[han2503]

Our first real test. Let's see how we'll be able to cope.

[Fillipo Simone]

Montella has played with 3 at the back before right?

I think this can be a stop-gap solution for us until we can bring in the right players in the winter. This 4-3-3 business is mostly exposing how terribly weak our midfield is. We should try to offer PSG a loan move for Motta, and just play a 3-5-2 similar to what Italy did at the Euros.

And I know what you guys might say re; Motta... I honeslty don't like him at all, I can't stand him playing for Italy and wouldn't like him here either, but he's the only player I can think of that might be available on the cheap at this point in the transfer window who can play that role and help shore up that midfield for us

We'd play something like this for now

Paletta--Gomez--Romagnoli
Abate--Sosa--Motta--Bona--De Sciglio
Bacca--Niang

This would allow us to control the midfield a bit better, help out in terms of the defence which is getting very isolated because of our midfield, allowing us to form 5 at the back when we're defending and when we're on the attack we'd have Jack and Sosa who can be given more creative freedom by having someone like Motta behind them

Not sure if Montella ever done such a thing. But I'd be against it. Firstly, we don't have the right defenders to pull this thing off. Look at Juventus, they played with a back 3 for a while, but it was a delicate matter where practically one absent leader (Bonucci, Chiellini) would rattle the cage almost by definition. Gomez and Paletta would be a disaster waiting to happen. With no defensive leader and no Motta (don't think he's gonna come in the last 48 hours, why would he, especially if Matuidi leaves?), I don't think it's a risky worth taking.

I see why it would make sense, but it takes a lot of hard work to train a back three. Not sure if that would be too much of a risk. I think Bonaventura in the mid three is a failed experiment. He's just been a ghost. We might have better luck with Honda there I think. Honda runs and defends a lot better too.

Honda seems to be completely out of favor, but I agree with you on that. I also think that Bonaventura in the mid three isn't working good. He doesn't add up to the midfield rhythm and get's lost too often. I think that we should abandon the mid 3 system because it's obvious that we lack all the needed ingredients; Monto, Bona and Kucka are all inadequate or better suited elsewhere/to a different system.

That being said, I don't see Montella dropping his system that soon.