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Is tonight the night he tries with this system. Center backs Lescott,Vinnie and Boateng with Zaba and Kolarov as the flying full backs?

That's what he was working with on Tuesday,Wednesday with Mario the striker not starting.

we shall find out in about 40 minutes!

Would be interesting, but I'd also be slightly alarmed that Mancio would still be experimenting with the team in late february, in the knockout rounds of Euro competition.

Not sure it is 'experimentation. Probably as much to do with the fact that we are light for midfielders with De Jong and Milner injured, and we have another midweek game next week.

Blue in North London wrote:Not sure it is 'experimentation. Probably as much to do with the fact that we are light for midfielders with De Jong and Milner injured, and we have another midweek game next week.

Probably the reason. We have 5 with Micah that can play center back so that's arguably where we are strongest. I have seen them work with a it a few times but only minimal time spent on it outside.I would expect plenty of time spent on it inside as well.

Does anyone know how Aris line up? I didn't watch the 1st leg, but is it the usual "pack the midfield & stick one upfront"? That would make 3 centre backs quite redundant & could even hamper the attack, especially if a striker is sacrificed.

Team has been announced and Mario starts but it looks very much like it could be 3 at the back.

1950 wrote:Does anyone know how Aris line up? I didn't watch the 1st leg, but is it the usual "pack the midfield & stick one upfront"? That would make 3 centre backs quite redundant & could even hamper the attack, especially if a striker is sacrificed.

I am not advocating playing three at the back but i am not sure how it would make the centre-halves redundant. Depending on how the game progresses Kompany could move upfield this allowing the other midfielders to play further forward.

If we play this formation and they play with wingers we could have a rough night. I would rather SWP plays as a right wing back if we do play 3 at the back.

I'm not saying it would make them redundant period. You want to have a spare man at the back, but against one upfront you'd have two. That would make one CB redundant. Moving him further forward would be a good idea obviously, but then we're not talking about 3 at the back anymore, are we.

It doesn't look like Mancini is going for it tonight anyway. Can't see anyone out of Barry, Yaya Toure, D Silva, Tevez, Balotelli & Dzeko playing wing back.

Not tonight but he has looked at it a few times so the option might come along soon.

King Kev had a little spell with it when we were struggling as I recall. 3-1 to us early in our first season back in the prem away at Brum?Then when we had van Buyten before he got injured he played him with Dunne and Distin.