One of the biggest questions going into next season for City, and others, is whether the 3-2-5 shape in possession forms a solid enough base to dispense of a ‘controller’
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City’s shifted to a 3-2-5 structure in possession after the World Cup. The back 3 was made up of 3 cbs, duel winners who excelled in defending transitions. With Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne in attack, it was important to have controllers elsewhere in the team 2/
Jack Grealish offered a safe harbour in possession and in the big matches, Bernardo Silva provided similar securely on the opposite side. Rodri was accompanied by John Stones in midfield, again providing technical excellence and assurance on the ball 3/
The remaining role was taken by captain Ilkay Gundogan. A perfect all rounder, excellent in possession, able to drop deep and join in the build up as well as stay high, play-make and score goals. Someone who’s ideal if Guardiola demands ‘a thousand, million passes’ as he says 4/
In big matches, these all round qualities are crucial and a ‘controller’ like Gundogan is paramount. City know that Bernardo can perform that role to a top standard in his own style and will hope that Kovacic can do similarly 5/
But with Stones excelling in his role and providing the rhythm Guardiola seeks in possession as well as the defensive physicality required alongside Rodri, it could tempt Pep to add a third disrupter into the mix with Haaland and De Bruyne, on occasion 6/
Phil Foden’s natural game is disruptive, he’s a risk taker, someone who naturally looks to make a difference when he gets on the ball. He is heir apparent to De Bruyne and, whilst KDB recovers from injury, he looks set to play that role in the early stages of the season 7/
But De Bruyne will get fit. If Foden has impressed centrally we might get the opportunity to see them in tandem at top of a midfield box or with Foden dropping a little deeper in the middle of a diamond midfield alongside the advancing Stones 8/
It’s an exciting prospect but is it realistic? For some matches, I think so. Leeds (h), just before the Madrid tie, saw City do something similar. At the time it was a must win match. Guardiola played De Bruyne and Alvarez behind Haaland and for 45 minutes City were incredible 9/
With Foden mainly used wide last season, it was often Alvarez who replaced De Bruyne in the City line up when KDB missed out. But the Leeds match was the only time they both started behind Haaland 10/
It felt like Guardiola acknowledged it as an option, with the team in such good rhythm and their new structure well established.
As the season came to a close, it was Foden who became De Bruyne’s replacement centrally, ultimately replacing him in during the CL final 11/
As the season came to a close, it was Foden who became De Bruyne’s replacement centrally, ultimately replacing him in during the CL final 11/
Starting Haaland, De Bruyne and Foden is risky, you lose the rhythm that an additional controller gives. But it could be very entertaining. It’s a question that could crop up for other teams as well, most notably Arsenal, following the signing of Kai Havertz 12/
No doubt Mikel Arteta will be having similar thoughts in terms of adding Havertz in alongside Ødegaard. With Jesus ahead of them providing offering greater involvement and assurance assurance in the build-up than Haaland, he might feel it is an option in some matches too 13/
Others are also potentially setting up in a 3-2-5 in possession. Liverpool’s set up is quite intriguing, rather than pushing someone who typically helps rhythm (Stones, Lewis, Zinchenko etc) from defence into midfield, they push a disrupter, Alexander-Arnold 14/
They have a different play style of course but you’d imagine Mac Allister will be cast as the controller and is likely to play a crucial all round role 15//
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