Conte's 3-5-2

[HotSprut]

Do you think Deki could play a 10 in a 3-4-1-2?

 

[kremlyn]

Yes but I've never seen conte play that system.

 

[brasil_spur]

Last 5 minutes of the game against wolves we switched to a 3-5-2. It looked like PEH central with yves 9n the left and rodrigo on the right.

The problem is that we lose Kulu in that system and rodrigo isn't attacking enough to bring a threat to the game.

The benefit is we get kane and Richarlison up front together which looks very tasty and our midfield looks unbelievably solid.

Maybe, given how slow we're starting games, we set up as a 3-5-2? Wait till the game settles down and bring kulu on in the second half to break the oppo?

Yeh could well be. I get the feeling that Conte wants to play a tight first half against teams. In theory we have enough quality even playing like that to grab a goal or two against most teams. Then second half he can bring on more attacking style and rotate player as needed, given that our fitness levels should be sufficiently more to overcome most opposition.

 

[crokey]

Do you think Deki could play a 10 in a 3-4-1-2?

Kane would be the 1 there

 

[Locotoro]

Kane would be the 1 there

Exactly this.
When we played the 4 strikers on the pitch you'd see Kane as the deepest one trying to create things with the others trying to break the lines.

This is why I don't believe we're bringing in a creative AM. If we need creativity it will be someone who can play as a strong forward player who can drop deep (Like Zaniolo)

 

[Cochise]

It was interesting to see how we changed in the second half. Perisic was incredibly high and playing almost like a winger with Deki doing the same on the right. Son was central a lot of the time. When Son was wide, Perisic was picking up the half space position on the left whilst Emerson was 9/10 inside of Deki. It was the type of game where Doherty might have been the better option as the pair did have a few misunderstandings.

This is all slightly off topic, just pointing out that we had something closer to a front two at times on Saturday in the second half.

 

[Japhet]

Do you think Deki could play a 10 in a 3-4-1-2?

I think he's said it's where he prefers to play.

 

[faze_coys]

I think he's said it's where he prefers to play.

Dont think hes ever shown that he can when we've been under the kosh against 3 in the middle. That might be down to Contes instruction not to leave his position though.

 

[AtoubaToothpaste]

Dont think hes ever show that he can when we've been under the kosh against 3 in the middle. That might be down to Contes instruction not to leave his position though.

I think it's definitely instruction. There's no reason why, especially against Chelsea, he couldn't drop in centrally to give us an extra body in there. Because Conte seems to want us to rely on quick breaks, having him high and wide gives Kane the out-ball. Personally, I hope we see some evolution of the system so we have more strategic flexibility. But maybe it's also due to not having a great RWB. If Kulu comes central, we're entirely reliant on the RWB to provide attacking emphasis out wide.

 

[Phil_2.0]

I would have to rewatch the game but I liked our balance when Bissouma came on in the middle yesterday. vs Arsenal, big game away from home I think there's a small chance Conte goes with Bentancur, Bissouma and Hojbjerg to start.

You'd have to leave Kulu and Richarlison both on the bench unless you played one of them RWB. Kulusevski at RWB doesn't have the explosive pace and engine to get up and down for 90 minutes but you could try to give him cover with Hobjerg in the right central midfield zone. Not sure Richarlison has the tactical discipline and 1v1 defensively it feels shaky to play him RWB but he has the engine.

If Kane wasn't so clearly thought of as the main man with 5 subs you could do a platoon at the forward position in a 3-5-2. Son and Kane to start with, tell them to empty the tank and at 60 minutes they get taken off for fresh legs in Richarlison and Kulusevksi who have looked good when brought off the bench and they have more energy than the defenders they oppose.

Hojbjerg, Bissouma and Bentancur isn't the worst midfield in the world because Hojbjerg and Bentancur have so much energy they will run beyond the attacker. If they didn't have this that midfield combo would be too negative and lack passing. If you could get Sessegnon, PEH, Bentancur and Royal/Doherty running beyond Kane and Son then it could be dangerous.

With the ball:

Lloris
Romero Dier Lenglet
Bissouma
Hojbjerg Bentancur
Doherty Kane Son Sessegnon
​

The threat of the 5th attacker that Conte likes to have would come from PEH or Benta.

Don't think this would work necessarily. There isn't enough passing to make it work, Doherty, Sessegnon, PEH and Benta would find themselves in half spaces too much but I would like the solidity of having YB, PEH and RB in midfield.

I don't know Conte has ever played 3-5-2 without a number 10 type midfielder? Theres probably no chance Conte goes for something like this vs Arsenal or ever but PEH and Benta have great engines and Bissouma gives us great ball security in front of our midfield when we try to circulate the ball, it feels appealing to have them all in the same team.

​

 

[dannythomas]

How about
Lloris
Romero Dier Lenglet
Kulu Bentancur PEH Bissouma Perisic
Kane Son

 

[chrissivad]

How about
Lloris
Romero Dier Lenglet
Kulu Bentancur PEH Bissouma Perisic
Kane Son

Does Kulusevski have the engine to play in that position?

I'm sure in some games where we will be pinned back we could play this, but I just fear that block of 332 down the center will just get crowded and struggle to play through an even narrower formation.

 

[PCozzie]

How about
Lloris
Romero Dier Lenglet
Kulu Bentancur PEH Bissouma Perisic
Kane Son

Been banging this drum for a little while now. This formation irons out quite a few little niggles in our structure, and is more adaptable in-game. For it to be a long-term thing I think we would need another 1st team MF, as Skipp is only just back and Sarr is still raw. So I think we will more likely see it as a change-up during a game than as a starting formation for the time being.

 

[spids]

I think Conte is at a bit of a cross roads. We have players that suit both 3-5-2 and 3-4-3. Playing the former means no room for Kulusevski unless you play him at RWB. With 3 x CMs it would allow our WBs to play a little higher up the pitch, effectively becoming a 3-3-4 in possession.

Lloris
Romero--Dier--Lenglet
Højbjerg--Bissouma--Bentancur
Kulusevski----Kane---Son----Perisic
​

Swapping Richarlison in for Kane or Son depending on form and fitness. That gives us control in CM, and intelligence and creativity on both flanks. In games where we need to be more defensive minded we can bring on Royal and Davies as WBs. If we just need fresh attacking WBs then Spence and Sessegnon. It will be interesting to see what Conte will do as every team we have played has sussed out our 3-4-3 and overload the middle. I also think with Bissouma anchoring the CM we will see more of Højbjerg's game - yesterday he was really good going forwards in the last 20 mins.

 

[rsmith]

Remember Kulu feels his best position is as a 10, not a winger

 

[DogsOfWar]

3-5-2 for me all day long as I like teams that can dominate the central areas.
With five subs we can swap the front two, the two WBs, a CM, go to 3-4-3, etc depending on the situation. It's also easier to bring in players like Sarr and Spence as they have less responsibility in that formation.

Whereas 3-4-3 means we only have one decent attacking sub and get dominated in the middle.
Ok, we have an extra man getting forward when breaking but we could use a CM, or WB to do that job (although I realise they won't be as effective).

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

In a 3:5:2, I don't see a problem playing any 2 out of our main 4 attackers. What Deki lacks in sharp pace he makes up for with strength and hold-up ability. In fact, Deki and Harry as pair would make the long-ball option very sticky, as long as we can get players running past them quickly enough.

With our squad (and any of the squads we've had over the last couple of seasons) there are loads of ways to shape a team that is more than the sum of its parts. We've just never really done it.

 

[adamsky]

Kulu could definitely play in a 3 in middle as well if we wanted more guile

 

[Mr Pink]

Yeah I'm hoping we see a lot more of 3-5-2 as well.

I'd like to see it at Arsenal, but not sure we will.

 

[spids]

Yeah I'm hoping we see a lot more of 3-5-2 as well.

I'd like to see it at Arsenal, but not sure we will.

Hopefully we'll see a switch between formations (and personnel) based on the opponents, the way a game is going, form and fitness etc. We have an amazing squad (genuine depth at every position apart from CCB) and a world class coach, and opponents should not be able to work us out as easily as they have been.