Fair enough. Yeah I agree about changing it up, but usually our go to formation is 433 with inverted wingbacks. But if we let rodri drop between the CB's and push up our offensively excellent fullbacks we'll be less vulnerable on the counter attack and we have 2 players providind width. Most team have realised that they can keep it compact and counter our standard 433, so something probably needs to be done. So using 3ATB more frequently would make us less predictable and more direct I think, especially in games against park the bus teams like united. They're really low compact block and the counter merchants
Upamecano may not be a world beater (yet), but there are not many CB's that we can realistically sign that are fast, physical, young and decent with their feet. Those that I listed on my original post are the only one's I think that would improve us that are realistic signings. One thing that works in our favour as we search for a partner to Laporte is that he's very flexible. If he plays with a weaker and passive CB like Stones he can step forward and be the more aggressive one. If he plays with a hothead that falls to the ground like Otamendi he becomes more passive.
If we play a back 3 with Rodri in the middle that means at least 1 of the #8's will have to play as a double pivot.
------------------------------Kun/Jesus----------------------------
-----------------Sterling------------------Mahrez--------------------
Mendy-------------------------------------------------------------Cancelo
------------------------Gundo--------KDB/Bernardo---------------------
----------Laporte---------------Rodri---------------------?--------------
I don't like KDB/Bernardo playing further back. They are better in attack, but you can't play a single pivot with 3 at the back. So this means the 2 pivots will be the ones holding and defending more. Maybe putting Dinho next to Gundo and playing KDB/Bernardo instead of Mahrez may work.
However we do play variants of this when Mendy or Cancelo is in the squad as a back 4 anyway.
Mendy--------Sterling-----------Kun/Jesus-------------------------------
------------Dave----------------------------------------KDB----------------
---------Gundo/Rodri---------------------Walker------------------Mahrez
-----------------------Laporte-------------------?-------------------------
When we attack in the final 3rd on the left there are times when the LB joins high up in the attack. The left side #8 (Dave) will try to link up with the winger (Sterling) who plays more like an inside forward and Mendy is the outlet for width. This is how to try to create an overload on the left. Gundo/Rodri will hold behind the 3 and Walker shifts over. He's basically the DM at this point. Walker's speed is used to break up counters. Mahrez stays deeper and almost becomes the default RB on counters. Sometimes it's Kev if Mahrez joins the attack.
You're right a lot of teams park the bus. I think that they realize that unless they have a organized press like pool and can sustain it for the entire game they can't press high on us. They'd get ripped apart. So they're more inclined to drop back and counter. Lot of teams are defending with a back 5. No matter what our formation is and how we play, it's always hard to break down a low block and we might not always get through. That's why Pep will change formations, switching the wingers around and changes the attack during games.
No doubt the lack of good CB's along with Cancelo, Rodri, even Mendy pretty much new is the reason why we were so frail against counters. I think someone like Unai Núñez although not perfect would better suit us than Upamecano.
