For the first time since the well beloved 4-4-2’s, we have a formation that not only has an ‘A’ and ‘B’ side, but also a ‘C’ side and in today’s episode, we’ll be taking a look at the 5-3-2C which is considered one of, if not the best, defensive formation that you will find within the entire game… It is a formation that aims to protect the defensive areas as much as possible via a complete flat back 5 that has an emphasis on ensuring that each player knows that his primary responsibility will be to take care of defending before even thinking about anything else.
In front of the back 5 we have arguably a midfield set up that will seriously have to endure a lot of running compared to the other 27 formations and will require specific types of players since not any type will fit the bill to be worthy of representing such a unique formation. Up front, we will also need two forwards that will have to prepare to put in a shift off the ball before they can even consider scoring goals on a consistent basis. All in all, the 5-3-2C is a formation that requires a specific type of player which will be the only way for it to work at its best. Its similar to formations like the 3-4-3, 4-3-1-2, and 3-3-4 when it comes to the need to specialize.
DEFENCE
Before we get into our flat back 5, we have to start out as per usual in between the sticks where we have a player who has really come to prominence back in 2023 in the young Georgian Shot Stopper, Giorgi Mamardatshvilli. Giorgi started his young career playing with a few clubs back in his homeland and was then scouted by the Valencia network and signed on a season long loan back in the 21/22 season when Giorgi was only 20 years old. Fast forward 3 years later, he is now the number 1 for club and country and could potentially become a world beater in three to five years along with the other Georgian currently flying their 10.8M populated flag high, the other tongue twister that is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia… Mamardatshvilli is a trational ‘Keeper’ who has great reflexes and is decent on the ball.
Now then, let’s talk about the main reason why I believe that many of you have chosen to read this episode in particular… This is indeed a formation that allows for a flat back 5 that aims to stay as flat as they possibly can throughout the entire 90 minutes which will be effective for making it quite the difficult task of breaking down. We tend to start out with the 3 D(C)’s, but in today’s case we’ll focus on the players in the ‘Wingback’ areas since they will be quite impactful for this formation to work at its best. In the Moroccon Noussair Mazraoui and the Portugese Diogo Dalot, we have 2 athletic type ‘Wingbacks’ who possess a decent level of Workrate and Stamina but are mainly in this team for what they can do during defensive scenarios. Both are quite capable in 1v1’s and will protect the sides as much as they possibly can.
On to the D(C)’s, and we have what looks like another formation consisting of a ‘Sweeper’, but Francesco Acerbi isn’t actually playing in that role but is only placed there due to a lack of space for him to fit between his teammates. Generally speaking, he will operate dead centre, keeping things relatively simple on the ball. In both Kalidou Koulibaly and Lukas Klostermann, we have two D(C)’s who are more capable in ball progression and will be occupying those ‘defensive half spaces’ to assist their midfield 3 in the advancement of the ball further up the pitch
MIDFIELD
As I’ve mentioned earlier, the 5-3-2C arguably possesses midfield positions that require a lot of running to be taking place, and this is due to how deep the ‘Wingbacks’ will start out since for most formations the ‘Wingbacks’ tend to occupy the entire length of the flanks. But this formation is different in that aspect and will require the M(LC) and M(RC) to both assist in providing the width as well as assist in defending the wide areas which is exactly the reason as to why we’ve chosen some energetic ballers in Marcos Llorente and Rodrigo De Paul. Llorente is another player who is extremely versatile and is a rare Spaniard in terms of his high levels of workarte and tenacity, while De Paul showcased his warrior attributes in the recent world cup, so much so that he obtained the reputation for being Messi’s “bodyguard” on the pitch, but did you know that he actually used to be more of a creative no.8 back when he was playing in Serie A for Udinesse? This changed under the tutelage of a warrior himself Diego Simeone, and I have to say that Rodrigo is better off as a ‘B2B’ rather than a ‘Playmaker’…. While these two will be “pulling up trees” on and off the ball, we do need someone who can put their foot on it and allow the rest of the team to play, and we have that in the Algerian creator Ismaël Bennacer who is quite similar to Frenkie De Jong in that he isn’t the most physically capable but when it comes to being a conductor he can do that in his sleep and will be extremely responsible for setting up the rest of his teammates as the sole ‘Playmaker’ within this formation
FORWARDS
We have a French connection in our front two and before we go into what they will provide on the ball, we have to explain why they too will be required to do a lot of running. Since the ‘Wingbacks’ won’t be necessarily boroading from minute 1 to 90 and the M(C)’s don’t want to isolate their main hub of the team, both F(C)‘s will also need to stretch the opposition as much as possible by getting into those wide regions to get on the ball as well as taking opposition players into the wide regions to potentially open up space for other teammates. The advantage of the players that we have within this front 2 is that one of them is an extremely effective all round attacker in Christopher Nkunku, who can play in SOOO many different roles and positions, and in this team he will epitomize the best characteristics of a ‘General Forward’ with his ability to drift out wide, drop into the midfield and run in behind to cause a threat (he’s not too shabby with the ball at his feet either …); His French compatriot is someone who arguably has one of the most disappointing careers to date in Anthony Martial whose career started out so promising and had a signed contract at Old Trafford at the slender age of 19. But due to a poor mindset he seriously hasn’t lived up to his hype and is considered a “lazy” player which is probably the worst thing to be called as a soccer professional. Nevertheless, Martial is still a player who possesses some decent qualities and will be providing the same movement as Nkunku, albeit he won’t be dropping deep into midfield to collect the ball…
DEFENSIVE TRANSITION
We firmly believe that this formation was the catalyst for the phrase “Thou shalt not pass” since it makes every opposition have quite a hard time in trying to identify spaces within the formation’s defensive set up. This is down to the back 5 and thier flatness, since other 5 at the back formations need that outlet from their ‘Wingbacks’ which potentially causes their opps to find a gap outwide when both of them are positioned high and wide. That rarely occurs in the 5-3-2C and the opposition will then have to find another area to penetrate which as we’ve been trying to demonstrate, isn’t an easy feat.
I hope you’ve been enjoying the ‘5 at the back’ series thus far. Feel free to get in contact with the team via DMing us on Facebook wether you have an episode inquiry, tactical insight, or simply wanna say hello, we’re hear for it all!
There’s 3 episodes to go within season 9, so stay tuned lads! 😉
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