[Albion] Three at back

A

amexer

Well-known member

Aug 8, 2011

6,212

• Dec 28, 2020

• #1

Do we now usually play 3 at back because
1) It is Potters preferred option
2) Unless playing out of position only way of playing Dunk,White and Webster
3) Wants to play Lampty as Wingback.
4) If plays 4 Potter not keen on his options at left back.

Interesting when Lampty didnt play goes back to 4. On Saturday March as winger contributed more up front

 

LamieRobertson

Not awoke

Feb 3, 2008

46,745

SHOREHAM BY SEA

• Dec 28, 2020

• #2

Hmm player as winger contributes more up front than player with dual duties

 

KZNSeagull

Well-known member

Nov 26, 2007

19,824

Wolsingham, County Durham

• Dec 28, 2020

• #3

Lampty. E's a goodun'

 

B

blue-shifted

Banned

Feb 20, 2004

7,645

a galaxy far far away

• Dec 28, 2020

• #4

amexer said:

Do we now usually play 3 at back because
1) It is Potters preferred option
2) Unless playing out of position only way of playing Dunk,White and Webster
3) Wants to play Lampty as Wingback.
4) If plays 4 Potter not keen on his options at left back.

Interesting when Lampty didnt play goes back to 4. On Saturday March as winger contributed more up front

Click to expand...

Do we now usually play 3 at back because
1) It is Potters preferred option - For most opponents yes
2) Unless playing out of position only way of playing Dunk,White and Webster This is also a big part of it
3) Wants to play Lampty as Wingback. This is the biggest reason to play it
4) If plays 4 Potter not keen on his options at left back. Not sure about this one. He seems to trust Burn more than most on here do

No one single reason. The other, slightly ridiculous theory is that the more centre backs the less we'll concede from set pieces. That one's working well

 

GT49er

Well-known member

Feb 1, 2009

46,757

Gloucester

• Dec 28, 2020

• #5

We seem to have got into a bit of a muddle with our CBs!

Dunk, White and Webster have all been excellent playing in a back four; Dunk, club captain and legend, a full England international (just!); Webster - apparently very strongly wanted by GP, and we paid £20M for him; White - we turned down £25M to keep him here - so which one do you drop? Difficult, so play three at the back. The problem is compounded by the fact that none of them are naturals for the left sided CB in a three role - the only player naturally suited to playing there is BDB, who is probably our 5th. choice CB.

If we did want to go for a back four, we haven't got a (good enough) LB (March is a LWB, not a LB), and you could argue the same on the right; Lamptey is not a defensive full back. Liverpool play a back four with two very advanced full backs, but they are exceptional; they have a very strong and talented midfield, and Salah, Mane and Firminio up front, all of which changes the demands made on the defence. Veltman could play RB I suppose, with Lamptey as a RW in a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1. And the manager would still have to decide who to drop out of White, Dunk and Webster.

Who'd be a manager, eh?

 

Perkino

Well-known member

Dec 11, 2009

5,987

• Dec 28, 2020

• #6

amexer said:

Do we now usually play 3 at back because
1) It is Potters preferred option
2) Unless playing out of position only way of playing Dunk,White and Webster
3) Wants to play Lampty as Wingback.
4) If plays 4 Potter not keen on his options at left back.

Interesting when Lampty didnt play goes back to 4. On Saturday March as winger contributed more up front

Click to expand...

1 yes, 2 yes but Potter isn't afraid to play people out of position, 3 Lamptey would be interesting as a RB I don't think it would go well, 4 our fullback option are not great

 

A

amexer

Well-known member

Aug 8, 2011

6,212

• Dec 28, 2020

• Thread starter
• #7

I think Potter seems obligated to play Dunk Webster and White. Our defence has looked poor because with 3 at back they get pulled out wide. Much prefer 2 CBs that know there job and stay there. Bonus of course like West Ham game you can play a winger

 

beorhthelm

A. Virgo, Football Genius

Jul 21, 2003

35,313

• Dec 28, 2020

• #8

i reckon he wants to play it, that its the best way fit in so many CBs and use Lampty most effectively makes an easy sell.

its probably wrong though in the long run, shouldnt be so determined to play White every game and Lampty would be better off developing more defensively.

 

Barnet Seagull

Luxury Player

Jul 14, 2003

5,929

Falmer, soon...

• Dec 28, 2020

• #9

Potter usually elects for a 3-4-2-1 and for the most part, it's pretty rare we have issues in open play with a 3CBs.
The 3-4-2-1 is a very flexible defensive formation with the main spaces left being either between the lines (as exploited well by Leicester) or out wide where there is less risk (Like Sheffield United did to us).
The numbers in the middle make it easier for possession based teams to play through the press and the extra CB can help to create overloads as seen in Maupay's goal yesterday.
Although others may disagree, I think tactically Potter is very strong. He's very good at understanding where the space is and how to exploit it and defend against it, often switching things around to nullify a threat or target a weakness.
Against the better sides who also leave space, this is generally an effective way of playing.

The challenge is where we come up against a low block e.g. Sheff Utd, Palace, Burnley etc. We don't have enough quality to break down the defense and are ripe for exploiting on the counter attack or via a Set Piece.
This isn't a peculiarity to us, watch Man City and Liverpool struggle too. In these games it will be down to fine margins and individual mistakes. We're prone to a few.

 

Superphil

Dismember

Jul 7, 2003

25,420

In a pile of football shirts

• Dec 28, 2020

• #10

2 .