielder

 

[Larry Stranger]

That's exactly why I see us playing 1 recognised centre back more than 3. Our CBs play in midfield half the game. Why not have proper midfielders in there that can defend when needed? Better than defenders that try to be midfielders.

I see Cancelo as the forward thinking RB we need to break down low block 10 behind the ball teams. Walker would be used against teams with pace up front or have any attacking intent.

I think it really depends on the opposition. Against Liverpool I can see us playing 3 CB's with Laporte as LB. Not only because of the threat of Salah, but the way Liverpool attack. They transition quickly and the wingers come inside. Then TTA and Robertson create the width with good crosses. Our far side full backs need to defend these balls.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

We didnt play with four defenders
Stones, Kompany, Laporte at the back
Fernandinho as defensive midfielder

Mendy played too.

Mendy Laporte Kompany Stones

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I think it really depends on the opposition. Against Liverpool I can see us playing 3 CB's with Laporte as LB. Not only because of the threat of Salah, but the way Liverpool attack. They transition quickly and the wingers come inside. Then TTA and Robertson create the width with good crosses. Our far side full backs need to defend these balls.

I agree that is possible. It still isn't playing 3 centre backs though. It's playing 2 centre backs with a third as a tucked in left back.

 

[Larry Stranger]

I agree that is possible. It still isn't playing 3 centre backs though. It's playing 2 centre backs with a third as a tucked in left back.

There seems to be confusion what your'e taking about. 3 recognized Cb's (Laporte, Ota and Stones) or 3 at the back. If you are thinking 5 defenders with Mendy, Laporte, Ota, Stones and Cancelo then it may not happen as often, but I think it's still a possibility. We haven't played this formation much I think because of Mendy's absence. He's a flying wingback who can put in good crosses and cause overload problems for the opposition. Zinch and Delph aren't as good as wingbacks. Also Walker on the other side isn't a wingback. Cancelo is good at attacking and he's not the best defender so it's still more of an attacking line up where the 3 CB's, Dinho and either fullback would be the 5 to defend while the other 5 attack. We still could play this if Pep wants 2 strikers in the box. I wouldn't rule anything out.