Should Xabi abandon the back three already? MAH has thoughts.

@matissearmani We should stick with the back 3 and I believe with time we will click

@matissearmani Players need to show ability to adapt too.

@matissearmani I think yes mainly because of how top teams press Having a back 3 means we have one less passing option in midfield and we're trusting 3 CBs who aren't great in possesion to build up from the back. We saw against Brentford Barco & Hendo were man marked so we always went long

@RH_CFC @matissearmani My issue with the formation is that is requires specialist roles that are not necessarily adaptable to other systems. Specialist 10s, effective wingbacks etc. Anytime a coach playing a back 3 has left us the squad has been a mess for the next coach.

@matissearmani He has to.. how do you play with 7 defensive players yet you concede 3 every game 🚮

@matissearmani Yes. It's confused everyone. When we are attacked no one knows what to do. Go simple 4: 2: 3: 1 and we will be much stronger. James/Josh, Wes, Lac, Pep is where we should begin building. Colwell can hold dat for a while.

@matissearmani Kindly disagree strongly. And now Rogers & Palmer are wide players?

@chiguevara_ @matissearmani No you put Palmer as the 10 Roger’s on the left with palestra overlapping and estevao kn the right… acheampong lacroix colwill Caicedo henderson Estevao Cole rogers palestra Pedro

@chiguevara_ @matissearmani Lmao you’re gonna ship even more goals with that 🤣🤣

@chiguevara_ @matissearmani neto is saving us goals ? that’s literally the only difference 🤣… we have rotations where acheapomg/fofana end up at rwb it’s horrid man.

You literally just gave me a team that would rely on Estevão & Palestra to defend the wide areas. How is that going to be better defensively? Caicedo would obviously be in the team I’m sticking with anyway, and the manager is far more comfortable in this formation. Just like at Leverkusen, it takes time for the defensive structure to come together—and we saw how successful that eventually became.

@chiguevara_ @matissearmani its a 4 back… i showed you it in possession. palestra is the left back it defends in a 442 like every elite team in the world 🤣 and if palestra is too attacking for you im sure pep can overlap too

@chiguevara_ @matissearmani Palestra is a wing-back the manager wanted, so why switch to a system that suits him less? Five games in and before we’ve even seen Caicedo & Palestra in it, we’re already playing Twitter tactico instead of trusting the manager we were desperate to get. Makes no sense.

@matissearmani Want to see him at fullback mainly but from the odd glimpse in preseason it would be interesting to see how Palestra could fare in midfield. He seemed to pop up there a few times during the friendlies. It could go horribly but they need as many options as possible until January.

@matissearmani No,The players have to adapt and become better

@matissearmani Never liked a back 3. Back 4 should have Estevao starting most weeks also, which needs to happen sooner than later imo.

@matissearmani Yes is the answer. It’s an antiquated formation that DOES NOT WORK IN ENGLAND

@matissearmani Strongly disagree, for the reasons Matisse stated above.

I respect your reasons why you feel that way, as they are completely reasonable Missing a couple key players to this vision does not help the vision But I have felt this way long before the back Three came back into our lives with this manager This formation of two midfielders is a losing battle because almost every team in the Premier league plays with three midfielders. The math doesn’t add up and as a result, you are down a man in the most crucial space of the field.

@matissearmani No he shouldn't

@matissearmani Love what he said 👌

@matissearmani Guys relax he said from the beginning the system don’t matter it’s the pictures you see on the field and movements. And plus we miss 3 key players that will make this back 3 work effectively

@matissearmani It's not personnel. A back 5 has implicit weaknesses when defending. These weaknesses are getting absolutely rinsed weekly. For one, CBs need to press into midfield. Two, wingbacks and wide CBs need ultra good communication and understanding. Three, build up is so hard with 5atb.

@matissearmani Two Stalwarts of a Chelsea fans. @matissearmani and @GoldbergCFC

@matissearmani The system is not the problem but the profile of players playing to the system. Plus the dynamics of 3 atb is been used by most top managers. You lots fighting the system should pack it up already pls.

@matissearmani Back 3 doesn’t work at the moment

@matissearmani Yup system is not the problem here but the personnels, especially Neto for me as wingback is not working! Neto gets into positions but never really deals anything defensively! It creates an imbalance on who to mark, maybe Palestra fixes it! If not play 433!

@matissearmani Og link up! 💯 I'd love to see the back 3 for a lil more atleast with fit players.

@matissearmani I mean I’m worried as defensively and wing backs don’t seem to know what they are doing. At some point Estevao is surely going to have to play as well. Chopping and changing with his mins isn’t doing him any favours

@matissearmani Fiiinnnallllyyyy chelsea fans who look at things critically!!!.it dont matter back 3 back 4 none of that the personnel matters also the defense need to step up in quality