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LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
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39,042
I figured we could have a tactical discussion here - and avoid some of the bannings that are going to happen in any number of ITK threads between now and the end of the window.

Poch has been fond of the 4231 since he got here, but we have played with a few different formations, including 3 at the back.

Based on some of the information we have been given, I expect a new base-formation this season. I think we will go to a 352, or maybe a 433, depending on the situation.

Trippier (and I think KWP, and to a lesser extent Aurier) are better as WBs than FBs. You can make the same case for Rose, and even Davies, who is probably still ahead of Rose on the left.


Lloris
New RCB ..... Sanchez ..Vertonghen

Trippier ............ Dier................. Davies
Eriksen Grealish

Dele Kane​

That leaves quite a few talented attackers on the bench though...

Lucas, Son, Lamela for starters, and we seem to be after a starting-calibre WF/S


A 433 might look like this:


Lloris

Aurier Sanchez Vertonghen Davies

Dier
Eriksen Grealish

Lucas Kane Dele​


But, that reduces the effectiveness of the FBs - a little. Dele could rotate with Grealish, opening an attacking spot for a new wide-forward/striker. And obviously Son and Lucas can rotate.
 

LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
13,456
39,042
Based on tonight, it certainly looks like a 433 with Eriksen and a partner playing in front of a holding midfielder.
 

RichieS

Well-Known Member
Dec 23, 2004
11,916
16,436
Based on tonight, it certainly looks like a 433 with Eriksen and a partner playing in front of a holding midfielder.
The top one of these two that I contributed to the discussion in the Zaha thread could easily morph into a 433.

------------------Lloris-------------------
Trippier--Sánchez--Jan------Rose
-------------Dier---Eriksen------------
-----Zaha-------Dele---------Son-----
-------------------Kane-------------------

Vorm, Alderweireld/Foyth, Davies/Aurier, Wanyama, Dembélé/Winks, Lamela, Lucas.

------------------Lloris-------------------
-----Toby----Sánchez-------Jan-----
Trippier---------Vic-------------Rose
---------Eriksen--------Dele-----------
--------------Kane----Son--------------

Vorm, Dier/Foyth, Aurier, Dembélé/Winks, Lamela, Lucas, Zaha.

These are my interpretations of our 2 main systems with added Zaha. It's amazing how seemingly adding just him (in reality, it's more like him and Lucas, plus the return of Lamela) makes us look absolutely fierce. We are so lucky to have Kane as well - in both systems the whole attack revolves around him, giving the others freedom to go where they like (a nightmare for defenders).

It's funny how many people on the site are in meltdown about our lack of transfer business given the quality of our pre-existing squad.
 

Sp3akerboxxx

Adoption: Nabil Bentaleb
Apr 4, 2006
5,180
7,620
I genuinely don't think that Grealish will be in the starting eleven if we do sign him. Especially not as a replacement for Son. That would be insanity.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
Based on tonight, it certainly looks like a 433 with Eriksen and a partner playing in front of a holding midfielder.

The striking thing for me is that dele/Eriksen are a perfect combo to play either side of a single pivot. Eriksen with his creativity to find more advanced players and chip in with goals and dele late runs from deep. Both work hard and can track back to fill in space ,honestly couldn’t think of a more balanced combo. Obviously then Kane uptop. You then have the options behind him of Son + Lucas or Lamela. It looks likely grealish will be added to that mix to understudy dele/Eriksen. In truth it’s all very flexible and interchangeable. You then wonder if there’s really a need for a stereotypical CM in the dembele style.
 

Sophos151

Well-Known Member
Jul 31, 2016
792
2,559
Lloris
Trippier - Sanchez - Vertonghen - Davies
Dier
Dele — Eriksen
Lucas — — Kane — — Son
Trippier and Davies as the fullbacks, because they’re better at delivering from deep, which will be more important with wingers ahead of them.
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
433 because it suits the players we have and alows the full backs to player high up but without sacrificing midfield in the same was as a 343/352.

Lloris
Trippier Alderweireld Vertonghen Rose
Dier
Eriksen Dele
Moura _____________ Son
Kane

Llorente
Nkoudou ____________ Lamela
Onomah Winks
Wanyama
Davies Foyth Sanchez Aurier
Vorm​
 

Chimbo!

Well-Known Member
Jan 7, 2007
3,558
3,291
Lloris
Trippier - Sanchez - Vertonghen - Davies
Dier
Dele — Eriksen
Lucas — — Kane — — Son
Trippier and Davies as the fullbacks, because they’re better at delivering from deep, which will be more important with wingers ahead of them.

That is by far and away the best team we could play while giving us maximum options from the bench.

The 2nd 11 would be something like:

Vorm
Aurier – Alderwiereld – Carter-Vickers – Rose
Wanyama
Dembele – Winks
Lamela – Llorente – Sissoko​

Erm. OK, not great. But some decent replacements still. Hopefully, will improve with signings.
 

glospur

Well-Known Member
May 19, 2015
2,608
9,806
Lloris
Trippier - Sanchez - Vertonghen - Davies
Dier
Dele — Eriksen
Lucas — — Kane — — Son
Trippier and Davies as the fullbacks, because they’re better at delivering from deep, which will be more important with wingers ahead of them.
I know what you mean, but what was interesting about the Roma game was that when we had the ball the two 'wingers' in the the 4-3-3 seemed to have a free role, rather than, say, staying wide like Sterling and Sane do at City. Lucas and Lamela both appeared left, right and centrally. The FBs didn't really play differently to they usually do under Pochettino from what I could tell. Both got forward and even crossed from the byline at times.

I suspect that with the ball it will morph into a kind of 3 at the back with the holding midfielder sitting deep, the FBs high and wide, and the 'wingers' tucked in rather than holding wide. Without the ball we were a definite 4-3-3 but the forward players were really narrow, with Lamela coming central and slightly deeper. It kind of looked like a diamond in midfield behind two strikers tbh, who would press the CBs, trying to make them play through the FBs as much as possible who would then be pressed.

I know it's only one preseason game, but it just looked fresh and it was exciting to watch, and obviously the first half playing that way was genuinely fucking scintillating.
 
D

Deleted member 22380

I really like 4-3-3. I think our squad is suited to this formation.

Lloris
(Vorm)
Backup GK: Gazznigga

Trippier-Sanchez-Vertonghen-Rose
(Aurier-Alderweireld-Foyth-Davies)
Backup CB: Dier, Carter-Vickers
Backup FB: Walker-Peters

Dele-Dier-Eriksen
(Sissoko-Wanyama-Dembele)
Backup CM: Winks, Onomah, Grealish?

Lucas-Kane-Son
(Lamela-Llorente-N'koudou)
Backup CF: Jansson


At the moment we have depth is all areas except up front. If we can sign Martial, it will be a tremendous upgrade on N'koudou and he and Son can split starts at LF.
 

mill

Well-Known Member
May 21, 2007
10,385
37,100
Yeah I’d like us to go 433 this season grealish could fit into it and it could negate the need for another cm
 

JonnySpurs

SC Veteran
Jun 4, 2004
5,345
12,398
It feels a bit weird to say this but in order to utilise Trippier (mainly) and Rose I really feel like we need to try and play 3-5-2/3-4-3 this season more than we did last season. Toby's injury did seem to limit this option last season but there seems to be the potential for him to stay now or for us to replace him or even to consider Dier back there as the RCB.

Either way though, Trippier has proven himself to be a top level wing back and the World Cup was, for want of a better phrase, something of a "coming-out party". He's always been a good passer/crosser but IMO his defending at the WC was outstanding and that was what I was personally looking for from him in terms of his development. He'll come into this season full of confidence and he could have a big impact for us offensively if we play to his strengths.

I appreciate it sounds like I'm saying let's build around Trippier. I'm not saying that but we all know we get our width from our full backs and how vital they are to Poch's system and we also need to give Rose the opportunity to re-discover his pre-injury form where he was, hands down, the best LB in the league.

Equally though I love the idea of the 4-3-3 with two advanced CM's and feel that our main goal this year is to find a more effective solution to the bus park teams. Some of our results at Wembley last season could've cost us a top 4 spot and if we have designs on another title challenge then we can't be drawing 0-0 at home to teams that employ that "tactic".
 

Everlasting Seconds

Well-Known Member
Jan 9, 2014
14,914
26,616
I've been going on and on about a clean-cut 433 since way before Pochettino, save for one season in which we really didn't have the right players. I haven't seen it and I don't think I will. If we have enough fit, able, willing and trustworthy CBs, the formation will be a version with 3 CBs, which I'm fine with.
 

wrd

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2014
13,603
58,005
I'm dead set on the 3 in midfield talk. I just can't decide how to effectively use Dele. I'm going to assume that Alder is gone and only use the players we will likely have left.

LLoris
Trippier Dier Sanchez Vert Rose
Wanyama
Eriksen Winks
Kane Dele

Alternatively we can go 4-3-3
Lloris
Trippier Sanchez Vert Rose
Wanyama Eriksen
Moura Kane Dele

Then just for fun the 3-4-3

LLoris
Dier Sanchez Vert
Trippier Wanyama Eriksen Rose
Moura Kane Dele

If Eriksen drops deep we are extremely flexible. If we sign somebody like Zaha or Martial I fully expect Dele to drop back into a winks type position or for Moura to possibly drop out of course we will be able to rotate a lot like this. I love how stacked our bench looks.

Vorm
Aurier/Davies
Foyth
Lamela
Son
Then 1 of Moura/Dier/Winks based on my formations

To be fair even without transfers our team looks good but not sure if we will be in the title hunt with it. I actually feel Wanyama and our left back area are the weak links.

I'd love to see us be gutsy but it might be too risky and go for

LLoris
Trippier Sanchez Vert Davies
Winks
Eriksen Dele
Moura Kane Son/New winger

I'd choose Davies in this option without the proper destroyer dm.
 

glospur

Well-Known Member
May 19, 2015
2,608
9,806
I'd love to see us be gutsy but it might be too risky and go for

LLoris
Trippier Sanchez Vert Davies
Winks
Eriksen Dele
Moura Kane Son/New winger
If the game against Roma is anything to go by then I woudnt be surprised to see this at all tbh, with Winks playing the same role that Amos played. Not sure where Wanyama or Dembele would fit in that system though tbh. Wanyama isn't well suited to play the base of imo, but could possibly play a similar role to what Sissoko did against Roma, whereas I can't see Dembele fitting it at all.
 

wrd

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2014
13,603
58,005
If the game against Roma is anything to go by then I woudnt be surprised to see this at all tbh, with Winks playing the same role that Amos played. Not sure where Wanyama or Dembele would fit in that system though tbh. Wanyama isn't well suited to play the base of imo, but could possibly play a similar role to what Sissoko did against Roma, whereas I can't see Dembele fitting it at all.

I'd love to see us be gutsy but the fact Poch has always gone for a destroyer plus Dembele deep lying it would be a big change from his usual outset. I agree with you though, was why I was happy for Dembele to go.
 

Sophos151

Well-Known Member
Jul 31, 2016
792
2,559
I know what you mean, but what was interesting about the Roma game was that when we had the ball the two 'wingers' in the the 4-3-3 seemed to have a free role, rather than, say, staying wide like Sterling and Sane do at City. Lucas and Lamela both appeared left, right and centrally. The FBs didn't really play differently to they usually do under Pochettino from what I could tell. Both got forward and even crossed from the byline at times.

I suspect that with the ball it will morph into a kind of 3 at the back with the holding midfielder sitting deep, the FBs high and wide, and the 'wingers' tucked in rather than holding wide. Without the ball we were a definite 4-3-3 but the forward players were really narrow, with Lamela coming central and slightly deeper. It kind of looked like a diamond in midfield behind two strikers tbh, who would press the CBs, trying to make them play through the FBs as much as possible who would then be pressed.

I know it's only one preseason game, but it just looked fresh and it was exciting to watch, and obviously the first half playing that way was genuinely fucking scintillating.

I’ll admit I haven’t seen the Roma game, so I’m mostly going on bits I’ve heard, and on what formation I think would get the best out of our attacking players.
 

RichieS

Well-Known Member
Dec 23, 2004
11,916
16,436
If the game against Roma is anything to go by then I woudnt be surprised to see this at all tbh, with Winks playing the same role that Amos played. Not sure where Wanyama or Dembele would fit in that system though tbh. Wanyama isn't well suited to play the base of imo, but could possibly play a similar role to what Sissoko did against Roma, whereas I can't see Dembele fitting it at all.
Imo, Dier is our best DM for 4 at the back as when we attack he's well suited to dropping in as the 3rd CB. Wanyama is definitely better when we start with 3 CBs though and I think he, Dembélé, Eriksen and Dele work really well together.
 

faze_coys

Well-Known Member
Dec 14, 2010
3,138
4,796
Any of the 3 - Sanchez - Verts - Rose/Davies
Dembele/Winks
Eriksen - Onomah/Dele
Lamela - Kane - Lucas/Son​
 

danielneeds

Kick-Ass
May 5, 2004
24,179
48,764
I think the double pivot is dying a bit as a strategy, because good teams are overloading in wider areas. More like a 433 would be good to see.
 
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