After the dismal 3-0 loss to Manchester United, Dick Advocaat was forced to admit that he may have to tinker with the formation at Sunderland. The routine 4-3-3 formation has left Sunderland deeply exposed in defence, and after the calamitous start to the season, the players can’t seem to get used to it. Shipping in 23 goals in the space of 9 games and with only 2 points on the board, something needs to change.
The five-at-the-back formation could revive Sunderland’s woeful start to the season as it allows the defence to stay compact and hard to break down. After scoring 13 goals this season already, the attacking sense of the formation shouldn’t be a problem. Jack Rodwell could provide something different in a different area of the pitch in an unorthodox CB role. He has the physical presence and the rest of the attributes to play there and can’t be any worse than the two alternatives.
This formation also provides cover for either full-back, meaning that there is no space left in behind. Van Aanholt and Yedlin are both very pacey and like to get forward, therefore, can offer something different in terms of attacking in the wide areas. Cattermole and M’Vila can both be the anchors of the midfield by breaking up play and moving the ball forward. The front three of Lens, Borini and Defoe can all interchange around the final third of the pitch and are all capable of providing quality in-front of goal.
The only real negative to this formation is that it encourages a lot of pressure from the opponents, something Sunderland have brought upon themselves a lot this campaign. But with a defensive game-plan and a counter-attacking trio, it certainly offers something different in comparison to the tactics Sunderland have self-destructed upon in the opening fixtures.
