23 Dec 2019 14:17:59
So impressed with that performance.
Back three has been called for by a lot of people and it really looks like something we can build on. Lampard got his tactics spot on today and Willian was absolutely outstanding.
Also a shout out for Tomori, couple of bad passes at the start but grew into the game.
23 Dec 2019 15:35:59
Think only a back three in certain games like big ones away from home. It gives our inside forwards more room centrally to cause the opposition problems whilst being solid at the back. Other than that at home I’d still go with 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.
23 Dec 2019 16:50:54
Just a few thoughts on three at the back.
I think it suits all our centre backs a lot more than a partnership of any of the two. Rudiger looks at his most comfortable when playing on the right side of a three and certainly led the group vs Spurs. If, as some reports show, we re-sign Ake then he’ll be very good on the left side of the three - I could then see Tomori moving to the central role. Rudiger, Tomori and Ake would be a very good defensive three to move forward with.
James and Azpilicueta are also well suited to the formation. James will excel as a right wing-back, whilst also being able to play in midfield and on the right of a defensive three. Azpilicueta can also play the wing-back and defensive roles. Alonso’s ability to play the left wing-back role may save the club from the immediate need to sign a left sided defender - until the summer.
It’s in midfield and the forward positions that I think the formations could make the most of our squad. During yesterdays game we saw Kante and Kovacic playing a deeper role with Mount just ahead and Willian, seemingly everywhere, in a free role. Kante and Kovacic were both needed to win the midfield battle vs Spurs and to ensure that we were defensively sound. In a game like our next vs Southampton one of them can be taken out for a more offensive player such as Pulisic or Hudson-Odoi. Having Abraham, Willian, Mount and Pulisic or Hudson-Odoi all on the pitch, with James and Alonso also being able to push high up the pitch, should allow us to break stubborn teams down (which was a problem against West Ham, Everton and Bournemouth) whilst remaining defensively sound.
23 Dec 2019 17:42:07
Not sure there are many teams in the league that I would fancy your proposed central midfield against if we were to drop Kante or Kovacic if I’m being honest, J. I like the idea and it sounds good on paper but I think that would leave us horribly open in central midfield.
23 Dec 2019 19:56:24
I think there'd be a time and place for it, and maybe not from the start of games. But there's been times where we've had seventy-odd percent of possession whilst struggling to break teams down; in my opinion we need to take more chances in those situations. Plus Mount, and the others, would need to take more responsibility in defensive phases.
Liverpool City and Leicester often only play with one deep midfielder.
24 Dec 2019 20:29:17
Good points J.