3-5-2

Remember when Gunther was playing around with 3-5-2(5-3-2) for a while, I'd say he'll be back at it now. The problem last year was finding a place for Ollie, you couldn't leave him out and he wasnt a wing back but was not effective at all in the middle

Carey and Hoggie are very good going forward and with 3 centre backs we might learn to keep a clean sheet.

3 midfielders including with O'Grady given more oppertunity to go forward, he was a striker in a previous life, might help us pass the ball more

The missing link I'd imagne will be a strike partner for Colin P

Any time city have tried that in the last few years it hasn't worked- DB gave it a go as well. I think it's a dodgy system.

I can see it happening again, alright, and i can see it failing again. IMHO the 3-5-2 formation is a flawed one - i mean wing-backs? what's the point in having them - they're not defenders and they're not wingers! They're not going to be able to get forward enough to be effective in attack and if you come up against a side that plays with 2 attacking wide men then your wing-backs become conventional fullbacks. If the opposition plays with a lone striker thaen you have 3 centrebacks marking one man. You should be able to control the centre of the park, but you're still going to be lacking down the wings which makes your game alot more predictable.

btw here's my predicted starting 11 for the shels games (playing 3-5-2):

--------------- Devine ---------------

- Carey Daly Coughlan O'Rourke Horgan -

------ Bennett Reynolds O'Grady ------

------- Colin P O'Brien Mulligan --------

[SIZE=1]hope i'm not forgetting anyone :([/SIZE]

That looks about right. Unless we manage to sign Woods, in which case we have to go 4-4-2:

--------------- Devine ---------------

- Carey Coughlan O'Rourke Horgan -

-Bennett Reynolds O'Grady Woods --

------- Colin P --- Mulligan --------

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Originally posted by Neil


--------------- Devine ---------------

- Carey Coughlan O'Rourke Horgan -

-Bennett Reynolds O'Grady Woods --

------- Colin P --- Mulligan --------

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I'd definitely go with this starting eleven. Can't see Deccie being left out though. Is Steve O'Flynn out of he reckoning altogether now?

I think we all agree that deccie is past it. IMHO if we manage to sign Woodsie and a half decent striker we could have the makings of a Euro spot and an outside chance of the cup

Not sure about Bennett on the right - I much prefer him in the centre. I think that Carey is ideally suited to the wing-back position and Hoggie also gets back and forth very well. However I think the flaw with the 3-5-2 system is not the wing-backs - it's the 3 against 2 situation which often presents itself at the back and there's a tendancy to shirk responsibility.

After years of watching city play i'm a firmly commited 442 (wingers) man.

My take on the 3-5-2 in general.
The 3 centre backs have to be both fast & comfortable on the ball. With only 3 defenders its too easy for the opposition with pacey forward to knock the ball into the corner & get possession near your goal too easily. Wingbacks are a rarity & system doesn't work with fuillbacks - seem to kind of need wide defensive midfielders.

3-5-2 & city
Gunther doesn't have a clue how to implement. In relaity becomes 5-3-2 as using fullbacks out wide. He tries to use when we need to attack but fullback skeep dropping back so end up with 5 at the back.

IMO city don't have the players otr manager to use & should stop trying to us it. If he wants to defend be better off with 5 in midfield.

Lots of teams in europe experimented with 3-5-2, and most of them have gone back to 4-4-2, simply cos it's a better system.

Only the germans seem to be able to consistently use 352. Leverkusen a good examplke of using it for attacking & defensive tactics.

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Originally posted by oddboy
Is Steve O'Flynn out of he reckoning altogether now?

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Good point. Forgot about him. I think a lot of people here would have him in the first XI but of course Gunther knows better!!

Ammended First XI:

--------------- Devine ---------------

-- Carey Coughlan Napier Horgan --

- O'Halloran Bennett O'Grady Woods --

------- O'Flynn --- Mulligan --------

yea thats my 11 too neil, with o'flynn in for colin p o b
and definately no deccie "i like to hoof it - hoof it" daly in the side..

although having said that i'd still go for mooney over devine..

Yeah, looks like a decent side, still not good enough to win a league IMO though. If he goes 3-5-2, i think I'll have to be physically restrained, it's the dodgiest system ever.:rolleyes:

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Originally posted by Éanna
it's the dodgiest system ever.:rolleyes:

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It worked for Pats before Buckley took over. Its worked for Man City this year and as you said it works for Leiverkusen. Its a matter of the players you have and their strength. You would have to have 2 very fit & comitted wing backs for it to work.

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Originally posted by Troy.McClure
You would have to have 2 very fit & comitted wing backs for it to work.

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and they are few and far between.

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Originally posted by Troy.McClure
You would have to have 2 very fit & comitted wing backs for it to work.

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That is one of the main weaknesses for most teams. Your team also has to know what they are doing AND be comfortable with the system. To get it right you need to play it week in - week out. City tended to try it out every so often and, surprise, surprise usually got burned.
Perhaps I'm being a bit cynical here but all you need is a couple of nasty tackles and your wing backs are taken out of the game - that would never happen here now, would it?
As Pete pointed out, with City it would turn into 5-3-2 anyway.
I don't think its a bad system, you just need the players that can play as wing backs and they are few and far between.

I just said something that Eanna said. Quick where's the edit button.... :p

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Originally posted by Éanna
and they are few and far between.

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Originally posted by Jim Smith
and they are few and far between.

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what's the story? something ye want to tell us lads?

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Originally posted by joe




what's the story? something ye want to tell us lads?

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He won't let me in his gang - I'm too ugly - so I'm going to steal his persona so his gang will wait on my evey word instead :mad:

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Originally posted by Jim Smith
He won't let me in his gang - I'm too ugly - so I'm going to steal his persona so his gang will wait on my evey word instead :mad:

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a cunning plan - more cunning than a cunning fox who has just been appointed Profesor of cunning at Oxford university