Do you think a 3-4-3 could work in the future?

We eventually want to get back to playing the sexy football we played towards the end of last season. We did it in a 4-3-3 formation. But could a 3-4-3 work in the future?

------------Cisse--------------
--Ba------------------Ben Arfa--

Ferguson--Tiote--Cabaye--Santon

-----New CB-------Saylor--------
-------------Colo----------------

-------------Krul--------------

This sort of formation seems to be the way forward for some sides. Obviously we wouldn't try it against a side like Spurs or Man United until we've tried it against some lesser teams, to make sure we can make the extra mid/attacking man count and also that the side can make this formation work, because if we get it wrong we could receive a walloping.

Wigan play this sort of formation, and we have far greater quality than them. So why can't we try it? Wigan show what an extra midfield/attacker can do for you, as they showed against a lot of teams last season, particularly us when they hammered us 4-0. This sort of formation, with the right quality and pace, can really be a nightmare for your opponents.

You have the two wingers/wing backs, Santon and Fergie, both with great pace and defensive qualities. We can play them more advanced while attacking, and bring them further back if we're seeing out a result, or just trying to keep possession.

The 3 CB's - Two biguns that will do all the aerial challenges and physical battling, and Colo moving around and behind them to pick up the loose balls, control it and distribute it.

And you obviously have the 3 forwards who are given leniency over defensive duties, but Ba and Ben Arfa can drop back a bit more if we're
just trying to see a game out.

Do you think this could work? Wigan have made it work, and it can be risky, but it can destroy certain sides with the right quality and organisation.

Looking at teams of higher quality than Wigan that use this sort of formation - Juventus and Napoli, both top of Serie A. Udinese who
don't quite have the defensive/midfield quality to be a top class side, but they have pace and quality up front and on the wings, and they can be deadly. Just look what happened to Liverpool. Pacey and technical football really hurt them.

 

A lot of Italian teams do this (Udinese and Napoli spring to mind), but I'm not sure if it would work in the Prem

If we were to try it, the wide players need the right balance. Too attacking, and we'll get caught out at the back. Too defensive, it becomes a negative 5-2-3.

There's also the problem that it puts Ba back on the left, where he doesn't really want to be, and with his transfer situation at a delicate stage, we don't want to risk upsetting him

 

I love 343, it could definitely work. However, Ba left wing? NO. Either push Cisse out there or get a proper left winger, Ba is a STRIKER.

 

Ba's presence and pace on that side is one of the main reasons our 4-3-3 was so successful last season. It created space for Cisse and others. Cisse is better in the middle.

 

No they weren't, he did an adequate job there, no more. Ba in the middle is better than Cisse in the middle, if they refuse to work together in a 442 then Cisse needs to take a back seat. What kind of club constatntly moves their top scorer round the pitch? I know it's a team game but your best goalscorer plays up front, simples.

 

Well, I actually think we're both wrong. I remember that Ba, Cisse and Ben Arfa used to rotate positions. Ba used to get his turn in the ST position. On the LW Ba did a great job. He didn't score, but he played a vital role in the team.

Cisse wouldn't have scored as much if we played a 4-4-2 all that team. In a 4-3-3 teams had to deal with 3 fantastic forwards, and that meant they couldn't defend against Ba, Cisse, Ben Arfa and Cabaye all in advanced positions. Ben Arfa, Cabaye and Cisse were all miles better in the 4-3-3 formation. Ba obviously suffered because he couldn't get as many goals, but he still performed well.

What we should do is swap Ba and Cisse around and let them each have a go

And you say "what club constantly moves their top scorer around the pitch" - Ba might score more goals in a 4-4-2 formation, and he did do so before Cisse arrived, but it's not about the individual, it's about the team. Ba didn't score in our 4-3-3 formation, but the team played better. If one player has to sacrifice their tally to benefit the team, then it should be done.

 

The Italians made this tactic work in the recent Euros I was very impressed. The only way this would work I think would be we need a quality CB(DEFINITELY NOT Willo) at this point of time. Also, 2 of the CBs would need to be fleet-footed enough to be able to handle speedier players. I think the 2 wing backs are very important here. Because playing a 3-backline is going to mean diagonal balls might kill the team, the CBs need to know to cover and when the midfielder gets the ball on the flank, how is the team taking the overlapping fullback is a question as well. Another situation to consider are formations with 5 midfielders. If the 3 sit back, that is going to leave our 2 central midfielders chasing for the ball against 3 a lot...
At the moment we don't have the players to play this formation yet, and it sounds a bit risky. Not sure what to think of this though, the way we are, having Ba and Cisse outstanding strikers, playing 3-4-3 might be a waste of them. I still feel, on paper, the very best formation has to be with 2 out-and-out strikers the 2 Dembas.

 

don't disagree with most of that tbf, well put. However this myth that all our front 3 were constantly rotating is getting annoying. One goal against West Brom that everyone weirdly loves to bring up doesn't change that. They were all fairly rigid in their positions, even HBA.

 

I think we will lose Ba, Ben Arfa or Cabaye in January unless our results and league postion improves but I like the look of this team

 

You could say the same for Arsenal who are in 9th, but at this stage of the season, if we win 3 games in a row then we're in the top 4-5!

Ba is definitely the one most likely to go, but I'd say Ben Arfa will be staying because I think he's genuine when he says he's repaying the fans for their patience and support, and Ben Arfa is definitely the best player we've had at this club since Shearer. And he's so important to us, so I think the club will be asking at least 30m for Ben Arfa, and no one will pay that!

I really don't see Cabaye being that high in demand.

 

If we lose 3 though ? I know we should win a few of our next but I'm certain clubs with cash will pay whatever kind of money for the likes of all 3 of these players

 

It's all down to ifs and buts mate. We'll have to wait and see.

 

Still can't believe we paid for half your ****ing team

 

Yep, and I'm glad we drove a hard bargain. Bids for Carroll started at 15m.

 

The thing for me is that we sold a **** player for 35 million, however if we sell a good one I'll be upset.

Like you say about benny I think Cabaye and Ba are simply must keeps I'd also include Krul, Colo and Santon in that.

 

Must be the worst transfer deal ever.

 

This thread is all a bit FM2013 - it's all very well in theory but it says something that no English teams go for this approach (maybe wigan did for a bit last season?). Main problem for me would be the confusion in the back line, who picks up who? who does the spare centre back cover.

Seem to remember us trying this formation in one of our games under Shearer and it failed miserably - admittedly with much worse players.

 

I can't take many more formation threads. You have a formation porn problem Tash, seek help.

As I always say its form that matters. Players playing well make any formation look good.