The “faux” expert pundits will have us believe that 3-4-3 formations cannot and will never work in the English Premier League (EPL). Great, well at least now we know why they are paid to talk about football and not manage / coach it.
3-4-3 or three at the back systems can and more importantly HAVE been successful in the EPL, and I’m not just talking about smaller sides using it to punch above their weight. Chelsea won the EPL under Conte using a 3-4-3 formation. Chelsea were also successful under Tuchel also playing a 3-4-2-1 formation with our own Mason Mount getting 20+ goals and assists including the match winning assist in the UCL final against Pep’s City team. So any pundit who states that no one has been successful with a 3-4-3 system might need to go and have a health check as they are suffering short term memory loss.
The second reason why that assertion is incorrect stems from the over simplistic nature of team formations. In reality, the players don’t have a stick up their backsides keeping them anchored to one position on the pitch. They move around all across the pitch and will take up different positions depending on whether the team is attacking or defending, who has the ball and where and who or where they have been instructed to cover. Pep and Arteta typically start every game with 3 CBs on the pitch, the slight difference is they are listed as a fullback in team formations.
The most common shape across all 20 teams in the EPL for sides in possession of the ball is 3-2-2-3 with 3-2-3-2 the second most common. What do we notice about those? Oh yeah, both have a back three in possession. The difference is they have either a fullback staying deep to act as a CB, or a midfielder drop deep between the CBs who split wider. This idea that a midfield double pivot in a 3-4-3 will get over ran in midfield is also a load of tosh. Why on earth is a midfield double pivot in a 3-4-3 going to be over ran, but not a double pivot in a 4-2-3-1?
Liverpool are running away with the league without their midfield duo of Gravenberch and Mac Allister being over ran, despite neither being particularly defensive. Under Amorim, the 3-4-3 is really more of a 3-4-2-1, giving us a box midfield of 4 players (very in vouge and very successful in the EPL I might add).
There is absolutely no evidence to suggest a 3-4-3 cannot challenge for and even win this league, while there is evidence to the contrary. No, the problem at Manchester United has nothing to do with the system as such, but everything to do with a lack of players who are suitable and with enough quality.
So let’s stop eating up the horse manure being shoved down our throats from failed football managers who lack the analytical and tactical intelligence to succeed at the job they are more than happy to be paid to criticise. Remember if it wasn’t for their ability to spout rubbish, they’d be unemployed.
Written by Shappy January 21 2025 10:26:40
