I'm glad you started this topic beechyboy as I was going to do the same.
The three at the back isn't working for us that's clear to most people except Moore and Jones. It doesn't suit the players we have. Nor does 4-4-2. There is an option for retaining three at the back but it means we need a five in midfield. Harvey Barnes cannot play in that system he would either have to play as one of a pair up front or in the 3 man midfield. If he does that he becomes like any other midfielder and wastes energy playing to deep. He will be less effective in the final third. We need a formation that suits the players we have, that gives us more solidity, particularly throughout the spine of the team and that retains our threat going forward. Step forward the system we went to in the end yesterday : 4-3-3.
Johnstone
Myhill
(Dawson make do for now) Hegazi Bartley Gibbs
Mears Dawson Adarabioyo Townsend
Livermore Morrison Field
Harper Hoolahan Barry
Phillips Rodriguez Barnes
Burke Gayle Sako
Now the above is a for example. I know there are some players left out and and I don't mean that 1-11 to be taken too literally but it highlights a more more solid system. No square pegs in round holes, no more getting over-run in midfield and Barnes / Phillips left to play where they can do damage, no wating energy tracking back. Eden Hazard doesn't track back all the time nor do Salah or Mane (examples). It's a bit of a myth that you need flair players to do defensive duties. Yes they have to do a job but not to the detriment of wasting their energy. NO team in the Championship is going to push full backs on with Barnes / Phillips playing high up the pitch.
In midfield let Sam Field bomb up and down. He did that a few times last night and he's the only one we have that can do that. In the end it resulted in him almost scoring with a curler. Livermore will hustle and bustle, and the likes of Barry, Morrison, Hoolahan can all play with the ball, all of them have the ability to dictate the game.
At the back there is less space between the defenders, naturally, proper cover in front of them and all can concentrate on defending.
It doesn't mean we can't play football, we can but in this league you have to scrap as well. In this system we can do that, the spine is more solid and the team better balanced overall.
Also we don't have to keep tinkering with systems every time someone goes off and we have adequate cover all over with the exception of right back but we all know that we'll have to muddle through till January.
A couple of seasons ago Chelsea looked poor until they found the right system for them and went 3-5-2. It made them a completely different team. That could be the same for us, it could be the making of us. It suits the players we have and I'm sure we'd be a much better team adapting to 4-3-3.
