Leighton James Suggests Switch to 3-5-2

Former Swansea City player Leighton James has suggested a switch to a 3-5-2 formation in his weekly Evening Post column – in order for the team to ease their on-going defensive problems.

After another 4 goals conceded last Saturday – at home against Arsenal, that increases our total to 49 after just 21 games – and that`s only 3 goals less than we conceded last season overall.

It`s so obvious that our main priority in this transfer window is to sign a defender, an experienced, quality defender that`s going to cost a significant transfer fee. It was spoken about back in the Summer – the need for a relatively high-profile defender that could replace our former captain Ashley Williams. Instead, we signed Mike van der Hoorn – who can`t even get in our team, plus the young and inexperienced Alfie Mawson. Mawson, in fairness, looks like an exciting future prospect, but these aren`t the sort of players you bring in to replace a player and captain like Ashley Williams.

So far this month, we`ve spent around £12m or so, with £4-4.5m spent on each of the three incoming players – Norwich City left back Martin Olsson, PSV winger Luciano Narsingh and Spurs midfielder Tom Carroll. What most certainly needs to be added to that list is a commanding centre back, and many fans have also spoken out about the need for a tougher, ball-winning defensive midfielder to add protection in front of the back four. Carroll may add some possession play, and hopefully some creativity, but he`s definitely not going to add much-needed defensive attributes in our own half of the pitch.

Leighton James doubted the three signings we have made so far, questioning how much of an impact they`ll make to the team:

“I am not sure how much help the new signings will be either. We already have two left-backs so I am not sure of the need to sign Martin Olsson, while we had plenty of midfielders already before Tom Carroll arrived. The same goes for Luciano Narsingh and wingers.

A centre-half is what we need and that is where we desperately need to strengthen this month. That should have been priority number one.”

Together with a new centre back this month, James also feels that the team need a new formation too, adding that the former favourite – 4-2-3-1 is becoming too predictable.

That formation returned to match Arsenal`s 4-2-3-1 last Saturday, but – like it has done all season – it failed miserably. I`ve often banged the drum this season that 4-2-3-1 no longer suits us, as we simply don`t have good enough quality in attacking areas – particularly wide – to make it effective. It lacks defensive cover in midfield, and with the lack of quality out wide and our habit of losing the ball in all areas of the pitch, we`ve often vulnerable to the counter attack.

It`s been no surprise then to see a 4-3-3 replace the 4-2-3-1 this season. Guidolin implemented mostly, Bob Bradley then came in and implemented almost every 4-defender type system you could think of, before finally settling on a 4-3-3 – something he should have done from the start.

The three central midfielders – the addition of one adds more defensive support, and it`s the formation we`ve always been in when we`ve won games this season.

However, the 4-3-3 does have its weaknesses as well. It doesn`t suit Sigurdsson`s natural central attacking midfield role, and he`s often played out wide when the system has been used. You then lack pace when doing that, plus the balance of the team is compromised. Clement may attempt to pursue with a 4-2-3-1 following the arrival of winger Narsingh to add pace to the side, but I feel he may be better off operating him up top, alongside Llorente in a diamond. The well known diamond, a system hated last season but one that was both favoured by Alan Curtis and Francesco Guidolin to help us keep clean sheets and edge out low-scoring victories.

Leighton James meanwhile has suggested a switch to a 3-5-2 formation, something that is extremely risky – being a system that has to be coached very well and requires excellent positional discipline and understanding from the players. I`m far from convinced that enough of them have right now. Plus, looking at an example of a possible 3-5-2 formation below, we definitely need a stronger centre back than van der Hoorn in that back three.

Not only that, but is Ki the best player to have playing deep, who would also have to drop back sometimes into that back three to create a back four when needed (when our wing backs are forward and out of position)?

James said:

“But I do feel he needs to try and shake things up a bit and try and make some changes to how the side play.

We always go on about 4-2-3-1 with Swansea, and it has served us well during our climb through the divisions.

But it has also served to make us predictable to play against and we do not make opponents think about what we are trying to do. They know what to expect, why not try something different?

Why not show Jurgen Klopp something he does not expect at Anfield on the weekend?
None of our centre-half pairings have been able to make us any more solid, so why not try playing three at the back?

It is working for Chelsea, and might make us more solid.
If we try it and it fails or does not work, then I would hold my hands up and say fair enough but at least we will have tried it.

Nothing we have done has worked so far this season and we are sinking without trace.
But we still have a chance and I will say now that if someone offered me a 17th place finish on goal difference now, I would rip their hand off.”

You`ll also remember when Guidolin attempted a 3-5-2 at home against Chelsea, and after conceding the early goal and the system showing no signs of attacking life, he had to change it before half time, which involved Neil Taylor going off in a strop to allow a formation switch. So can a 3-5-2 really work?

We`re still being linked with wingers and strikers so it may be that Paul Clement wants to improve our chances of making the 4-2-3-1 effective again with better quality in attack, but there`s no way we can ignore our horrific defence – even if it`s a quality ball-winning defensive midfielder – that would be a start.

Look at this chart below, and just how many “big chances” we`ve conceded – compared to the rest in the League:

This is not about conversion of clear chances. City and Liverpool are right in the leading pack on that measure.

(Poor Swansea.) pic.twitter.com/35HFmVIRMK

? Michael Caley (@MC_of_A) January 18, 2017