Cruyff's 3-4-3

[Metaphysical]

Koeman was slow as a brick and had the turning circle of a Battleship. a DM is just as good as him.

Nadal is a different matter. Piqué would have to totally beast it.

 

[Worms]

Could easily work at home against lesser opponents. Your proposed line-up is basically more or less the same as we normally use, the only difference being Cesc's presence in the midfield at the expense of a left back.

But as Meta correctly states, having another tactical option cannot be that bad, can it?

It worked really well against Villarreal and even by our standards we improved in terms of dominance in the midfield area. Imagine how a similar formation would look like against a lesser opponent than Villarreal and after a period of habituation.

Well changing Fabregas for our left back would drastically change the way we play,we would have even more possession and fluidity in our team as seen today.

 

[DucdeOrléans]

Well changing Fabregas for our left back would drastically change the way we play,we would have even more possession and fluidity in our team as seen today.

´

I would not say drastically but definetely a change of scenery.

Having a little more ball possession is not the main difference here, as we already are far superior than anyone else in that aspect, but the biggest difference in my opinion is that a 3-4-3 formation would allow us to practise a more advanced pressure on our opponents and thus being able to limit opportunities when going forward (especially on the break) and to deny them space in their own half of the pitch when they recover the ball.

This worked pretty good against Villarreal considering it was the first time we played with such a system against a opponent of that strength.

 

[Worms]

´

I would not say drastically but definetely a change of scenery.

Having a little more ball possession is not the main difference here, as we already are far superior than anyone else in that aspect, but the biggest difference in my opinion is that a 3-4-3 formation would allow us to practise a more advanced pressure on our opponents and thus being able to limit opportunities when going forward (especially on the break) and to deny them space in their own half of the pitch when they recover the ball.

This worked pretty good against Villarreal considering it was the first time we played with such a system against a opponent of that strength.

Never thought about it like that but I think your right,having one more man in midfield today helped us win possession back easier than normal,Villarreal barely played in our half all game.

 

[La Furia]

Koeman was slow as a brick and had the turning circle of a Battleship. a DM is just as good as him.

Nadal is a different matter. Piqué would have to totally beast it.

Well Koeman isn't far off Marquez in that sense. Though Rafa was probably a bit more athletic. Still, Mascherano has his strengths.

Pique is a long, long ways from Nadal though.

 

[House of Flies]

so pleased that this is happening. gotta admit that part of the reason why it worked so good was due to the width given by alexis and pedro. villa just doesnt naturally occupy those same spots and thats a shame

 

[nebeer]

Loved that Pep did this experiment with a 3-1-3-3 formation. Superb. We don't really need 4 defenders at the back as we have very major share of possession. This formation would allow Xavi-Iniesta-Cesc to play at the same time and also field a CDM, who can even act as a CB or a more mobile or advanced CB. It's a tactical masterclass from Pep to have come up with this unconventional yet so effective a formation. We should not sacrifice the RB simply because we have Alves there, but on the left flank we can make up easily for the lack of a LB as Iniesta and Villa/Pedro can do those one twos what Alves does with Messi or whoever is playing on the right flank. Having Masch and Sergio in the side only will help this new formation more as they can be very comfortable as CB and CDMs. Even Abidal makes a very good CB.

 

[Theconomist]

I am one hundred percent confident in Pep when it comes to tactics.Yes he likes tall overpriced central european players but when it comes to making something work he does it brilliantly.
I loved how the Thiago,Iniesta,Fabregas trio worked to supplement Sanchez and Pedro.
I'm not talking about Messi because to be honest he just pops up once or twice during a game and assists or scores.Other than vs Madrid his contributions are more of an icing to the cake(do you really have to score 2 and create one when we're winning by 3 already? )

Awesome times ahead.

 

[DucdeOrléans]

Never thought about it like that but I think your right,having one more man in midfield today helped us win possession back easier than normal,Villarreal barely played in our half all game.

I think that is the main thought behind this move. But don't expect it to be practised more than a couple of times.

Won't work away from home (against decent opposition) or against top teams.

But definitely a exciting option.

 

[La Furia]

so pleased that this is happening. gotta admit that part of the reason why it worked so good was due to the width given by alexis and pedro. villa just doesnt naturally occupy those same spots and thats a shame

I'd rather have Villa than a novelty formation against any half serious opposition.

 

[oz187]

This system could potentially work against anyone. The difference with Cruyffs Dream Team is that now the team plays with really high intensity without the ball so the defensive frailties in the system may be compensated for. There were times when they were seriously exposed, but it is the first time the system was used and there were players missing. If you had say Mascherano and Pique at the back with Busquets as the DM that may increase the defensive solidity.

 

[Metaphysical]

I'd rather have Villa than a novelty formation against any half serious opposition.

Villarreal are full-serious.

they just couldn't get the ball.

still, it depends on the team. if we're facing a side who play with loads of width then this formation wouldn't work. but Villarreal don't play with loads of width, so... yeah.

 

[Worms]

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2011/08/29/barcelona-5-0-villarreal-tactics/

 

[Banana-Rama]

barcelona already have over 70 percent posession most of the time, changing to 3 at the back simply for the sake of having an extra midfielder doesn't make sense as you'll be sacrificing the marauding wing backs which are a key part of the barca style, ok it worked great against villareal but if you play that narrow every week teams will catch on and pack the centre of the pitch with midfielders, and it will be difficult to break through no matter how good your players are. If pedro, villa are the only wide players in your team then opponents will simply not bother with wingers and put 5 centre mids in the middle, if they play a lone striker you will have 3 at the back marking one player which doesn't make sense either, the current 4-6-0 is perfect for barca, there is no reason to change it. The reason for the change against villareal was because of missing personel, and made sense having 3 at the back against 2 strikers, but it won't be the permanent formation for barca.

 

[House of Flies]

who says that we play 4-6-0?

massive distortion of tactics there