DiamondGooner wrote:I used to champion that same notion but the fact is there is a reason why every top team is using 4-3-3 / 3-4-3 now.
They are more flexible, allow for possession or pressure and you can choose from a variety of strikers, you don't need just one type, your also fielding 3 attackers in both set ups meaning your not weakening your offense.
Yes you can win with 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 but over the course of a season, the other two formations are winning out and the results are there for people to see.
A good/great team can play any formation, if you watch Pep and Conte they may well have a preferred line up but that line up 4-4-2 or 3-5-1-1 or 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 will be dependant on who they are playing. Playing against a pressing team versus playing against a parked bus are very different. The reason Klopp fails more in the big games is his lack of flexibility.
I think City will now play 4-1-2-2-1 with just one holding DM and Haaland up front, but you could call that 4-3-3. Conte will go 3-4-3 or 5-2-3 depends if you count wing backs as defenders or midfield, same thing really. But I would equally guess that both sides will use multiple formations and tactics based on who they are playing - that's where top managers earn the big bucks.
Interesting last season that Spurs, with less player quality, needed 3/4 days to prepare for games and a change in playing style. City just switch at will and Liverpool play pretty much the same every week, that's a weakness Klopp needs to fix.
The very best teams know that they will face a packed defence most weeks so whilst it appears they always play the same way that's by necessity. We however often face teams who will attack out wide (Liverpool, Spurs, etc) or through the middle (City, Brighton, Newcastle) or indeed the bus parkers. That requires a greater amount of tactical flexibility and a squad who can vary their style - last season Arteta lacked the experience, the squad lacked quality alternatives, we got caught out playing the wrong tactics.
Hate to big up Spurs but we are now where they have been for 30 years, playing catch up - have they finally fixed it? Top manager? adding quality players? I rather fear they might have, but let's hope not.
We need Arteta to think outside his tiny box, and we need 6/7 more (
not replacement) quality players. Will we do that? It took Levy 20 years to open the cheque book fully, the Kroenke's need to do it now.