Yeah young millionaires, young and reckless

Good for Neymar to leave. Just too bad he wasn't interested to be a Blue. His price tag is sky high

lol, what a dumb kid

There is a suggestion that Conte might be using a 3-5-2 system instead of 3-4-3. If this system works, strikers and midfielders will attack like there's no tomorrow!

Imagine in the midfield consists of Bakayoko, Fabregas and Kante with wingers Pedro and Moses?

Forwards could be Morata, Michi, Willian and Hazard.

This post has been edited by jovigrunge: Jul 24 2017, 09:28 AM

if 3-5-2 our wingers will have no space in the team?

3 def

2 wbs - alonso, (sandro) moses (ox)

3 mid - kante, fab, bakoyoko

2 stikers - hazard, morata(michy)

where to put willian, pedro?

and if 3-5-2 to change into 3-4-3 mid game, we need to sub 1 mid to intro willian@pedro? i think if michy can be converted into a wide striker like henry that would be awesome

3-4-3 or 3-5-2?

Last season saw the birth of a new fashion in English tactics, the 3-4-3. A popular formation in the 1990s, the 3-4-3 has experienced something of a rebirth, a modernisation, when Antonio Conte deployed it in the second half of their 3-0 defeat to Arsenal back in September.

We didn’t realise the importance of what we were witnessing at the time, but that tactical change allowed Chelsea to embark on a 13-game winning streak that heralded the Premier League title. In fact, the formation proved so successful that other teams in the division began utilising the same shape.

However, it was a marriage of convenience, a formation used out of necessity. Conte’s favoured formation is a 3-5-2, one that he used at Juventus and with the Italian national team.

With the signings of Antonio Rudiger and Tiemoue Bakayoko, plus the expected arrival of Alvaro Morata, for a combined £144 million, we can see the Blues’ new look beginning to take shape.

The difference between a 3-4-3 and a 3-5-2

In truth, the 3-4-3 and 3-5-2 aren’t too dissimilar in terms of roles, but there are subtle tactical differences in the formation that are key to making them both work.

For instance, in the 3-4-3 the inside forwards and the wing backs were key to making the side tick, linking defence to attack and providing transitions from front to back, but in the 3-5-2 there is an extra central midfielder through which all play goes.

Said midfielder can drop deep in search of the ball, spray it wide or go over the top directly. He will be the side’s chief orchestrator and it relieves some of the pressure on the inside forwards and the wingbacks to link play together, allowing them to focus on finding the goal and attacking the flanks respectively.

The 3-5-2, moreover, puts an extra body up front to lead the line in a free role, without compromising any midfield shape because of the presence of the fifth midfielder.

The importance of Cesc Fabregas

One noted feature of the 3-4-3 last season was the lack of midfield creativity in the N’Golo Kante-Nemanja Matic partnership, with the Serb often having to take on the role of deep-lying playmaker to the detriment of defensive solidity. Introducing Cesc Fabregas, furthermore, compromised that solid platform on which Chelsea could attack in numbers.

The 3-5-2 negates this problem, however. Dropping an inside forward into midfield allows for both Kante and Bakayoko, Matic’s replacement, to occupy their defensive roles without worrying too much about shifting the ball forwards. They’re there simply to win back possession.

Once their job is complete, this is where Fabregas becomes important. One of Bakayoko or Kante can simply lay the ball off and let the Spaniard work his magic.

Despite starting on the bench for the most part of 2016/17, Fabregas created 61 chances, the second most of all Chelsea players behind Eden Hazard, and assisted 11 goals. Conte didn’t play him too often last season simply because his formational choice didn’t allow for his inclusion, not because he didn’t value or rate the player.



This is why the 3-5-2 should be Conte’s formation of choice. A five-man midfield pertains to Fabregas’ inclusion without compromising any defensive solidity.

Two defensive midfielders still roam the pitch and drop deep to protect the back three, with the Spaniard given a free role to influence the game. Like Andrea Pirlo for Juventus, it gives Fabregas license to roam without having to worry about any defensive responsibilities.

Easy. Chelsea have increased their midfield creativity, one of their major problems last season, without relinquishing defensive solidity, the key reason they won last year’s Premier League title.

Unlocking Eden Hazard

Conte was hailed as a tactical genius, which he is, for the way in which his 3-4-3 system brought the best out of Hazard and the Belgian subsequently thrived in his new role, finishing the campaign with 10 goals, five assists and 89 chances created.

However, there’s more to come. Hazard was playing within a structured system and he was consequently required to play a more structured game. There was still a slight defensive role to fulfil and drifting too far from his position on the left flank was detrimental to the overall shape of the team.

The 3-5-2, though, changes the game. Instead of a rigid role on the left wing, Hazard will play as a second striker behind Alvaro Morata. The Belgian is best in central areas and in this system, he’s allowed to influence the game as close to the striker as possible, pertaining to intricate team build up play.

Perhaps the best example of this last season was Diego Costa's second goal versus Southampton in the 4-2 victory in April, shown in the above video.

By this point Pedro had already been substituted for Fabregas and Conte had moved to a 3-5-2 to close out the game. It meant Hazard was playing centrally, resulting in a fluid and intricate team goal.

It allows Hazard a free role. The only thing he’d have to worry about, therefore, is making an impact in the final third and drifting from his position isn’t at all harmful to team shape because of the five-man midfield.

With no set position, coupled with his dynamic movement, Hazard will be a nightmare for defenders. He can float from inside forward to out-and-out winger, from second striker to number ten, the possibilities are endless.

How Chelsea could line up in 2017/18

morata likes this picture, so maybe No.9

possible.... since chelsea not even interested to bid hamis rodriguez on a cheap deal to bayern..

pedro have proven hes willing to play wingback though hes defensive play is really heartwrenching...

willian seem have transition from hard runner ivanovic era to shooting specialist last term....

i am a bit more concern with the way we will play next season.. last season, our 3-4-3 took everybody by surprise. and we swept away with a 13 games winning streak. after that, more and more teams adopt this play style and we even got beaten on our own game by spurs and arsenal.

like previous Chelsea ex-managers, the season after being champion is much harder. expectation is higher with more games to play. has conte got Plan B?

if 3-5-2, the key is Cesc.

he got plan b, c, and d
but all depend on who he can buy

we been talking about that since the day conte said he gonna have change of formation even in mid game . yes he do and he (i believe) gonna go 343 and 352. that is why he keeping fab.

Yuppp

Expecting bakayoko and kante to be enforcer behind him

Which makes me think. Can matic stay for a while...atleast until january or something. Plus the idea that bakayoko will not be fit by new season abit on my concern list.

Pasalic..baker..very untested....

So pak conte has to test them asap!!

I agree. Even united, spurs, city & arsenal has adapt to 3-4-3

I think in terms of tactics the most fierce competitor is United. Jose is highly analytical and the prospect of Rashford,Lukaku,Miki Mata & Pogba is terrifying.
City will give a fair fight too, considering now Pep already got his wingbacks, but I just hope that he will fail due to his "philosophy" hahaha.. Their defence is still work in progress especially with Ederson. Normally new keeper won't be doing well in EPL.

agree that man utd pose the most threat going to next season. they got all the right player to perform. i think their downfall would be when miki is seriously injured. other than that, they will mount serious challenge for the title.

as for city, they got high quality player. question would be on how well these new players click together. maybe not going to happen in next season but if most stays put, 2018/19 they will be unbeatable.

last season, IMO, spurs have the best man-to-man for each position in 3-4-3 formation. but they lost walker. however, they still good all around.

arsenal? expecting the same meltdown come january next year...

I think Conte dont want Matic leave but Matic wanna leave~
same like ake or chalobah case...

kayanya manchester buddies ini

shhhh, they cant handle the truth.