Back 3 today

[Ilkley claret]

When CJ went off Parker went to a back 3 which I thought really worked.

Today showed we can be solid at the back but also take risks going forward.

Our flair players showed what they are capable of.

I think Parker however will revert to the system he has used in the league so far however when it’s crying out for us to be a lot more positive

We need 9 or 10 wins from here on in and are almost guaranteed a play off spot.

Cmon Scott go for it!

[Woodleyclaret]

We definitely don't want playoffs
We can go up as Champions and that needs to be the goal

[Ilkley claret]

We definitely don't want playoffs
We can go up as Champions and that needs to be the goal

Sorry that was my point, I think Parker will revert to his prudent approach and we won’t get enough wins to secure automatic.

Today showed we have the players to be a lot aggressive in the last 15 games to ensure we get an automatic spot

[equinox]

When CJ went off Parker went to a back 3 which I thought really worked.

What are you talking about?

[longsidetrumpet]

Thought we started with a back three/five?

[Ilkley claret]

What are you talking about?

It’s pretty obvious what I’m on about? A change in formation when Steve came on for CJ ? Humphries moved to the right hand side of a back 3 with Worrall centre and Steve on the left???

[Row Z]

Thought we started with a back three/five?

I didn’t think so - Pires played wide left and played high up the pitch. Benson wide right. Back 4 of Sonne, CJ, Worrall, Bashir.

OP noted when CJ went off, Bashir went to right centre back, with Sonne and Pires playing wing backs in a back 5.

Incidentally thought Pires looked much more comfortable further up the pitch than he has done at LB.

[Goliath]

I didn’t think so - Pires played wide left and played high up the pitch. Benson wide right. Back 4 of Sonne, CJ, Worrall, Bashir.

OP noted when CJ went off, Bashir went to right centre back, with Sonne and Pires playing wing backs in a back 5.

Incidentally thought Pires looked much more comfortable further up the pitch than he has done at LB.

Pires had a hybrid role. He seemed to be part of a back 5 whenever Walker Peters went into their attacking line wide on the right

[warksclaret]

For those that went today, whats the feeling about Sonne. I saw him at Reading where I thought he did well, but was not there today

[ClaretTony]

When CJ went off Parker went to a back 3 which I thought really worked.

Played with a back three all game from how I saw it. Started with Egan-Riley, Worrall, Humphreys and then switched to Humphreys, Worrall, Estève.

Sonne & Pires played further up but dropped when required.

[ClaretTony]

For those that went today, whats the feeling about Sonne. I saw him at Reading where I thought he did well, but was not there today

Did ok but I wouldn’t be expecting him to replace Roberts for league games.

[Ilkley claret]

Played with a back three all game from how I saw it. Started with Egan-Riley, Worrall, Humphreys and then switched to Humphreys, Worrall, Estève.

Sonne & Pires played further up but dropped when required.

I i didn’t see it that until Steve came on as there was a marked difference in how Sonne and Pires played. Only Parker knows I guess

[fidelcastro]

I i didn’t see it that until Steve came on as there was a marked difference in how Sonne and Pires played. Only Parker knows I guess

No. It was obvious to anyone watching.

[Ilkley claret]

No. It was obvious to anyone watching.

My eyes are fine thanks for asking, just not how how I saw it in real time in the stadium. Perhaps looked different on tele?

[fidelcastro]

My eyes are fine thanks for asking, just not how how I saw it in real time in the stadium. Perhaps looked different on tele?

Hmmm must've done.

[ClaretTony]

I i didn’t see it that until Steve came on as there was a marked difference in how Sonne and Pires played. Only Parker knows I guess

Looked very much like a back three to me throughout

[blatherwickstattoos]

Defo a back 3 all the game today.

[Devils_Advocate]

We didn't play a standard back 3 with wingbacks as both Benson and then Edwards played wide right with Sonne playing behind them at right back. We then had Hannibal and Shelvey in midfield with Sarmiento playing in the 10 role behind Barnes. It looked to me that with the ball Pires played left midfield supported by Humphries and when defending Humpries tucked in and Pires dropped back.

The only time it looked like we were fully 5 at the back with 3 CBs was when Redmond came on for Sarmiento and went to left midfield with Pires going to a traditional left back role and Humphries fully in a back 3 as we went to 4-5-1 to defend the 1-0 victory/

If we played with a proper back 3 from kick off then the team was very lob sided as it would have looked something like this

.........................Hladky

Sonne....Worrall...Egan Riley...Humphreys

Benson........Shelvey...Hannibal..................Pires

.....................Sarmiento

......................Barnes

[morninbob]

Pires was furthest forward at times in the first half, sonne very rarely got forward, but we often do this when playing a back 4, one full back attacking more than the other.

[Hibsclaret]

As soon as the game started it was a back 3 and it remained so throughout the game. It was a very fluid system and one that we should utilise again in certain games when we are struggling to create. Very promising.

[dougcollins]

Did ok but I wouldn’t be expecting him to replace Roberts for league games.

Roberts certainly hasn't been at his best recently. I was sure he must be going in the window, but I was wrong with that one.

[aggi]

For those that went today, whats the feeling about Sonne. I saw him at Reading where I thought he did well, but was not there today

He was average. He's ok backup but not challenging for a first team start.

[ClaretTony]

He was average. He's ok backup but not challenging for a first team start.

Just how I see it

[BigGaz]

Quiet everyone. The football understanderers are here and they're telling you that after 2 games that our new right back isn't good enough.

[deanothedino]

Roberts certainly hasn't been at his best recently. I was sure he must be going in the window, but I was wrong with that one.

One of the first positions to strengthen if we do get promoted. We already know Roberts isn’t PL quality.

[summitclaret]

Played with a back three all game from how I saw it. Started with Egan-Riley, Worrall, Humphreys and then switched to Humphreys, Worrall, Estève.

Sonne & Pires played further up but dropped when required.

The only way I can see Benny starting games.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Didn’t see it yesterday but noticed that the touch map shows Sonne and Pires almost identical as regards how far up the pitch they got their touches (both plenty in the opposition half).

That feels a good recipe for the PL if we go up. Adds a body into the opponent’s half while keeping our structure. Otherwise we would struggle to score many, even with better players.

Talking of that, I do feel two wing backs / fullbacks are essential if we do go up. Something in the Maatsen or Assignon style if we can find players that swashbuckling who can also defend. I don’t feel Sonne or Pires will be anything other than backup. They lack a bit of physicality. Not a criticism, both done ok.

[bumba]

He was average. He's ok backup but not challenging for a first team start.

He's had two starts and hasn't put a foot wrong, yesterday was against a premier league side with a very pact winger and he played fine. I think he looks like he's got potential to develop in to a very good player, much better than Pires anyway.

[bumba]

We didn't play a standard back 3 with wingbacks as both Benson and then Edwards played wide right with Sonne playing behind them at right back. We then had Hannibal and Shelvey in midfield with Sarmiento playing in the 10 role behind Barnes. It looked to me that with the ball Pires played left midfield supported by Humphries and when defending Humpries tucked in and Pires dropped back.

The only time it looked like we were fully 5 at the back with 3 CBs was when Redmond came on for Sarmiento and went to left midfield with Pires going to a traditional left back role and Humphries fully in a back 3 as we went to 4-5-1 to defend the 1-0 victory/

If we played with a proper back 3 from kick off then the team was very lob sided as it would have looked something like this

.........................Hladky

Sonne....Worrall...Egan Riley...Humphreys

Benson........Shelvey...Hannibal..................Pires

.....................Sarmiento

......................Barnes

Way I saw it was when defending we dropped in to a 5 very quickly but when attacking Pires got forward as a winger and Sonne sat a little deeper to keep it as a 4 at the back.

When Esteve came on it looked very much more obvious that it was three centre halves and two wing backs, a lot more so than the first half.

[summitclaret]

One of the first positions to strengthen if we do get promoted. We already know Roberts isn’t PL quality.

If we keep CJ and Steve and Beyer is fit, I think the latter could be okay at right back.

[Hedontplayforyou]

I enjoyed the system yesterday. It was a mixture of 3-4-3 / 5-2-3 shapes which adapted throughout.

On the subject of Sonne I don’t think he was noticed much yesterday which suggests he went about his business quietly and didn’t do much wrong whilst not setting the place on fire either. The pace of things at times looked too much for him but that will come to him as he adapts to the football over here

[Devils_Advocate]

Way I saw it was when defending we dropped in to a 5 very quickly but when attacking Pires got forward as a winger and Sonne sat a little deeper to keep it as a 4 at the back.

When Esteve came on it looked very much more obvious that it was three centre halves and two wing backs, a lot more so than the first half.

Agree and where I think Parkers tactics were really clever yesterday was that we balanced different formations on either side of the pitch. On the right we played a 4-4-2 set up all game with a RB (Sonne) and a RW (Benson/Edwards) and on the left it was more like a 3-5-2 with Humprey's and Pires working together as a LCB and LWB

It only really changed when Redmond came on and we played a solid 5-4-1 to see out the game

[Shaggy]

It was a refreshing change to see a difference shape and it really helped our play. I thought we countered very quickly and effectively yesterday.

I don’t think we will see it in the championship though as teams don’t want to come at us very much so not much chance of countering. Think it would work well in the premier league though. We have to be a fast counter attack side to be effective in the EPL

[bumba]

Agree and where I think Parkers tactics were really clever yesterday was that we balanced different formations on either side of the pitch. On the right we played a 4-4-2 set up all game with a RB (Sonne) and a RW (Benson/Edwards) and on the left it was more like a 3-5-2 with Humprey's and Pires working together as a LCB and LWB

It only really changed when Redmond came on and we played a solid 5-4-1 to see out the game

It's funny because at the end of the game it was a similar system to what Amorim is trying to deploy at United with Redmond and Edwards roaming around Barnes up top, he does it week in week out with a billion pounds squad and still looks s**t haha we did it for half hour and looked solid

[bfcmik]

I thought Sonne had to be proactively defensive given than Benson doesn't offer much in that respect. Great attacking winger but not that useful when we haven't got the ball

[morninbob]

I thought Sonne had to be proactively defensive given than Benson doesn't offer much in that respect. Great attacking winger but not that useful when we haven't got the ball

Wingers don't need to defend as much in a back 5.

[Bullabill]

Re. Sonne.

He's had two starts and hasn't put a foot wrong, ......

Apart from giving away a penalty.

[bumba]

Re. Sonne.



Apart from giving away a penalty.

Didn't cost us a goal though....
Was never a penalty either....
Wasn't in one of his two starts......