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Playing three centrebacks at West Ham doesn’t have to be defensive

By Scott Johnson

WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 16: Kieran Gibbs of West Bromwich Albion is challenged by Winston Reid of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United at The Hawthorns on September 16, 2017 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 16: Kieran Gibbs of West Bromwich Albion is challenged by Winston Reid of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United at The Hawthorns on September 16, 2017 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /
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The world of football is constantly changing. Should West Ham be playing 3 centre backs to keep up with it?

We’ve played 6 games of this Premier League season, and West Ham are leaking goals. Playing four at the back doesn’t seem to be working. Whether that’s the manager or the players is a debate for another time, but I’m going to challenge one of the points frequently raised about playing five ‘defenders’.

I’ve heard a lot of fans say that it’s too negative, and it’s not the correct fit. Whilst I do agree that our best players might not fit the shape, I don’t think it has to be negative. It could also be a good fallback formation for when we have a few injuries, like now.

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Wingback emphasis

The difference between a defensive 5-2-3 and not is the wing backs. If your wingbacks don’t get forward to offer the width then what are you going to do? You end up playing narrow, long balls forward in order to get to your attacking men. But Spurs and Chelsea have shown the league that you can get forward with a 5 man defence.

The only way to do that though is for your wingbacks to be attacking, and one of your central midfielders to act as extra cover. It gives you extra men high up the pitch, and makes you very hard to defend against. Obviously Spurs and Chelsea are both helped by the fact they have prolific strikers who are also very good footballers, players capable of dropping deep or running in behind. In Chicharito and Carroll we have two good strikers, but less well rounded footballers.

Next: Bilic on borrowed time at West Ham

Either way, 5 at the back can change emphasis a lot. For example if you played Masuaku on the left you could add a lot more pace down that side. Also if Zabaleta shifted into the central three, maybe Antonio could be used as a right wing back? It would certainly add more emphasis to the wingbacks…