You'll never win the league with 352

[El Jefecito]

I keep hearing but can't work out why? Given our over abundance of world class midfielders it would seem ideal.

Again why are so many convinced that it can't work?

[Diego]

agreed with the likes of alves and riise on the flanks. on a pair oftop strikers i can't see how it doesn't work

[Morph]

my thinking is the same to be honest, on the few occasions we tried it in the league it worked, maybe rafa will re-visit it at some point, but i doubt he'll change our system at this stage now

[lfcruleus]

Against a quick counter attacking side we would get torn apart, can you imagine Ronaldo and Giggs breaking against no full backs pulling the CB's out leaving no cover on Rooney and Smith/Saha, that would explain it.
The system only works against sides with no width in my opinion, and you nee quick CB's which we dont have.
At home maybe there is an argument for occasionally playing it against teams that sit back and have no pace to break but apart from that it isnt workable, Uncle Roy tried it and Scales and Babb were quite quick but we conceded too many.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Worked fine in Istanbul didn't it?

And when we used it this season in the league we always seemed to win.

[lfcruleus]

Worked fine in Istanbul didn't it?

And when we used it this season in the league we always seemed to win.

Worked fine for 6 minutes then we changed back, Stevie finished at RB if i remember correctly. What we played in the league this season was more a 532 defending and a 352 with the ball not a customary 352.

[Morph]

Worked fine for 6 minutes then we changed back, Stevie finished at RB if i remember correctly. What we played in the league this season was more a 532 defending and a 352 with the ball not a customary 352.

is that not the same thing, as i'd assume the original post was about using wing backs not using out and out wingers with 3 cms

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Worked fine for 6 minutes then we changed back, Stevie finished at RB if i remember correctly. What we played in the league this season was more a 532 defending and a 352 with the ball not a customary 352.

No mate it was a 3-5-2.

Smicer came on for Kewell in the first half, straight swap. Finnan came off for Hamann at half time. We had a back three of Carragher, Hyypia and Traore. Smicer went to right wing back, Riise left. Didi and Alonso in central midfield with Stevie and Luis supporting Baros up front.

After 70 minutes Stevie and Vladi swapped positions.

[lfcruleus]

No mate it was a 3-5-2.

Smicer came on for Kewell in the first half, straight swap. Finnan came off for Hamann at half time. We had a back three of Carragher, Hyypia and Traore. Smicer went to right wing back, Riise left. Didi and Alonso in central midfield with Stevie and Luis supporting Baros up front.

After 70 minutes Stevie and Vladi swapped positions.

If Vladi was at right wing back then he was badlt out of position for his goal!
Gerrard definately played Right back in extra time and Djimi was LB, Rafa went back more defensive after we equalised.

[El Jefecito]

Against a quick counter attacking side we would get torn apart, can you imagine Ronaldo and Giggs breaking against no full backs pulling the CB's out leaving no cover on Rooney and Smith/Saha, that would explain it.
The system only works against sides with no width in my opinion, and you nee quick CB's which we dont have.
At home maybe there is an argument for occasionally playing it against teams that sit back and have no pace to break but apart from that it isnt workable, Uncle Roy tried it and Scales and Babb were quite quick but we conceded too many.

Surely two DMs like Mascherano and Xabi would be good insurance on the counter attack.

And our answer to not having much pace at the back has always been the super sweeper Pepe

The other thing which may make it workable is that Manure aside, how many teams actually have good width. Not very many.

Which actually leads me to another point. Why does Rafa feel it necessary to create custom tactics for each game. Surely, other than the top 4 we should be able to blow teams away with a straight forward 442 / 352?

[lfcruleus]

is that not the same thing, as i'd assume the original post was about using wing backs not using out and out wingers with 3 cms

In genuine 352 formation i would expect the wide players to be more advanced at all times and the CB's to be spread out more, with our mainly defensive CM's it actually wouldnt make us much more positive anyway, if we had a couple of Gerrards then maybe. Mascher and Xabi both play slower and deeper. It would be interesting.

[lfcruleus]

Surely two DMs like Mascherano and Xabi would be good insurance on the counter attack.

And our answer to not having much pace at the back has always been the super sweeper Pepe

The other thing which may make it workable is that Manure aside, how many teams actually have good width. Not very many.

Which actually leads me to another point. Why does Rafa feel it necessary to create custom tactics for each game. Surely, other than the top 4 we should be able to blow teams away with a straight forward 442 / 352?

But with Xabi and Mascher there would be little point in playing the system, as we would need another box to box player like Gerrard IMHO

[El Jefecito]

In genuine 352 formation i would expect the wide players to be more advanced at all times and the CB's to be spread out more, with our mainly defensive CM's it actually wouldnt make us much more positive anyway, if we had a couple of Gerrards then maybe. Mascher and Xabi both play slower and deeper. It would be interesting.

Xabi would be able to play further forward and be passing 20-30 yards instead of 50-60. Stevie would be in his best position and maybe Lucas will fit nicely into that setup.

We'd be able to play two out and out strikers and would get good width from the wing backs.

Given most of the smaller teams play 1 up front against us, 4 at the back seems such a waste especially as we would get more milage from the spare man up front.

[lfcruleus]

Xabi would be able to play further forward and be passing 20-30 yards instead of 50-60. Stevie would be in his best position and maybe Lucas will fit nicely into that setup.

We'd be able to play two out and out strikers and would get good width from the wing backs.

Given most of the smaller teams play 1 up front against us, 4 at the back seems such a waste especially as we would get more milage from the spare man up front.

To be fair i know nothing about the brazilian lad, but I dont think Xabi has the engine for it, if he is totally free of defensive responsibilities then maybe, as i say it would be interesting against the weaker sides especially at home.

[El Jefecito]

To be fair i know nothing about the brazilian lad, but I dont think Xabi has the engine for it, if he is totally free of defensive responsibilities then maybe, as i say it would be interesting against the weaker sides especially at home.

It worked against Newcastle so let's hope Rafa has the balls to give it a go. Without something radical like that I can see us ending up wasting Stevie Gs career. He doesn't have the nouse to play anywhere other than in the middle and Rafa is never going to give up his two DMs.