Three at the Back

[decmancity]

Juventus showed last night and have done for a while that three at the back works if its implemented properly. I am a huge fan of it and believe we have the players to do it but the way Mancini lines it up doesnt make sense, the back three have to be CB or converted RB like Richards, putting Zaba and Clichy there just limits us.

We can either do the typical three CBs and two wingbacks eg Clichy and Zaba or do it how Italy do with a midfielder playing as a libero almost and then mid fielders as the wingbacks.
-------Yaya---Milner-----
Clichy--------------Richards
----------Garcia----------
----Kompany---Nastasic--

That is how I would line up. With Nasri or Silva in the central role behind the strikers. Silva and Nasri aren't wingers so put them behind the strikers, Clichy and Richards can bomb forward knowing that Garcia or Milner will drop deep.

Garcia isn't very quick so just in front of the CBs means he cleans up the passes back from Yaya etc, wins headers and comes out of defence to play to the wingbacks.

 

[taconinja]

Dave's right. It's a formation that can be very effective, but it doesn't suit all our personnel mostly on the left.

 

[I'm no cynic but...]

I'm not convinced when two of the three are full backs i.e. Zab, Kompany, Clichy. I'd be happier with the system with three actual centre backs in there - i.e. Kolo, Kompany, Nastasic...

Think when all fit the best 3 would be
Richards, Kompany, Nastasic

Agreed.

It doesn't bother me who the three defenders are as long as the central one can deal with the crosses. If the rest of the team cut out the crosses, we should cope with most situations. Corners will be different of course, in which case we can pull back the Yaya and Dzeko to help out.

 

[Rascal]

I see the usage of a back three as a way of freeing Yaya from defensive duties. Unfortunatly the injuries we have had at the back havent helped us get the system settled.

If we play 4-4-2 Yaya is used invariable in a holding role as Mancini like a tight central 4 as in 2 holding and 2 CBs. 3 at the back would mean just 1 holding and the 4 are still there.

Richards injury in my opinion has played a huge part in why it hasnt been a great success. The back 3 also explains some of our signings last summer. With Richards fit we can have an attacking 3-5-2 and a defensive 3-5-2 and i think that has showed in Mancinis thinking with his substitutions. Bringing on full backs etc

So defensive 3-5-2

.......Richards....... Kompany......... Nasti

Zabba .............................................................Clichy

......Garcia ...... Yaya ...........

............ Silva ................

............Aguero/dzeko/Tevez ........

Attacking 3-5-2

......... Richards......... Kompany........... Nasti

........................................Garcia .............................

Maicon .................................................................. Kolarov

.......... Yaya ................. Silva ..................

............. Tevez /dzeko/Aguero .....................

With a fully fit squad Richards ability to play right back means we can also switch easily to 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 if needed.

Now before anyone says but Maicon/Garcia etc are shit etc etc here im not giving opinions on that im suggesting that i think this was a plan we had at the start of the season and sadly because of Micah's injury we havent been able to implement.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

I see the usage of a back three as a way of freeing Yaya from defensive duties. Unfortunatly the injuries we have had at the back havent helped us get the system settled.

If we play 4-4-2 Yaya is used invariable in a holding role as Mancini like a tight central 4 as in 2 holding and 2 CBs. 3 at the back would mean just 1 holding and the 4 are still there.

Richards injury in my opinion has played a huge part in why it hasnt been a great success. The back 3 also explains some of our signings last summer. With Richards fit we can have an attacking 3-5-2 and a defensive 3-5-2 and i think that has showed in Mancinis thinking with his substitutions. Bringing on full backs etc

So defensive 3-5-2

Richards Kompany Nasti
Zabba Clichy
Garcia Yaya
Silva
Aguero/dzeko/Tevez

Attacking 3-5-2

Richards Kompany Nasti
Maicon Garcia Kolarov
Yaya Silva
Tevez /dzeko/Aguero

With a fully fit squad Richards ability to play right back means we can also switch easily to 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 if needed.

Now before anyone says but Maicon/Garcia etc are shit etc etc here im not giving opinions on that im suggesting that i think this was a plan we had at the start of the season and sadly because of Micah's injury we havent been able to implement.

You're right that Richards injury may have disrupted the 352 but for a different reason in my opinion. Richards is the only natural right wing back in the club because he's quick, combative, gets to the line and can cross. Zab can't play there at all because he's the opposite. When we have played 3 zab has slotted in quite well as the right defender of the three. Mancini clearly sees that because he's preferred Maicon and even Milner in the wide right role in Richards absence.

With regards to your yaya point, the formation to free him defensive duties is/was 4231 with him as the central advanced midfielder.

 

[Any1aBlue]

The only way to have three at the back - is IF you've got three decent centre backs - as we don't, its not worth debating.
Yet again I criticise Mancini - if he had an idea he wanted to play that way then why didnt he make provision for it last summer - as I said he should! (Hummels - if you want to know).

 

[I'm no cynic but...]

The only way to have three at the back - is IF you've got three decent centre backs - as we don't, its not worth debating.
Yet again I criticise Mancini - if he had an idea he wanted to play that way then why didnt he make provision for it last summer - as I said he should! (Hummels - if you want to know).

It's all easy with hindsight, but with VK, JL, Nasti, Kolo and Richards all at that time available, and with our defence conceding just 62 goals in the preceding 76 league games, the personnel were already in place. That isn't to say that it couldn't be improved on of course, but the Richards injury early on in the season has left us stretched, and there's also been the employment of a Defence Coach who must have had some input in our new formation. Perhaps the fault lies with him.

 

[Rascal]

With regards to your yaya point, the formation to free him defensive duties is/was 4231 with him as the central advanced midfielder.

We saw that a lot last season i agree and generally it worked, but i think there was a feeling we had been found out somewhat and i think Mancini was looking at ways to get 2 of his then 4 forwards on the field at the same same as well has having Yaya's attacking threat.

It struck me that the signing of Maicon was because he was going to play Micah as part of a back 3 and with that signing he still had his requisite 2 players for each position.

Another thought on this is why Sinclair? I always thought Johnsons defensive flaws didnt sit right with Mancini's ideas of how wide players should perform. And i wonder if another part of the grand plan was to teach Sinclair whose attitude seems and on this i dont know but he maybe more pliable to Mancinis aims and the plan is to teach him how to be an attacking wing back and then we could have the further option of Milner and Sinclair as part of a 3-5-2.

When a premier league squad is limited you need flexibilty in your players and you need them to have the ability to play various roles. If everyone is fit i think we are close but i do believe the injury to Richards has proved a major setback to us this season.

 

[bernabias home shirt]

The only way to have three at the back - is IF you've got three decent centre backs - as we don't, its not worth debating.
Yet again I criticise Mancini - if he had an idea he wanted to play that way then why didnt he make provision for it last summer - as I said he should! (Hummels - if you want to know).

Thats not like you.

 

[decmancity]

The only way to have three at the back - is IF you've got three decent centre backs - as we don't, its not worth debating.
Yet again I criticise Mancini - if he had an idea he wanted to play that way then why didnt he make provision for it last summer - as I said he should! (Hummels - if you want to know).

Mancini did want Agger tbf and we did bid for Hummels he didnt want to join.