[Albion] Three at back

[amexer]

Do we now usually play 3 at back because
1) It is Potters preferred option
2) Unless playing out of position only way of playing Dunk,White and Webster
3) Wants to play Lampty as Wingback.
4) If plays 4 Potter not keen on his options at left back.

Interesting when Lampty didnt play goes back to 4. On Saturday March as winger contributed more up front

 

[LamieRobertson]

Hmm player as winger contributes more up front than player with dual duties

 

[KZNSeagull]

Lampty. E's a goodun'

 

[blue-shifted]

Do we now usually play 3 at back because
1) It is Potters preferred option
2) Unless playing out of position only way of playing Dunk,White and Webster
3) Wants to play Lampty as Wingback.
4) If plays 4 Potter not keen on his options at left back.

Interesting when Lampty didnt play goes back to 4. On Saturday March as winger contributed more up front

Do we now usually play 3 at back because
1) It is Potters preferred option - For most opponents yes
2) Unless playing out of position only way of playing Dunk,White and Webster This is also a big part of it
3) Wants to play Lampty as Wingback. This is the biggest reason to play it
4) If plays 4 Potter not keen on his options at left back. Not sure about this one. He seems to trust Burn more than most on here do

No one single reason. The other, slightly ridiculous theory is that the more centre backs the less we'll concede from set pieces. That one's working well

 

[GT49er]

We seem to have got into a bit of a muddle with our CBs!

Dunk, White and Webster have all been excellent playing in a back four; Dunk, club captain and legend, a full England international (just!); Webster - apparently very strongly wanted by GP, and we paid £20M for him; White - we turned down £25M to keep him here - so which one do you drop? Difficult, so play three at the back. The problem is compounded by the fact that none of them are naturals for the left sided CB in a three role - the only player naturally suited to playing there is BDB, who is probably our 5th. choice CB.

If we did want to go for a back four, we haven't got a (good enough) LB (March is a LWB, not a LB), and you could argue the same on the right; Lamptey is not a defensive full back. Liverpool play a back four with two very advanced full backs, but they are exceptional; they have a very strong and talented midfield, and Salah, Mane and Firminio up front, all of which changes the demands made on the defence. Veltman could play RB I suppose, with Lamptey as a RW in a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1. And the manager would still have to decide who to drop out of White, Dunk and Webster.

Who'd be a manager, eh?

 

[Perkino]

Do we now usually play 3 at back because
1) It is Potters preferred option
2) Unless playing out of position only way of playing Dunk,White and Webster
3) Wants to play Lampty as Wingback.
4) If plays 4 Potter not keen on his options at left back.

Interesting when Lampty didnt play goes back to 4. On Saturday March as winger contributed more up front

1 yes, 2 yes but Potter isn't afraid to play people out of position, 3 Lamptey would be interesting as a RB I don't think it would go well, 4 our fullback option are not great

 

[amexer]

I think Potter seems obligated to play Dunk Webster and White. Our defence has looked poor because with 3 at back they get pulled out wide. Much prefer 2 CBs that know there job and stay there. Bonus of course like West Ham game you can play a winger

 

[beorhthelm]

i reckon he wants to play it, that its the best way fit in so many CBs and use Lampty most effectively makes an easy sell.

its probably wrong though in the long run, shouldnt be so determined to play White every game and Lampty would be better off developing more defensively.

 

[Barnet Seagull]

Potter usually elects for a 3-4-2-1 and for the most part, it's pretty rare we have issues in open play with a 3CBs.
The 3-4-2-1 is a very flexible defensive formation with the main spaces left being either between the lines (as exploited well by Leicester) or out wide where there is less risk (Like Sheffield United did to us).
The numbers in the middle make it easier for possession based teams to play through the press and the extra CB can help to create overloads as seen in Maupay's goal yesterday.
Although others may disagree, I think tactically Potter is very strong. He's very good at understanding where the space is and how to exploit it and defend against it, often switching things around to nullify a threat or target a weakness.
Against the better sides who also leave space, this is generally an effective way of playing.

The challenge is where we come up against a low block e.g. Sheff Utd, Palace, Burnley etc. We don't have enough quality to break down the defense and are ripe for exploiting on the counter attack or via a Set Piece.
This isn't a peculiarity to us, watch Man City and Liverpool struggle too. In these games it will be down to fine margins and individual mistakes. We're prone to a few.

 

[Superphil]

2 .