Find Gio's line ups fascinating, in particular how he sets out our defenders when were attacking, allowing us to get players forward while still having cover if it gets turnedover.
Ever since Tav's arrival we've had our full backs bomb forward, it was Wallace on the left under Warburton then eventually Borna. Warburton never made too many changes in midfield to cover Tav and Wallace which left us exposed. Gerrard came in and used two sitting/flat midfield 3 which made us much more solid but struggled creating from midfield at times as a result.
In the euro run last season gio started dropping Lundstram into defence to ensure we had cover when the full backs attacked. When Tav went Lundstram would drop to RB, when Borna went Bassey would move to LB and Lundstram would cover Bassey's position. If both went he'd go to the right of a back 3 with Goldson and Bassey. Effectively giving us 3 'systems' to allow us to attack on the left, right or both.
It's changed slightly (twice already) this season with Bassey gone. In Belgium we played a diamond in defence where Goldson was deepest Lundstram right, Sands left and Jack in front of them. Effectively a back 3 but Goldson deeper gave us passing triangles making it easier to progress the ball. This week we had Lundstram sitting in front of Goldson and Sands, still giving us passing triangles but I'd say Goldson and Sands both looked more comfortable and meaning Lundstram was still central and in the thick of it.
I can see us still having Lundstram on the right of a back 3, or filling for Tav when he attacks. I'm not sure what we'll do on the left as we've lost the option of Bassey going to LB.
I think we'll see a lot more of Tuesday's formation where JL will sit in front of the two CHs and the FBs will push on, effectively giving us a 2143 formation.
We won't win every game and when we don't Gio will get it like last week but think there's a strong foundation there for creating overloads in attack.
To think it probably all came from Lundstram being brought on to make a back 5 to help us see out the last 10/15 mins at Easter Rd!
Ever since Tav's arrival we've had our full backs bomb forward, it was Wallace on the left under Warburton then eventually Borna. Warburton never made too many changes in midfield to cover Tav and Wallace which left us exposed. Gerrard came in and used two sitting/flat midfield 3 which made us much more solid but struggled creating from midfield at times as a result.
In the euro run last season gio started dropping Lundstram into defence to ensure we had cover when the full backs attacked. When Tav went Lundstram would drop to RB, when Borna went Bassey would move to LB and Lundstram would cover Bassey's position. If both went he'd go to the right of a back 3 with Goldson and Bassey. Effectively giving us 3 'systems' to allow us to attack on the left, right or both.
It's changed slightly (twice already) this season with Bassey gone. In Belgium we played a diamond in defence where Goldson was deepest Lundstram right, Sands left and Jack in front of them. Effectively a back 3 but Goldson deeper gave us passing triangles making it easier to progress the ball. This week we had Lundstram sitting in front of Goldson and Sands, still giving us passing triangles but I'd say Goldson and Sands both looked more comfortable and meaning Lundstram was still central and in the thick of it.
I can see us still having Lundstram on the right of a back 3, or filling for Tav when he attacks. I'm not sure what we'll do on the left as we've lost the option of Bassey going to LB.
I think we'll see a lot more of Tuesday's formation where JL will sit in front of the two CHs and the FBs will push on, effectively giving us a 2143 formation.
We won't win every game and when we don't Gio will get it like last week but think there's a strong foundation there for creating overloads in attack.
McLaughlin
Tav Goldson Davies Borna
Lundstram
Tillman Lawrence
Matondo Morelos Kent
Turns into......Tav Goldson Davies Borna
Lundstram
Tillman Lawrence
Matondo Morelos Kent
McLaughlin
Goldson Davies
Lundstram
Tav Tillman Lawrence Borna
Matondo Morelos Kent
It'll be one of many different systems Gio uses but find it fascinating especially when compared to Gerrard and Warburton who both used attacking full backs. Warburton didn't seem to tweak anything to provide cover. I'd argue Gerrard over-compensated (domestically) and it resulted in a lack of creativity from midfield. Hopefully Gio has found a balance which allows us to get the FBs forward and have cover and creativity from midfield. Goldson Davies
Lundstram
Tav Tillman Lawrence Borna
Matondo Morelos Kent
To think it probably all came from Lundstram being brought on to make a back 5 to help us see out the last 10/15 mins at Easter Rd!