Lando_Griffin wrote:The was I see it, assuming you have to right players, 3-5-2 is the system I would use.
Most teams have two strikers. If you employ 4 at the back, that means there's a constant threat of central 1-on-1's, due to the fullbacks being occupied at all times by the opposition winger. (CB1 vs Striker1 andCB2 Vs Striker2.)
In a back 3, there is always the spare man, who can then act as a sweeper/defensive midfielder when the threat/opportunity arises.
"Ah, but that means that the opposition's wide players have more time and space on the ball..."
Yes it does, but the wingbacks deal with the opposition wingers first and foremost, and the attacking midfielder on that particular side slots in to combat the fullback:
I like 3-5-2 as a change-up but i wouldn't be too chuffed if we played it every week. It does have it's advantages and perhaps the most obvious is that it would allow Rafa to play 3 of his 4 centre-mids and it guarantess Gerrard the freedom to get on tha ball in the final third of the pitch. It also ensures you are strong through the middle and if you can keep the ball you shold have a numerical advantage in midfield and having that spare man at the back means marking 2 frontmen can be considerably easier.
However, 3-5-2 can be difficult to coach particularly when just about every British player grows up (and is familiar and comfortable) playing 4-4-2. For me the formation brings with it a number of problems when compared to 4-4-2. I think if you asked them, most centre-halves would tell you they prefer to play in a central 2 (as opposed to a 3) because it is simple. If a high ball comes in the player nearest the ball will go up for it while his partner is likely to drop off slightly incase their is a mistake, the attacking player wins the flick or both defender and attacker miss the ball. In a central 3 knowing when to attack the ball becomes more difficult and it becomes more likely that are cases where 2 players attack the same ball or in some cases, no-one attacks. Hansen did a great job with his analysis with England following the loss in Croatia a little while back. We played with Carra, Terry and Ferdinand (i think) who are all fantastic no nonsense centre-halves but they looked completely uncorfortable with the system and indecisiveness ruled. Hansen quoted " The defenders get too close together and you end up with two or three going for the same ball. What happens is that at some point nobody goes for it and we saw that two minutes into the match when Terry and Jamie Carragher went for same ball"
Another problem with 3-5-2 in today's premiership is that so many teams play with just one man up front using a 4-5-1, 4-4-1-1, 4-3-3 or other variations. With just one striker to mark it leaves you with 2 spare at the back and it can be very difficult to deal with midfield runnners coming on to you, or you afford their midfielders too much time on the ball playing in front of you. In this situation one of your 3 will have to step out and deal with the deep lying 2nd striker or their most attacking midfielder so it's clear there are a lot of complexities. As Mick has already pointed out the most common way to play against 3-5-2 is to play a lot of diagonal balls (classic lower league football this) towards the corners with a player like Owen or Andy Johnson to do the running. This will either keep their wing-backs 'pinned' back into what now becomes a 5-man defense or splits the 3 centre-halves. If you watch England's 5-1 demolition of Germany a few years ago it was built entirely on this very simple tactic. there is also the opportunity to create 2 on 1 situations down the flanks against 3-5-2 if you can get you fullback overlapping as much as possible.
What personnel would we need to play 3-5-2 all the time? Obviously the wing-backs are key, they need to be able to run all day and be able attack and defend with equal aplomb. Riise could do the job in our team as he has always been a classic tweener but the role would not suit Finnan who's strength is clearly his defending and you need your wing-backs to attack with real purpose. a ball playing centre-half is another must for me, someone who can bring the ball out from the back and start attacks, and in Agger we certainly have a player capable of this. In 4-4-2 against the lesser teams when we have a lot of possession you will always see both our fullbacks on the ball and getting into attacking positions. Essentially i think 3-5-2 is a defensive formation that can often serve you well in away games but i would be pis.s.ed if we lined up that way at Anfield each week.
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