Since starting the season in scintillating form, Boro have hit the skids in recent weeks with only two wins in the league since the 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on the 24th of August.
This poor run of results has coincided with a change from the 3-5-2 formation used at the start of the season to several four at the back formations. Therefore, it’s worth asking whether a change in formation is appropriate and which formation should be chosen.
Ahead of the return to league football later today, we asked three of our writers to share their thoughts on how Boro should line up against Sheffield Wednesday.
Daniel Ragusa
(4-2-3-1): Randolph; Shotton, Flint, Ayala, Friend; Clayton, Howson; Braithwaite, Wing, Downing; Assombalonga.
Let’s go back to basics. 4-2-3-1 was a formation that gave us great success in the Championship during Aitor Karanka’s reign. It blends a solid defence with a fluid attack, both of which are crucial for promotion.
The back four are straightforward picks as they all offer height and experience as Tony Pulis likes. It’s harsh to leave out Dael Fry but I think that Ayala and Flint are just ahead of him at the moment.
Clayton can sit in his usual defensive midfield role and dictate play whilst Howson can be the box-to-box midfielder he’s been all season. Braithwaite has played right midfield for the Danish national team and he even had a string of impressive games at the World Cup in that position. It lets him exploit his pace and he can be a more direct threat.
On the other flank we should let Downing play to his strengths. His link up play with Friend is great, and his left foot is still capable of whipping in the perfect ball. Lewis Wing could be a surprise and opponents may not know what to expect from him. He’s raw, so giving him a free role may get the best out of him. He’s proven he can pick out a crucial through ball for his attacking team mates plenty of times, too.
Up front, it’s Assombalonga. He offers goals and his record speaks for itself. With the three behind him all interchanging and creating chances in and around the box, Britt is bound to hit the net more often than not in this system.
Michael Richardson
(4-3-3): Randolph; Shotton, Flint, Ayala, McQueen; Clayton, Wing, Howson; Downing, Braithwaite, Assombalonga.
I think this team offers the ultimate balance in terms of both attack and defence. Randolph is the obvious choice in net and Shotton is in by default as our only real right-back option. McQueen would come in for Friend, who’s performances have been below par recently. Our two best centre-backs in Ayala and Flint finish off the back four.
The midfield is where it gets interesting. Boro have seven or eight different centre-midfield options who you could argue should be playing right now. Summer signings George Saville and Muhamed Bešić have been mainstays in the team since their arrival, but I believe a three of Adam Clayton, Lewis Wing and Jonny Howson is by far our best midfield triumvirate – and the stats show this too.
Middlesbrough have won all 3 games in which the trio have started together so far this season, scoring 6 goals and conceding 0. Wing and Howson are by far our most creative central players, and Adam Clayton provides cover as a sweeper in front of Flint and Ayala.
For me the front three really does pick itself. Downing was excellent in Boro’s last away game at Ipswich, and we’ve missed a certain spark up front ever since Martin Braithwaite and Britt Assombalonga were demoted to the bench.
This team will give Middlesbrough the best chance to take points from Sheffield Wednesday, who are unbeaten in their last 4 games, as pressure begins to mount on Tony Pulis’ team.
Chris Cassidy
Judging the best formation on the performances so far this campaign certainly indicates that the 3-5-2 that was utilised early on is the best way forward for Boro. Before the first international break of the season, optimism was through the roof and it seemed that despite Boro’s lack of activity in the transfer market, they had found an effective system which delivered results.
Fourteen from a possible eighteen points at the start of the season certainly showed what the three at the back formation had to offer.
The 3-5-2 also gave academy graduates Lewis Wing and Dael Fry the chance to flourish, and that they did. In fact, it’s fair to say since reverting back to a flat back four, results and performances have suffered and for this reason, I think that a return to the 3-5-2 is the best option going forward.
In regards to personnel, the main two have already had a mention. Both Lewis Wing and Dael Fry were instrumental in the positive opening to the season and it seems crazy that neither even made the bench in the last game before the most recent break. Admittedly, Fry’s disappearance from the starting XI is a direct consequence of the change in formation.
However, Lewis Wing - who has already notched three league assists - has lost his place to George Saville, a player yet to prove his sizeable, price to be tag. Therefore, if I were to be standing in Tony Pulis’ crisp white trainers, my eleven would go as follows:
(3-5-2): Randolph; Ayala, Flint, Fry; Shotton, Howson, Clayton, Wing, Downing; Braithwaite, Assombalonga.
So what do you think? Should Boro keep faith with four at the back, return to a 3-5-2 or opt for a different formation. Let us know via our Twitter (@boropolis), and thanks for reading.
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