Defensive Bores

three at the back is the ultimate system (3-4-3) but only if you can get good enough defenders otherwise you will get slaughtered .

It morphs into any formation with a tiny bit of player flexibility .

to have any chance of winning anything you absolutely have to have a top defence - otherwise you are just spurs

Originally Posted by Child of Darkness

three at the back is the ultimate system (3-4-3) but only if you can get good enough defenders otherwise you will get slaughtered .

It morphs into any formation with a tiny bit of player flexibility .

to have any chance of winning anything you absolutely have to have a top defence - otherwise you are just spurs

Or last years Liverpool

Originally Posted by barca99

Or last years Liverpool

dont say that - stevie G is a world class Defence midfielder you know






spew

Interesting to see that Guardiola is also trying out a back 5 at Bayern this pre-season, albeit with a very different shape up front.

Originally Posted by Child of Darkness

dont say that - stevie G is a world class Defence midfielder you know

Indeed.

On the basis that not every little issue with the squad can be fixed in one summer we need to prioritise.

GK - sorted

RB/RWB - not in love with Rafael/Valencia as our options but will pass for this season

LB/LWB - more than happy to go into the season with Shaw/James (bringing Blind in as a midfielder would give bonus options but would rather a better CM if we only get one)

CB- biggest priority, happy to have Jones/Smalling/Evans as options, only cover at the moment is Keane and I think Carrick could be used against 'lesser' teams. One CB is a priority.

Midfield - Herrera/Carrick backed up by Fletcher/Cleverly is ok but not ideal, after a CB another CM should be priority.

No.10 or whatever you want to call it - Mata backed up by Kagawa sorted

Strikers - Rooney/Van Persie backed up by Wellbeck/Hernandez is perfectly fine for the season.

Add to the above mentioned, J@&%!aj, Wilson, Powell, Lingard, Pearson, Lawrence, Pereira, Verela etc being coached and bought on by LVG and just two more players signed (CB/CM) and we will be fine.

CM - we should target either Vidal or Kedira, both are top quality and appear 'available'

CB - serious shortage of top quality out there IMO, think the player we sign needs to be a leader, Hummels would be number 1 choice but maybe not available, perhaps Howedes or Godin could be alternatives??

Originally Posted by ZiggyStardust

We need a couple of CBs and a backup LB / LWB

Very surprised we're not signing De Vrij as he would seem perfect for this 3412 system

Not sure how long into the season we will continue to play 3 at the back
Would be surprised if we don't move back to playing 4 at the back before the end of the season

Van Gaal mentioned he'd revert to 433 if it doesn't work out.