Yanited

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Traditionally, the back three left you stronger in the centre of the pitch as it used to be employed as effectively 3-4-1-2, or 3-4-2-1. But it leaves you weaker on the flanks. England teams have used it to make up for our lack of technical ability.

The modern version tends to look more like 3-4-3, and you are right- you effectively lose the tip of the three man midfield.

Arteta used it for a year when he joined because he simply didn't trust his defenders (with good reason, they were ****e!). We ended up hopelessly static and went on a run where I think we scored once from open play in 8 games. He was close to the sack before Christmas, and switched to a back four, bringing in Saka, Smith Rowe and Martinelli behind Lacazette, in what looked like our current formation. We beat Chelsea 3-0, then West Brom 4-0 and never looked back.

I think the biggest problem with any formation is having the players to perform it. Wing back is a horrible and difficult job, and you need the right guys. I don't think he has them. And as most sides play one up front, you have three guys doing not that much apart from getting dragged out to the channels by the likes of Salah or Saka. You are vulnerable to cross fields passes.

When I managed a Sunday team we used it, but we played it as 5 at the back, with the wing backs as full backs. Sat in, crowded our defensive third and waited for mistakes. I only did that because we were too **** to play four at the back

Did you play to win 1-0 from a set piece goal? Did you get yer defenders to lump it up to the big man up top who'd hold it up? Did your back 5 all raise their arms in unison appealing for off-side?

But I get why wing back is tricky in an old skool Italian 5-3-2. You only have one man on the flank who has to be able to defend and play as a winger.

But in this new 3-4-3, your wingbacks still have a winger ahead of them so aren't they just like FB? What do they have to do than Benny Blanc doesn't, for example?

Who do you need 3 CHs against 1 CF?

[Peter]

Did you play to win 1-0 from a set piece goal? Did you get yer defenders to lump it up to the big man up top who'd hold it up? Did your back 5 all raise their arms in unison appealing for off-side?

But I get why wing back is tricky in an old skool Italian 5-3-2. You only have one man on the flank who has to be able to defend and play as a winger.

But in this new 3-4-3, your wingbacks still have a winger ahead of them so aren't they just like FB? What do they have to do than Benny Blanc doesn't, for example?

Who do you need 3 CHs against 1 CF?

In a back four, when one full back goes, the other one stays and tucks in slightly. In a back three, both wing backs can go at the same time.

The argument is that back fours basically act as a back three anyway, and they do. But they have the flexibility as to which guy leaves the four. With a back three, they basically just sit there.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

This bloke has a 2m followers so I assume he?s monetising their misery.
https://youtube.com/@unitedstand?si=B_gG9qTgZN1BFtJk

Cheers. Go to 2hr 44' here for the watch along to the last couple of pens each:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=getnUJgVPyM

He really doesn't like their goalie. What's best is he curses his own pen taker, Mbeuno, simply because he's so peeved that Onana got his hands to the previous pen but didn't save it that he wants his team to lose so he can go with his sell Onana now headline.

Was there a Sperz Fan tv from the day we got Eze, btw?

[Peter]

Did you play to win 1-0 from a set piece goal? Did you get yer defenders to lump it up to the big man up top who'd hold it up? Did your back 5 all raise their arms in unison appealing for off-side?

But I get why wing back is tricky in an old skool Italian 5-3-2. You only have one man on the flank who has to be able to defend and play as a winger.

But in this new 3-4-3, your wingbacks still have a winger ahead of them so aren't they just like FB? What do they have to do than Benny Blanc doesn't, for example?

Who do you need 3 CHs against 1 CF?

Yes, we played to nick a win, however it came. We had three really good attacking players and the whole plan was to get them space to play. We climbed the table and had a cup run

With full backs, you'll note Arteta likes one of two things in his full backs- either a guy who is also a centre back (White) or a guy who can invert (MLS). His dream is guys who can do both (Timber, and perhaps Calafiori). And he now has a good combination across the four main options.

What he doesnt like is a traditional full back like Tierney, which is why the poor sod ended up back at Celtic

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

In a back four, when one full back goes, the other one stays and tucks in slightly. In a back three, both wing backs can go at the same time.

The argument is that back fours basically act as a back three anyway, and they do. But they have the flexibility as to which guy leaves the four. With a back three, they basically just sit there.

Ok, that makes sense. But what about when we have our LB inverted and our RB bombing forward to join B and Odin. That's a back 2. Though our DM can drop back and our goalie comes out now.

Tactics is a bit beyond my paygrade, I'm afraid. Cannon on tit = good. Y?ds, Mancs and Chavs = scum.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Yes, we played to nick a win, however it came. We had three really good attacking players and the whole plan was to get them space to play. We climbed the table and had a cup run

With full backs, you'll note Arteta likes one of two things in his full backs- either a guy who is also a centre back (White) or a guy who can invert (MLS). His dream is guys who can do both (Timber, and perhaps Calafiori). And he now has a good combination across the four main options.

What he doesnt like is a traditional full back like Tierney, which is why the poor sod ended up back at Celtic

I guess that's one of the many downsides of the Prem having a big 4/6 - and the only downside of us being part of that big 4/6 - is that you don't get that climbing the table and having a cup run like we did in the '80s under GG {him, not me.}

After a few seasons of mid table dross and early exits, climbing to a Uefa place and getting to a semi or final felt like winning the league.

We've almost become spoiled.

What/where was the team, btw?

[Peter]

Ok, that makes sense. But what about when we have our LB inverted and our RB bombing forward to join B and Odin. That's a back 2. Though our DM can drop back and our goalie comes out now.

Tactics is a bit beyond my paygrade, I'm afraid. Cannon on tit = good. Y?ds, Mancs and Chavs = scum.

I think the idea is that the inverted guy hangs back a bit and is part of the midfield buffer as we retreat to a three. But Arteta likes to complicate things and I often cant read what he is doing. Just as well I suppose. If it is obvious to me it isn't going to shock the opposition....

It's also why the Rodri role is so important and why I think Zubimendi should prove our best signing. That job is not as easy as it was when Gilberto did it, where you just put it about a bit and take a yellow for the team

City just don't function without him.

[Peter]

I guess that's one of the many downsides of the Prem having a big 4/6 - and the only downside of us being part of that big 4/6 - is that you don't get that climbing the table and having a cup run like we did in the '80s under GG {him, not me.}

After a few seasons of mid table dross and early exits, climbing to a Uefa place and getting to a semi or final felt like winning the league.

We've almost become spoiled.

What/where was the team, btw?

Pub team a bunch of us started from kick abouts in the park. We were ****e.

The guy who did the admin put us in a tough league in cheshunt. We were full of Greeks and Asians. The racism was unbelievable.

Second season we brought in a 'couple of guys' who could handle themselves. That helped

We used to play the theme song from Minder in the dressing room before the game

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Pub team a bunch of us started from kick abouts in the park. We were ****e.

The guy who did the admin put us in a tough league in cheshunt. We were full of Greeks and Asians. The racism was unbelievable.

Second season we brought in a 'couple of guys' who could handle themselves. That helped

We used to play the theme song from Minder in the dressing room before the game

The racism is disgraceful, especially when your team can cook kebabs and thalis. How come you were the manager - player with best understanding of the game or too old to play properly?

[Rich]

The back three would really concern me. It is really old fashioned and he doesn't have the players to make it work. And they haven't signed him any. Those three forward signings show a real lack of imagination.

And they have to get rid of the toxic tossers, even if you have to give them away.

Or just buy them out of their contracts; as our owners kindly agreed. Was a sad end for young Mesut but we are starting to reap the rewards.