Formations & Tactic Choices vs Leicester City

Swansea City manager Garry Monk has a number of team selection decisions to make ahead of Saturday’s trip to Leicester City.

Neil Taylor’s two-match suspension – for picking up his tenth booking of the season in the 1-1 draw vs Everton last Saturday means that the Swans are lacking in full backs – with Kyle Naughton out injured for the rest of the season, and Dwight Tiendalli and Jazz Richards currently out on loan.

Jazz Richards, unlike Tiendalli, can be recalled early from his spell, while Monk may consider using Jordi Amat at full back. Youngster Raheem Hanley is also available, but he has never made a first team appearance as yet so his call-up seems unlikely.

A three-at-the-back system is an option – but one that you would be surprised to see Garry Monk use for a number of reasons.

Amat could join Williams and Fernandez in a back three, but there could be a lack of balance on the wings as Monk would probably have to field an attacking wide player on one flank (Montero if fit) and a defensive one on the other (Angel Rangel).

Montero could leave the defence exposed down the left if he’s caught out higher up the pitch. With one less central midfielder, the Swans could also leave space through the central channel if one of them has to come across to cover so it’s a system Monk is likely to avoid.

Not only that, but a 3-5-2 can’t cater for a midfield trio of Ki, Cork and Shelvey, as well as Sigurdsson playing behind a front two.



The above is not actually a 3-5-2 then, with just one striker up top to allow for Sigurdsson to play in the hole and for a midfield trio.

Rangel lacks the pace to play as a wing back, and as already pointed out, Montero (if fit) may not track back enough and would force midfielders coming across to cover.

Nelson Oliveira is expected to be back fit for Saturday again and will likely replace Bafetimbi Gomis in Swansea’s now preferred diamond 4-4-2 formation.

But Monk will still have the big decision to make on who replaces Taylor at left back. Angel Rangel could slot in there, with Jordi Amat coming in at right back. A loan recall for Jazz Richards is a possibility, but Monk will probably feel that’s not worth while just for 2 games.

Could this be Swansea’s line-up on Saturday at Leicester City?



Could we see a return to 4-2-3-1?

Marvin Emnes made a rare appearance last Saturday as he came on to replace the injured striker Bafetimbi Gomis. It was a like for like change, but Emnes instantly operated in a wide left role, and when Monk changed things in the second half to cater for that – reverting to 4-2-3-1, Emnes caused some problems when he was able to get into space and make some quick forward runs.

Shelvey might have to be dropped out of the starting line-up to make this work, and that too is unlikely given his improved form of late, and Monk’s confirmation of that to the press recently.



What system best suits the players we have available for Saturday’s game? Is 4-2-3-1 the best option to get pace back into the side down the flanks, or should we stick to the diamond?