Quite a few of the clickbait sites are saying Vieira will switch from a back four to a three / five system next season and that this is influencing who we go after in the transfer market.

I suppose the obvious reason for a change would be to solidify in the centre of defence, where for all their skill on the ball Anderson and Guehi have often been found wanting under a high ball or a cross. Finding space for a really big defender who can head the ball would help, and offset Mitchell's lack of height at the back post by pushing him a bit further from the goal and closer to the touchline where he excels.

Not sure what we would be gaining otherwise. Neither of our right backs are high quality attacking options, and even if we got AWB back we'd not be much better off in that regard. Not sure where Zaha, Olise and Eze all fit into that shape either, presuming we also want an out and out striker in the side.

always thought AWB would Be suited to the right sided CB in a three, so could see a back 5 of

----AWB -- Anderson -- Guehi
Clyne --------------------Mitchell

"It was a Team effort, I guess it took all players working together to lose this one"

*****New***Andersen***Guehi****
Clyne *****************Mitchell
******Doucoure*Hughes**********
*************Eze***************
*****Olise**********Wilf*******

Mateta/Edouard as the option to change to 4-3-3

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

Yeah, that's the only way we are getting Eze, Wilf and Olise in the same team with a back three. I don't much like the look of it to be honest. I'm not sure who puts the hard hards in upfront in that system, I don't fancy Clyne to create much, and I don't think Olise should play up top.

If we went 343 then we could go with something like:

*****New***Andersen***Guehi*****
New******Hughes***Eze******Mitchell
****Olise************Wilf********
***********Whoever*************

To put it mildly, Hughes would need to have had his Weetabix to cover for the attackers around him, and most managers from Conte to Southgate tend to use two holding midfielders in this system (making it five defenders and two defensive midfielders - yawn!) but either leaving one of Zaha, Eze or Olise out if they are fit to play, or asking the three of them to play in a strikerless system when all three of them want to come and take the ball to feet, and not one of them wants to run behind seems fraught with difficulties.

I just can't see a back-three system suiting our best attacking players.

Edited by TheBigToePunt (21 Jun 2022 8.10pm)

I agree 4-2-3-1, which it was, more than 4-3-3

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn