O.K. so it may be a 5-4-1 but we look dangerous on the counter when we transition to 3-4-3. Really think it is the sensible option going forwards having seen the last 2 displays against Burnley and Everton - and the performance against West Ham where 451 really did not work. We've looked reasonably solid defensively and a bigger threat on the counter. The squad also lends itself to it with the players we have at present. We seem pretty solid at the back with the back 5 and then the 4 in front of them and reasonable cover throughout the team for it. Also allows us to get our best players on the pitch bar the 3 main CM's who can rotate. Fernandez/Lejuene/Lacselles/Schar/Dummett/Clark at CB are all good options to cover injuries/suspensions Yedlin/Manquillo and Kenedy/Ritchie for the full backs Diame/Ki/Shelvey/Hayden CM's Atsu/Murphy/Perez/Muto on the wings to get forwards and either supply or support Rondon/Joselu up top Of course you could move players around like Dummett to LWB and then Ritchie and/or Kenedy further forwards as well so there is flexibility within the players we have and easy to switch the formation by taking off 1 CB and throwing on another striker or midfielder if chasing a game.
I said the best we looked with our personnel was the Burnley match. We looked comfortable and in control, everyone’s limitations were covered. When we play the (goddam) 4-2-3-1 we always fumble. Perez is a dreadful number 10, and we just don’t get forward quickly, the play always labours to a stop and we just don’t look like we have a plan of any kind, too busy tracking back and hovering around the halfway line. When we moved to 3 at the back suddenly we had players in the right place. Yedlin is a wing back, I’d even suggest crappy Manqy is too. Ritchie can do that job either side, so could Kenedy. We coule genuinely play 3 up top and counter attack at pace. I’d actually go 5-3-2 with wing backs, Muto off Rondón and a trio of Shelvey, Diame and Ki.
