In football, formations have come and gone over the last couple of decades – it seems some come into fashion for a period of time and then fade. We have seen this in different leagues, especially based on the type of football that is played and the personnel available.
Sometimes, it is often the manager’s preference as well. Instead of choosing a system to fit the players he has, he will sign players to slot into the system he wants to play.
Fitting round pegs into round holes is like players having the right physical frame for simba beds to improve their sleep, or the right kind of metabolism for footballers to get away with eating what they want. Football systems, it seems, in recent years, are the same.
A System That Requires Specialists
While there are a number of players who are very important in this system, arguably the most fundamental are wing-backs. This is especially the case in the Premier League, where teams are often hard to break down through the middle.
In recent years, only one or two teams in the English top-flight have really played this system to great effect and only Chelsea under Antonio Conte has won the Premier League playing this formation consistently.
Throughout this campaign, his wing-backs were key. Both Marcos Alonso on the left and on the right, Victor Moses (perhaps surprisingly), demonstrated their importance time and again, proving essential on the transition.
Praise in this instance, has to go to Conte for – a season at least, transforming two average players into arguably, the most important ‘full-backs’ in the league at the time.
In the 3-4-3 system, the front three are also crucial – making sure that they all work in tandem with each other. Conte had the prolific Diego Costa as the focal point – essentially a carbon copy of former Blues centre-forward Didier Drogba and just as effective.
Just behind, the two attacking midfielders need the flexibility and intelligent decision-making to know when to drift wide/into the channels, move beyond the focal point in behind or even drop deep. In two of Eden Hazard, Pedro Rodriguez and Willian, the Blues had an array of different options, however, this was a system that allowed Hazard to flourish.
Central Midfield Provides Options
Under Conte, the Blues often went for a deep-lying playmaker, who could operate further forward in Cesc Fabregas and a more defensive player in N’Golo Kante or Nemanja Matic providing cover, though sometimes arriving into the box late from deep. This proved to be an effective partnership in this system.
However, there are variations that you can utilise. Because you have three centre backs, it is possible to play two box-to-box midfielders in these positions, who can do it all. These in the modern day especially are like gold dust, though, arguably, any team that can find two players like this for this system, may dominate for years to come. Someone like Bruno Guimaraes at Newcastle United and Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga would suit this system perfectly.
Solid Back Three With Different Traits
At Chelsea, Conte (either by design or luck), found a system that accommodated David Luiz perfectly. In a defensive two, the Brazilian always looked susceptible under pressure and made the odd mistake, though with Gary Cahil and converted right-back, Cesar Azpilicueta either side of him, he was helped out.
Also, his height proved a great advantage. In Cahill, the team had more of a John Terry ‘all-rounder’ type of centre-back, while Azpilicueta’s pace, ability to read the game and ‘footballing’ ability provided the defence with a good balance.
Playing with a back three affords teams the option to have a nice blend of different abilities, making the 3-4-3 system a great formation to use if you have the right personnel.