I just posted this in the gobblegook thread but I think it deserves its on serious discussion to. Here is Rodgers on the 3-5-2 system and how it gets the best out of his 2 'nine and a half's'. Rodgers on his 2 nine and a halves. ---------------Mignolet-------------- ---------Toure--Sakho--Agger-------- -Johnson---Lucas---Gerrard---Enrique- ---------------Coutinho--------------- ---------Sturridge----Suarez---------- It's strong centralling, full of passing players, has creativity and gets the best out of Johnson and Enrique's attacking ability (meaning width) with out loosing numbers in defense. The extra center back gives uss extra defensive protection, lessening the midfielders need to cover. The Sturrez partnership has looked very good so far and good be a super goal machine. Could this be a good formation long term when all are fit? Obviously I have included injured players in the above team.
The opposition will quickly figure out how to play effectively against it, form the attacking perspective & I'd fully expect you to get a couple of bummings if he persists with this as his default strategy. City found out how vulnerable it can be last season
With the right personnel all formations can work. I think with the players currently missing the formation is found wanting. With Johnson as RWB, Ford in the hole just behind the front two and Lucas/Gerrard doing a better job protecting the back 3, I think the 3-5-2 will work wonders. However, 3-5-2 means Hendo is unlikely to play and we need his energy in the middle of the part right now.
All systems have their downfalls too. I agree with Tobes in that this system is there for the taking.
True, but with a single change that 3-5-2 can go to a 4-2-3-1 (one could take one of the defenders off and put on someone like Hendo), flexibility is what is need not stubbornness. Squad is a bit better and therefore should be able to cater for that transition mid game if we're getting over run! #notrocketsicence
I thought that. But Alex Ferguson set up his team in the same predictable way for 20 years and won it all.
I think it's a good system in theory and our players are suited to it (once Cissokho, Johnson and Coutinho return). We still lack that balance because of those injuries hence we're forced into using Hendo as RWB, Moses and CAM etc etc. Once the players return, and we improve our central midfield, it should look a whole lot better.
I've never liked the 3 centre backs but I was put off it a long time ago when we tried it with players who'd never played it before (Scales, Wright, Ruddock and Babb etc...ffs). It was a disaster. I'm not so sure it will be so bad with our current crop who are more versatile but I guess we'll find out. What I will say though is that I like us having different options tactically. Last season we had 6 months nearly where we were way too predictable.
Football like all attack and defence aspects of life/nature is an evolution. If you have just one strategy you will eventualy get worked out and then your ****ed. If you have multiple strategies, no one knows what you are going to do next which makes defending so much harder. Lets face it, the majority of footballers are not the brightest and if you force them to think on their feet, they are going to get something wrong, then look at their manager and shrug their shoulders.
This, in my opinion, is one of the key reasons that Suarez is so effective. He doesn't even know what he's going to do next. Apart from his nutmegs. They know it might be coming and they still can't do jack **** about it
Think he is driven by the Improbability drive out of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Fully expect him to turn into a Sperm Whale midway through a game at some point
3-5-2 is not what we are playing (IMO) I don't see a player like moses despite the stat on his positioning offering anyhting like a 5 in midfield. gerrard and lucas were on thier own in both games for me at least. I called it 5-2-3 and i think thats what i saw. On its own as a tatci with coutinho and johnson? yeah i can see it work.... BUT 4-3-3 is better. We lost midfield in both games and got a nice bit of luck to put sunderland away beofre they scored.... had they got the first goal i cancy we would have struggled. I hope we do not try it v palace at anfield.... its an away day tactic
3-5-2 against Palace would just leave us with 1 extra guy back and one less going forward than we need. We shouldn't need 3 centre halves to watch Chamakh/Gayle. The only problem is that we haven't got the quality out wide to play a 4-3-3 without Coutinho and it also leaves us with one of Suarez/Sturridge on the other wing, players who won't really track back. I'm guessing our formation at home is going to be the lopsided 4-4-2 with Moses on the left and Henderson on the right & Suarez/Sturridge up top.
