All depends on opposition but 4231 is and should be our main formation.

1, it's a flexible formation allowing to be adapt as and when play dictates

2, our players are used to it

3, it works well when we have a full squad

Also I don't think the formation work as good as people are saying against Arsenal.

They got behind the wing backs pretty easy and Dier looked too scared to go out there to cover.

Maybe be different with Toby playing RCB though

3-5-2 or 3-4-2-1 is not much different to how we play when the FBs bomb forward in our standard formation. That is, the two CB's spread and Dier drops into the hole between them (effectively making a back 3). It also gives Poch some flexibility between two strong holding CMs (Wanyama and Dembele) and 2 AM's (Dele and Eriksen say) or just one holding and three AM's or two strikers (Harry plus Son or Janssen). That might boil down to the strength of opposition, injuries, or the particular state of a match etc.
It does give him a Plan B and C, which many on here have been complaining that he has lacked till now.

Thats 3 different formations we have used this season. - 4-2-3-1, 4-1-4-1 and 3-4-2-1.

Its good to see we do have other options and ways of playing.

Don`t cry for me, good article, but I am not keen on Dier in the back three if the truth be told, I much prefer him midfield. I suspect once Toby is back, Poch will revert to the norm.

Cheers Sandy, i tend to agree. I think it was the fact that we were missing Alli, Lamela and Sissoko for the NLD and Poch didn't trust N'Koudou or Onomah for such a high profile game so his hand was forced.

It was good to see that the players felt comfortable playing this way though.

For me Dier is back to a utility player which is a shock considering how he was last season.

Waynama is our main DM now he's an absolute beast and undroppable.

I'm surprised at how comfortable Wanyama is on the ball, I didn't expect that from him.

comment by Edbo (U17933)
posted 4 minutes ago
I'm surprised at how comfortable Wanyama is on the ball, I didn't expect that from him.
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This.

I'd obviously not watched enough of Saints, but he carries the ball pretty well.

Yes Hengs, Wanyama has been absolutely superb, what a signing he has been.

Even as a utility player i still think Dier will be in the top 5 of most minutes played by Spurs players come end of the season due to his reliability and versatility and the fact that he never gets injured.

comment by Edbo (U17933)
posted 6 minutes ago
I'm surprised at how comfortable Wanyama is on the ball, I didn't expect that from him.
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Yep he's not bad is he.. also the over exaggeration about his discipline unfounded too.

Gets a few yellows as expected but seems to keep his cool too

comment by ツ Hєиgy (U9129)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Edbo (U17933)
posted 6 minutes ago
I'm surprised at how comfortable Wanyama is on the ball, I didn't expect that from him.
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Yep he's not bad is he.. also the over exaggeration about his discipline unfounded too.

Gets a few yellows as expected but seems to keep his cool too
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He is absolutely fine discipline-wise. He is in great form, undoubtedly first choice at present.

Dier is out of form currently but I think it will be a blip. We are blessed to have two great options long term

I don't think you have the attacking talent, such as Hazard Willian, etc to make a success of 3-4-3.

Everyone is copying Chelsea. That said, your football is one dimensional so it is good to have the option of changing to 3-4-3.

Good to see that Poch is not rigid, like Wenger, say

comment by CFC: FFP Champions (U20729)
posted 3 minutes ago
I don't think you have the attacking talent, such as Hazard Willian, etc to make a success of 3-4-3.

Everyone is copying Chelsea. That said, your football is one dimensional so it is good to have the option of changing to 3-4-3.

Good to see that Poch is not rigid, like Wenger, say
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You do realise we played this formation last season right?

mug

We essentially played with three at the back for a lot of last season too when you dissect it.

Dier in midfield?
Walker and Rose defenders?

Not always

4231 is fine... as long as we've got Dembele fit and firing. When he carries the ball forward like he did on Sunday it draws people to him which in turn frees up Lamela, Alli, Eriksen...

... the only problem is that we don't have either a Dembele replica or a deep-lying playmaker to play there if Dembele is out/out of form. Clear oversight in the summer window IMO.

comment by Edbo (U17933)
posted 6 hours, 6 minutes ago
I'm surprised at how comfortable Wanyama is on the ball, I didn't expect that from him.
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I've watched a few of your games and I agree. He's actually a better passer than Morgan.

I think 4-2-3-1 is our bread and butter we should stick with that as that's what the players are used to.

The 5-3-2 (or in our case it is a 5-3-1-1) is good to use I like to see us surprise the opposition with it but it is very much a formation for when we are concerned about the opposition. The first thought is to negate them rather than to outplay them.

I don't think we are that flexible in truth as the formations are pretty much the same roles for each player. With the middle centre back sticking instead of being dropped into by the dcm and the centre backs splitting wider. It really isn't much of a change.

Would love to see us play a 4-3-3 against the likes of Sunderland and Burnley at home. To give us something different.

Interesting to note within the next 5 years the default formation is expected to be 5 at the back.

Interesting points LLM but i wouldn't say our formation is 5-3-2 it was more attacking than that.

You're basically implying that Walker and Rose aren't allowed to get forward and from what i saw its more of a 3-4-2-1.

You constantly speak about 5 at the back but under Pochetinno and the way he wants our attacking players to push up high and press then it will NEVER be 5 at the back.

Also i believe we have been flexible with our formations this season. I know last season Dier dropped back in between Toby and Jan when our fullbacks pushed forward so it was similar to the system we played at the NLD but it was still a distinct 3-4-2-1. We have also played the usual 4-2-3-1 and 4-1-4-1 with a false number 9.

I also dont think Pochetinno's first thought is to negate the opposition its the complete opposite its to outplay them and have more possession.

Regarding your last point i dont know how there can be a timescale of five years for us to be playing 5 at the back, Conte has changed Chelsea's formation in the last couple of months, Poch changed ours in his first season to 4-2-3-1.

I have seen our recent U19 games and theres no sign of 5 at the back its 4-2-3-1

Against Leverkusen we had Tanganga and Walkes with Eyoma and KWP at fullback.

Wanyama, to be fair, did have a disciplinary nightmare at Southampton. Been fantastic for us though, on the whole he has fouled intelligently.

I quite like 5 at the back as it gets more out of the wing backs, and I am not convinced of us as an attacking unit so going wide is our best way to create.

Wanyama has a really soft, happy face.

He kind of reminds me of Mr Staypuft, aka Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters. The face belies the monster beneath

Wayama was always more comfortable on the ball than Morgan, genuinely think because he's 'big and black' people stereotype. He's also more comfortable with the ball under pressure than Dier. The difference between Wanyama and the better DMs is his passing, he doesn't have the range and he plays sideways a bit too often. Him and Dembele in big games is a handful for the opposition

Analog

Waynama & Dembele is a beast partnership