Against Bristol City, we looked to build from the back in a 1-4-1 formation in deep build-up, with Peck and Hamer interchanging as the lone pivot. This is usually okay, and we didn't have too many problems playing through their press in the first half. In attacking build-up, however, our rest defence (defensive structure in possession) resembled more of a 1-2-1/2 shape, with six/seven players in the final third. This is hugely unsustainable and the main reason we were beaten in transition so regularly. If our press was more coherent and effective, then you might be able to get away with it, but effective counter attacking opposition turning the ball over against our rest defence will have a field day, like Bristol City had.
The main solution a lot of people have suggested is a 1-4-2-3-1, which I like, as it gives us another option in deep build-up and should allow us to keep the ball more effectively than we did against Birmingham. The main thing that needs sorting, though, is our rest defence, and this is where I think a 1-4-2-3-1 can be effective for us both in and out of possession. Someone earlier in the thread had their ideal team currently as:
Cooper
Seriki - Bindon - Robinson - Burrows
Peck - Soumare
O'Hare - Hamer - Barry
Campbell
So, with seven players in deep build-up, as I said, we should be better at keeping the ball.
But what a lot of people have mentioned is that O'Hare isn't a right winger. And they're right — he isn't. So, when United play from the back and through the press and get inside the opposition half, he inverts. This in my opinion, gets the best out of everyone. It allows Seriki to push forward into the final third where he's effective, O'Hare is close to the striker and Hamer. Hamer is in the left half-space around 25 yards out, where his best football came last season. Barry is still wide and can come inside and rotate with Hamer when the timing’s right. We would then look something more like this in possession:
Cooper
Bindon - Robinson - Burrows
Peck - Soumare
Seriki - O'Hare - Hamer - Barry
Campbell
With that shape, we have an extra defender (which would allow us to recycle more effectively) and a guaranteed extra sitter that can help in build-up again. Our defensive structure, if we turn over the ball against an opposition counter, would look so much more secure than it did against Bristol City. We would also have five attacking bodies to counter-press high, with the two sitters who can squeeze the pitch if the opportunity allows.
The main issue for me with the change in rest defence is that it doesn't allow Burrows forward. We could see how it looks prioritising him when building down the left side, which would look like below, but this means starting Brooks on the right, O’Hare in the 10 and Hamer on the left, with Barry missing out:
Cooper
Seriki - Bindon - Robinson
Peck - Soumare
Brooks - O'Hare - Hamer - Burrows
Campbell
This then basically becomes about who is going to affect more games going forward: Seriki vs Burrows and Brooks vs Barry. For me, under this style, I think Seriki and Barry are more effective, hence holding Burrows back and keeping Brooks on the bench. The issue is then, you firstly waste Burrows’ attacking talents, and secondly, he isn’t the strongest defender. If we were to go with something like I suggested, which is more of a 1-3-2-4-1 shape in possession to get the best out of the likes of Hamer, Barry and O’Hare, the main issue would be to get a defensive left-back who can effectively play as a left centre-back in possession to allow Seriki to advance.
Appreciate this is all ifs, buts and maybes, but I do think this would be the best way to tighten ourselves up against transition, while allowing us to keep the ball better in deep build-up and still maintaining the attacking threat we had against Bristol City in the final third.
