Would Three At The Back Work

[chilledbear 16]

It might get the most out of the players in the squad.

 

Although the personel will probably change in January.

 

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/is-shock-to-rangers-system-on-agenda-as-ally-mccoist-plans-next-attack.16245115

 

Is shock to Rangers' system on agenda as Ally McCoist plans next attack?Richard Wilson

Ally McCoist has shown a willingness to be bold with some of his thinking.

 

 

He has tinkered with the shape and composition of his midfield, been prepared to trust in young, developing players such as Ross Perry, Jamie Ness, Thomas Kind Bendiksen and Kane Hemmings, and nobody would have expected Sasa Papac to line-up in central midfield. Yet should the Rangers manager be more unconventional?

 

 

With the personnel that he has, and the qualities of some of the individuals in his squad, would 3-5-2, or a version of that shape, suit Rangers better than the other formations McCoist has been employing? It is a tactic that can be undermined by opponents who play three up front, or have clever wide players who can target the space between the three defenders, but is being revived from its place in history. With Rangers tending to dominate most domestic opponents, they could switch their shape without being weakened.

 

Udinese and Napoli both use the system to impressive effect in Serie A, while Pep Guardiola is increasingly using a back three with Barcelona. These are decisions made on philosophical grounds, with the respective coaches convinced that the shape is the best use of space and width; for McCoist, it would be more a case of pragmatism. Some of his players would be a better fit in some of the positions, and it might provide an answer to the lack of creativity that has reverberated in recent games.

 

The use of three centre-backs is considered a defensive manoeuvre, particularly in Britain, where 4-4-2 remains the template. When Craig Brown used the formation with Scotland, he used three ball-winning defenders at the back, such as Colin Calderwood, Colin Hendry and Matt Elliott, and it was a robust system. Yet it can free up other areas of the team and become an attacking ploy, while a defender who is comfortable on the ball and capable of an extensive passing range, can effectively become a deep-lying playmaker.

 

With Dorin Goian and Carlos Bocanegra having defended solidly this season, Kyle Bartley could play between then as the centre-back with the confidence, poise and ability to bring the ball forward and initiate attacks. He would be the free man, able to sweep up behind his defensive partners or move into midfield when Rangers are pushing forward. Lining up with three central defenders would also allow McCoist to push his two full-backs further forward,

 

Both Steven Whittaker and Lee Wallace are more comfortable moving upfield to join the attack, they are energetic, dynamic and tireless on the overlap, and their tendency to be occasionally uncertain in defence would be less of an issue if they were deployed as wing-backs. They would provide the width for the team, but are good enough in their delivery of the ball from crosses.

 

Using three central midfielders would allow Steven Davis greater license to roam and be a creative influence. The Northern Irishman has been a subdued figure this season, lacking the verve that has established him as Rangers' most imaginative and cultured player in previous seasons. If he could play in front of two hard-working midfielders, and behind two strikers, Davis could recover the inventiveness of his play.

 

Nikica Jelavic has been isolated up front since Steven Naismith succumbed to injury, with McCoist unable to turn to a similar replacement in his squad, at least in terms of Naismith's movement, his tempo and his spirit. Re-shaping the team would allow the Rangers manager to play a formidable midfield three while still proving a partner for Jelavic, and so resist the team's reliance on sending long balls upfield towards the Croatian centre-forward.

 

There are no easy solutions, and McCoist has shown a preference for wingers in his championing of Gregg Wylde and the signing of Sone Aluko. If he wanted to make use of his other options, he could play 3-4-3, with his wide players lining up either side of Jelavic. The midfield four could be a mix of defensive, energetic and creative players, while Bartley could still push forward from the back during play, and one of the midfielders would then in turn move up to play closer to Jelavic.

 

With the likes of Kirk Broadfoot, David Weir, Perry, Matt McKay, Kyle Hutton, and Ness offering options for the central defence and midfield positions, Rangers would also have players competing for places in the side. McCoist is not an idealist, and he has often tinkered with the shape and tactics of his side this season, so switching to three at the back need not be seen as a drastic option, or even the defensive approach that it became when Walter Smith used three centre-backs at Old Trafford in the Champions League and the two wing-backs were restricted to defensive duties.

 

If McCoist wants to revive his team's spark without compromising its resilience, then a change in formation might offer the best option.

Edited December 23, 2011 by chilledbear

[pete 2,499]

Post deleted by Pete

 

 

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Reason.

 

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Trying not to be tedious.

 

[GovanAllan 0]

I know it's just a game but I use the 3 5 2 in soccer manager. Back 3 of Boca Goian and one other depending on fitness morale it's usually McMillian. The middle 5 can be changed easily to be attacking or defensive and played in multiple ways, with the two up front would like to see Ally give it a go. Nothing ventured nothing gained we need something to get us going again.

 

On a side note in the game it doesn't work well against the Bheasts as I found out after the first OF game of the season got humped 5 0 at the meccanodome. Learned my lesson and pumped them 4 0 at Ibrox with a 4 4 2.

Edited December 23, 2011 by GovanAllan

[Tumshie RFC 0]

Not a fan of that formation at all.

[Zappa 0]

Playing with Whittaker at RB can be like playing with a 3-man back line half the time anyway!

[BrahimHemdani 1]

There might be an argument for it in certain games; if so my three would be:

 

:dg::sp:

 

Bocanegra could play there for years.