3-5-2

From watching Juventus, I don't think 3-5-2/3-1-4-2 is the way to go and I don't think it's a formation which would work against the best teams as shown against Bayern.

Juventus in the first leg against Bayern were completely overrun in the wide areas and Pirlo in the deeper lying midfield position was dealt with comfortably by Mandzukic. He had absolutely no time to settle on the ball and pick a pass and stamp his authority on a game like he would usually do.

It might seem a good idea but IMO, 4-2-3-1 with one or two additional players brought in to make it really effective would be the best way to go for us because it incorporates wide players and overlapping full backs but also gives the defence a sufficient amount of protection if you have players who can play the double pivot well enough.

3-5-2 would never be an option anyway because Sir Alex has probably never heard the words 3-5-2.

Imagine Evra and Giggs together in their prime

Damn. That was supposed to be a response to

"Have always thought it's a shame we have never had a really top class LM while we've had Evra, having them 2 down the left overlapping would be frightening."

True, but he would often spend a lot of time playing down the left hand side.

I thought we were more dangerous down the left when he switched across than when he was on the right playing with Brown and Neville.

It's his best position, look at him for Madrid. Plays there most of the game.

TRS, that is true. I like 352 but my one criticism of it is how it doesn't counteract width very well.

Interestingly enough, this is something Italy are well aware in their international matches. They play 352 against teams that usually play through the middle - Spain in particular - but then adopt a back four and revert to the diamond when faced against teams that attack with width.

I guess the difference is that Prandelli is a better manager than Conte and has made his team adaptable. Really rate that guy as a manager.

Definitely want this at least tried. I've argued for something similar before, allows all our players to play in their best positions.

Darren The King Fletcher

I guess that was the point of the post in the first place though. Our wide play this season has been shocking so taking that into account how our current squad could possibly line up.

1982, my Ronaldo comment was flippant more than anything.

I know what you're saying though. I like the idea of 352 being tried. I guess who we play will be a factor in it as I alluded to with the Italy team.

People criticise City for the 352 thing but it's not as cut and dry as people make out. There's been times when they've actually looked better when playing it as it's allowed them to get more of a hold on the midfield when they've switched to it. Liverpool is the first game that springs to mind when I think about it.

I know Melton will agree with me on this one also.

This post was meant to highlight our poor wing play this season and to therefore get our better/form players playing their favoured positions.

The line up I have chosen in the OP could easily be moved IMO to a 4-3-3 with Jones protecting allowing Carrick, Cleverley and Kagawa licence to move forward.

Indeed you could easily change one player and easily move it to a 4-2-3-1 with the addition of someone like Nani (instead of Jones) and playing three behind RVP in a fluid formation.

Another good point I have seen mentioned is the fact that 3-5-2 would allow Carrick to play further forward with clever players around him offering an option. This way we could also see more players in the box as it is a frustration of mine when we see balls in the box and no one there. (I wrote an article last week regarding the seeming reluctance of our wingers to get into the box when the ball is on the opposite flank).

This article does stem though from poor wing play through the season and if we could get our wingers back on form then there wouldn't be such a problem.

One final note is I see no-one has picked me up on not selecting Rio and Vidic for CB. I believe that however good they are they do mean that we defend deeper than we need to. Having a pacy back line would enable us to compete better in midfield and allow less gaps for the opposition to find. It should also mean being able to press and win the ball in higher positions up the pitch which should make it easier to attack.

Diafol, top comment.

Bloody hell. I've just gone back through some articles.

What was I thinking!