Thomas Tuchel decided he couldn’t use a back four at Chelsea because of the manpower he had. He used a back three to protect and get the best out of players like Thiago Silva and Jorginho.
Tuchel was probably right to set up a three, but should Graham Potter do the same given that we don’t yet have a true defensive midfielder in our team? Could switching to a back three now help him get better results at a time when he desperately needs it?
Enzo Fernández IS a six, sure, but he is not a holding midfielder and is responsible when he is isolated there. Denis Zakaria is the closest thing we have to a holding midfielder, but he’s rarely used in that role.
So the argument I’ve been seeing is that until we finally get a real defensive midfielder, should we play a three-man formation to protect the players again and get the best of Reece James and Ben Chilwell in an attacking sense?
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I fully understand the calls and really receive them. I have always wanted to persist with the back four and have not wanted to go back to a three. But as I say, I understand the argument at this point and it may not be a bad idea at all.
Although I also want to add that I honestly don’t think it matters which formation we play in right now, because our problems once again come from lack of leaders, weak mindsets and a coach who can’t control it and give us any style of play/ identity, at least for now.
I think a three-man defense with Chilwell and James at full-backs could give Chelsea more of an attacking sense, and could also allow for a more fluid attack depending on the formation.
Without a doubt, it’s probably worth Potter to at least think about right now, and it will also allow Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile and Thiago Silva to start together, they all deserve it lately.
