Time to change things up?

[Classic94]

As title. Our defensive woes are well-documented, so would a change of system better suit the players at our disposal and help solidify the defence? Maybe something like:

Areola

*Kongolo Hector Tete

Bryan Anguissa Reed Aina

Cairney/Onomah

Mitrovic *Lookman

Going 3-4-1-2 with roaming wing-backs could be a sensible move. Think Wolves and Sheffield United. Bryan's attacking output trumps his defensive nous - he's also struck up a decent understanding with Mitrovic. Equally, Aina's known for his blistering pace having often been deployed as specialist wing-back at Torino. Giving both license to maraud further up the pitch should play to their strengths, thus negating the need for (often toothless) 'inverted' wingers. Hector's endured a shaky start to the season, so maybe better suited to a pivot role at the heart of a three-man defence? Anguissa and Reed (or Lemina) seems a balanced CM pairing too. Anguissa as a physical, box-to-box midfielder and Reed the defensive playmaker.

As it stands, Ream probably occupies the LCB slot but isn't the answer at EPL level. Signings please! Kongolo's a familiar name which came to mind, and could easily slot into the left of a back-three. Tah or Hinterreger would be perfect. Feasible? Perhaps not. Equally, Mitrovic could do with a pacy partner up-top - someone to stretch teams and create space. Lookman continues to be linked and seems an ideal foil for our talisman. He's primarily deployed as a winger but has enjoyed spells at ST. Like Aina, Lookman's known to be rapid. Promising. Other options? Origi from Liverpool's a wildcard pick - and not completely unrealistic. Jota's move from Wolves has pushed Origi further down the pecking order. I believe we were also linked to him a few years back? He's versatile, quick and has an eye for goal. I'd love us to revisit this one.

[Deeping_white]

If we go with 3 at the back you'd have to swap Kongolo and Tete for starters because you've inverted them to play on their weaker side, same with Bryan and Aina. We'd also need someone quicker to play in behind the strikers meaning another new signing because we don't have anyone with that quality, as that central role to link the strikers and midfield is vital, and I think I'd go with Josh King over lookman, albeit Lookman is a better future investment. Origi has always flattered to deceive, there's no doubting he's scored some big goals for Liverpool but he can be quite anonymous for the majority of games

[General]

I still think

Areola

Tete - Hector - Odoi/Ream - Robinson

Aina   Anguissa Reed  Bryan

             Lemina

                 Mitro

Is our best line up with our current squad.

Would mean our defence wouldn't attack as much necessarily, but that's a need right now anyway. It also means that if one of the full backs bombs forward, we could hope the others have the discipline to then fall back into the LB and RB spots as they've both played there before.

[SuffolkWhite]

Can I ask, is Lemina a DM or a general Mid? I thought he was a DM but don't know enough about him.

[Statto]

Standard protocol when you don't have enough quality at the back:

(1) Try your preferred back 4
(2) Try a different back 4 combination
(3) Try a different back 4 combination
(4) Switch to a back 5
(5) Blame a lack of cover from midfield / forwards not tracking back

None of these will cure the underlying problem. You can't stitch together a good defence from the players we currently have. We just need a decent CB, or two if Hector can't get his sh1t together. Then persist with that, even if it doesn't work initially.

[Bassey the warrior]

Not sure it's wise to switch to a back three whilst we're still bedding in new players. It could potentially work, but if 4 at the back is our first preference we should master that first.

[Statto]

Standard protocol when you don't have enough quality at the back:

(1) Try your preferred back 4
(2) Try a different back 4 combination
(3) Try a different back 4 combination
(4) Switch to a back 5
(5) Blame a lack of cover from midfield / forwards not tracking back

None of these will cure the underlying problem. You can't stitch together a good defence from the players we currently have. We just need a decent CB, or two if Hector can't get his sh1t together. Then persist with that, even if it doesn't work initially.

Looks like we're now on (4) then...