How I would like to see Enzo Maresca shape up.....

4-3-3 seems to be the play from our new Head Coach

Good Morning Ladies and Gents,

Today I am writing about Enzo Maresca’s shape and predominently the personnel I would like to see him include in certain areas of the park.

So for starters I have sort of summarised the squad and our options in each position as well as any new areas I expect will be strengthened.

Any names I haven’t included I am assuming will be loaned, sold or with the U21s in the PL2 for the most part.

So here is my squad summary;

Now onto the different variations of personnel and structures I would like to see us use, I will currently lean towards current playing staff but there will be occasions where I will use a ‘New Signing’ in specific setups.

Firstly, I think Maresca’s set up and style will be really helpful to structure against different opponents, you have the ability to get an extra attacker in against low blocks but also an extra ball player or defender against teams where we need to be more patient and retain possession.

The first set up I am going to look at is something that could help us in possession against a low block;

In this particular setup I actually prefer the idea of Caicedo Inverting and Reece becoming one of the advanced 8s, there is room for rotation and flexibility there between him and Caicedo with a little communication going a long way, Reece can be deadly in those areas of the pitch with his passing and his shooting but he also would have the ability to push wide and overlap whoever plays on that right wing to create space and cause overloads.

This brings Palmer into a central area where he can create at will and dictate movements in the final 3rd, it allows Enzo to play his best role by a country mile which is a deep lying playmaker, almost like a quarter back and also you have the line breakers of Colwill and Fofana there who are very progressive with their play.

In a defensive Reece would drop back into RB with the team regaining a 4-3-3 with Palmer and Caicedo in the middle alongside Enzo and the Left sided centre back reverting out to left back, which is increasingly important the player who plays there is able to do.

Another idea I have is;

You start Palmer on the right wing and allow him to roam like he does and pick up little pockets which then can create an overlapping space for the likes of Reece/Gusto to attack, Palmer will draw the full back in creating space for the right back to then have the freedom to cross/attack at will whilst still maintaining a really secure 3-2 defensive shape. This brings Chukwuemeka into the fold as one of the advanced 8’s and gives us a little bit more balance in defensive transition.

Against a better opponent we will need to be clever with the ball, not rush situations and be prepared to counter attack, this could bring in to play the use of a false 9, I would like to see something a little like this.

This would be the defensive shape which to me gives us a fair amount of balance with Caicedo able to tuck back in alongside Enzo and Palmer’s work rate in the middle to press. It then means on the counter attack we would have some excellent pace to break with and players who can find a pass with ease.

I am very much looking forward to seeing us play in pre season and seeing which players we end up signing, it is abundantly clear to me that we need a LCB/LB hybrid, another winger and a striker. If I am being super greedy I would like a new GK as well, but thats unlikely I feel.

Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks for reading!

Luke Rushbrook