TACTICS FOCUS: The Re-emergence of the 3-5-2 Formation

Formations and tactics in football seem to come in and out of fashion in an almost cyclic manner. It is difficult to pinpoint how long each of these cycles last but there are certain characteristics that trigger a formation to be used again or to stop being used. In the 90s the 4-4-2 came into fashion due to the tendency to play more direct football using strong, tall strikers. It became less prevalent once players were coming through in the mould of Messi, Robben or Hazard, small but technically gifted. The 4-3-3 became the standard in the last ten years as teams were looking to dominate possession and play attractive football at the same time, highlighted by Pep Guardiola's Barcelona. In the last few years the 3-5-2 formation has been making a comeback, which hasn't been widely utilised in nearly fifteen years. The 3-5-2 uses three central defenders, five midfielders (two being "wing-backs") and two forwards. We'll take a look at why the formation is becoming popular again, it's strengths and weaknesses and why it probably won't work in the Premier League.

Which is the Best League in the World?

It is an age old question that always produces plenty of discussion and quite often a lot of arguments. Which is the best football league in the world? Some people argue that the EPL has the best quality overall but then others say that Spain has the best players in the world therefore it is the best, while some say that Germany has the best crowds and fans but that South America produces the most talent. The discussion is endless. Not only is it difficult to judge which league is the best but it is also hard to choose how to judge each league, is it based on the average goal difference? Who has the best players? What league produces the most exciting football? Once again, the discussion is endless. One thing is for sure though, the best football league in the world is bound to be either one of the big five in Europe (England, Spain, Germany, Italy, France) or one of the big two in South America (Argentina, Brazil). I'm going to try to rate different aspects of each of these seven leagues and decide which one is the best.

What Did The Mid-Week Fixtures Deliver?

Crystal Palace 1 - West Ham United 0

Tony Pulis may just pull this off. He of course has the record of never seeing a team demoted, and this first win is a good step towards maintaining that record. In what was a tough fixture for both teams who were equally desperate for all 3 points. I’m sticking to my early prediction of Palace going down and now Pulis’ record going with it. Pulis has reportedly been given the go ahead to spend money in January and I hope he can put it to good use because it’s great to see Aussie Mile Jedinak playing brilliant football week in and week out in the Premier League.

The Premier League's Middle Ground

We've had a thrilling international break between weeks 11 and 12 of the premier league, which saw the World Cup roster completed in some very memorable matches. The league is back underway this weekend and I'm looking at the middle of the table and summing up how those teams have kicked off their 2013/2014 seasons.

EPL: Reviewing the Drop Zone and the Overachievers

It was May 27th, 2013. The place? Wembley. The teams? Watford and Crystal Palace. The prize? Promotion and an estimated £120 million cash influx. The result? Watford going down 1-0 to an extra-time penalty converted by Kevin Phillips. After an eight year absence, Palace was back in the Premier League. They may not have been the most consistent team all season, having finished fifth in the Championship, but they were good enough in the end to come out of the play-offs on top. Cut to November and they are currently sitting bottom of the Premier League, recording only 1 win in 10 games they are looking a sure thing to drop straight back down. The manager’s role is currently empty and there are reports that former Real Madrid coach Aitor Karanka has already had an interview for the position. I think they should instead make a realistic and forward thinking decision in picking someone with solid Championship and/or lower league promotional pedigree. Tony Pulis is apparently no longer interested, so perhaps the likes of Neil Warnock, Steve Coppell or Martin O’Neill?

A Breath of Fresh Air in the Premier League

On this day, exactly one year ago, Chelsea were sitting top of the Premier League table, one point clear of United and City who were separated only by goal difference. The Gunners were 7 points off the pace, Liverpool were down in 12th with only 2 wins under their belt, QPR and Reading were in the drop zone, a sign of things to come, and nestled in between them was Southampton.

How times have changed. And by God do I love it, which in part is my bias as a Liverpool fan, but to a much larger degree is my bias as a fan of the Premier League. In recent years the title race has been a predictable occasion with a handful of teams fighting it out. In particular the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea, with Arsenal not far behind.