Clough won't go 3-5-2..........will he?

[Woodwardfan]

Most of our talent is in midfield. For certain home games Clough will hope to play 2 forwards. One way to fit in all our best players is 3-5-2 which Van Gaal argues is a very solid formation, not that he invented it by any means.

I've always favoured it as a formation but appreciate it has been out of fashion until this recent World Cup. Van Gaal will play it home and away and so would I as it is a very fluid system, but Clough might be tempted to play 4-5-1 for away games and tough home games and 3-5-2 for easier games we hope to dominate.

The quality of our full backs on the overlap will hold sway. If they demand inclusion then the Baxters, Wallaces, Reeds and Scougalls will be fighting for the same position in a 4-4-2 or maybe a couple of positions in 4-5-1, though I suspect Clough might just pick Doyle plus Basham in the centre for the toughest games.

At least we have loads of options now but would I be greedy to still hope for Sharp? Suppose so, but hope he doesn't move local.

 

[ThatJa]

No, I don't see us in a 3-5-2, just because of our pursuit of Freeman, and the signing of Alcock, we'll certainly have full backs.

 

[blader]

Clough has always played 4-4-2. His 4-4-1-1 las year was a result if having zero strikers. It will always be a back 4 though. We played 3-5-2 once last season (Rotherham home?) for about 45 mins and we were all over the place. The wing backs are the vital players, and we don't have the players to do it.

 

[FTPE]

Most of our talent is in midfield. For certain home games Clough will hope to play 2 forwards. One way to fit in all our best players is 3-5-2 which Van Gaal argues is a very solid formation, not that he invented it by any means.

I've always favoured it as a formation but appreciate it has been out of fashion until this recent World Cup. Van Gaal will play it home and away and so would I as it is a very fluid system, but Clough might be tempted to play 4-5-1 for away games and tough home games and 3-5-2 for easier games we hope to dominate.

The quality of our full backs on the overlap will hold sway. If they demand inclusion then the Baxters, Wallaces, Reeds and Scougalls will be fighting for the same position in a 4-4-2 or maybe a couple of positions in 4-5-1, though I suspect Clough might just pick Doyle plus Basham in the centre for the toughest games.

At least we have loads of options now but would I be greedy to still hope for Sharp? Suppose so, but hope he doesn't move local.

I really hope he doesn't play 2 holding midfielders, I'm sure my Flynn-Baxter-wallace-murphy is a bit too offensive but to play Doyle AND Basham in place of a Baxter or scougall would be gut wrenching

 

[Fewksey]

Clough has always played 4-4-2. His 4-4-1-1 las year was a result if having zero strikers. It will always be a back 4 though. We played 3-5-2 once last season (Rotherham home?) for about 45 mins and we were all over the place. The wing backs are the vital players, and we don't have the players to do it.

Think we also played 352 in the fa cup away at Cambridge? Like the OP said it could be good against teams we expect to dominate.

 

[bartman]

Clough has always played 4-4-2. His 4-4-1-1 las year was a result if having zero strikers. It will always be a back 4 though. We played 3-5-2 once last season (Rotherham home?) for about 45 mins and we were all over the place. The wing backs are the vital players, and we don't have the players to do it.

we played 3-5-2- at Gillingham as well

 

[Droppingwell]

I like 3-5-2 but it does give space to opposing wingers, I remember Overmars saying he loved playing against it when it was in vogue in the late 90's. I don't think the 3 works well with 3 stopper centre halves as we have now. If we had say a Jagielka and Killa in the wide positions then they would be quicker out to the space behind the wing backs and that provides the cover. I dont expect to see a back 3 other than when chasing games late on or maybe if we have had a player sent off and need to restructure.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Collins, Butler, Allcock, McGahey, Kennedy, Harris would all do well in a Back 3.

A Back 3 can be a lot more solid than a Back 4 which often becomes a Back 3 anyway when we lose possession on the overlap. Some players thrive in a "3", for example Vlaar in the World Cup. Having 3 at the back all of the game with two tighter fellow defenders alongside can be very effective and Netherlands withdrew their lad on the right flank into the back 4 as soon as they lost possession. Wide forward attackers can obviously be a problem but it is perfectly possible to hold your ground as a solid unit in the middle so long as nobody sells themselves to a tricky winger, just holding him up is the key then others get back.

As for the players above, I wouldn't call any of them great overlappers, though I haven't seen Allcock yet. Sign Brayford tomorrow and this becomes a non-thread.

 

[SwissBlade]

Yes, I think we’ll play the 3-5-2 like we did at times last season. We know Clough likes his fullbacks to get forward, we saw this often enough in the Cup at least, with Doyle then being the man to sit in front of both centre halves.
I doubt we’ll start games with a back 3, I just don’t see the need. We’ll probably play 4-5-1 or 4-4-2, but we can adapt during games to a 3-4-3 or a 3-5-2
I noticed a lot of teams in the World Cup playing like we did last season, most of the successful teams got out of their groups by being bold and playing with an adaptable formation. It’s for this reason that we don’t need to obsess about formation, we need to be organised and solid, but not rigid. England in the World cup were extremely rigid, they weren’t able to adapt quickly enough, we need the players to be able to slot in when someone makes a run. If we play McNulty alongside Higdon and murphy makes a run, then I’d expect McNulty or Scougal to slot in for Murphy, I’d expect Murphy to drop in at fullback when he gets overlapped.
The thing that Baxter didn’t get much praise for last season was his movement. He’d often pull out or drop back during attacks leaving huge holes for the midfielders and wingers to get into. It’s another reason why the Beard did so well. He saw the gaps and made the runs.

 

[DronnieBlade]

On proviso you have tremendous wing backs ( a la walker and naughton) and you have a good dcm "filller" dare I say like Monty then 3 5 2 is a very good way to play as it creates natural triangles for possession football, unlike the flatter lines of say 4 4 2.

My personal choice of formation would always be 3 5 2 whenever possible.

As has been said , not at all sure we have the full backs on the books.

UTB

 

[ZoneManWilf]

On proviso you have tremendous wing backs ( a la walker and naughton) and you have a good dcm "filller" dare I say like Monty then 3 5 2 is a very good way to play as it creates natural triangles for possession football, unlike the flatter lines of say 4 4 2.

My personal choice of formation would always be 3 5 2 whenever possible.

As has been said , not at all sure we have the full backs on the books.

UTB

Just trying to remember the early team in the 97/98 season when we used 3-5-2 the most effectively, think it was something like:

----------------------------Kelly----------------------------

----------Holdsworth---McGrath---Tiler------------

Borbokis-------------Marker-------------------Quinn
----------------Stuart------------Whitehouse----------

--------------------Deane----Fjortoft--------------------

Although we had a large squad that year and a lot of turnover, so I can;t quite remember who we had and when. I think McGrath lasted a about 1/2 a season didn't he? The likes of Don Hutchison, Sean Derry, Lee Sandford, Gareth Taylor and Mashmello were used in the team a lot as well as those above, and Dean Saunders signed a bit later on as well, and we had plenty of other squad members.

Borbokis and Quinn were the perfect wing backs in that early period for that team.

 

[Eskimo]

yep ZMWilf, that was a very good team for a short while, unfortunately McGrath had to pack in.

 

[sheffielder]

When/where has Clough played 442?

 

[Silent Blade]

Just trying to remember the early team in the 97/98 season when we used 3-5-2 the most effectively, think it was something like:

----------------------------Kelly----------------------------

----------Holdsworth---McGrath---Tiler------------

Borbokis-------------Marker-------------------Quinn
----------------Stuart------------Whitehouse----------

--------------------Deane----Fjortoft--------------------

Although we had a large squad that year and a lot of turnover, so I can;t quite remember who we had and when. I think McGrath lasted a about 1/2 a season didn't he? The likes of Don Hutchison, Sean Derry, Lee Sandford, Gareth Taylor and Mashmello were used in the team a lot as well as those above, and Dean Saunders signed a bit later on as well, and we had plenty of other squad members.

Borbokis and Quinn were the perfect wing backs in that early period for that team.

Tracey was our first choice keeper until December and the only competitive match he missed was in the League Cup. We didnt sign Stuart until November and he never played in the same team as McGrath. Spackman was going to pick Mitch Ward for the first match of the season against Sunderland but Ward had suffered a back spasm so Mark Patterson took his place and he was a regular starter until December

 

[Bergen Blade]

Just trying to remember the early team in the 97/98 season when we used 3-5-2 the most effectively, think it was something like:

----------------------------Kelly----------------------------

----------Holdsworth---McGrath---Tiler------------

Borbokis-------------Marker-------------------Quinn
----------------Stuart------------Whitehouse----------

--------------------Deane----Fjortoft--------------------

Although we had a large squad that year and a lot of turnover, so I can;t quite remember who we had and when. I think McGrath lasted a about 1/2 a season didn't he? The likes of Don Hutchison, Sean Derry, Lee Sandford, Gareth Taylor and Mashmello were used in the team a lot as well as those above, and Dean Saunders signed a bit later on as well, and we had plenty of other squad members.

Borbokis and Quinn were the perfect wing backs in that early period for that team.

Mark Patterson started the season, so swap him for Stuart. And Simon Tracey started in goal, otherwise you're right.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

as someone said above we defo played 3 at the back against gills and it seems that NC occasionally changes his formation/players to suit the opposition. Considering the size of the squad it wouldn't surprise me if we had a fair degree of squad rotation this season as against a recognised first 11.

UTB

 

[DronnieBlade]

Just trying to remember the early team in the 97/98 season when we used 3-5-2 the most effectively, think it was something like:

----------------------------Kelly----------------------------

----------Holdsworth---McGrath---Tiler------------

Borbokis-------------Marker-------------------Quinn
----------------Stuart------------Whitehouse----------

--------------------Deane----Fjortoft--------------------

Although we had a large squad that year and a lot of turnover, so I can;t quite remember who we had and when. I think McGrath lasted a about 1/2 a season didn't he? The likes of Don Hutchison, Sean Derry, Lee Sandford, Gareth Taylor and Mashmello were used in the team a lot as well as those above, and Dean Saunders signed a bit later on as well, and we had plenty of other squad members.

Borbokis and Quinn were the perfect wing backs in that early period for that team.

Love it. That team was great.

And just look at all those luverly triangles

UTB