While RSC Anderlecht’s game animation raises questions, some voices are being raised for Felice Mazzù to deviate from his sacrosanct three back to switch to a four-man defense. The kernel at his disposal would be better suited to this scheme. For or against?
For: Moussa N’diaye seems ready
Until now, Sporting Anderlecht simply seemed devoid of any left back. Sergio Gomez had not been replaced and all the full-backs, including Adulrazak Ishaq, the newcomer, were rather cut out to occupy an entire flank, or even to lead offensively above all. Moussa Ndiayelast minute reinforcement, must change that.
Came to the game this Thursday, N’diaye seemed sharp. Until now, he played with the RSCA Futures in D1B and showed good dispositions there. True left back of formations, with the technical and tactical bases that this implies, the Senegalese can bring something new in the eleven of the RSCA.
Against: which pair in defense?
Going from 3 to 4 in the center of defense means leaving someone behind. Zeno Debast seems untouchable, being one of the best Mauves since the start of the season; Jan Vertonghen is THE star reinforcement of the summer. It is therefore Wesley Hoedt who could pay the price, and it seems hard to imagine. The Dutchman is an executive, and is probably more manageable in that role. While it was simple to bench young Delcroix for Vertonghen, doing the same with Hoedt could be tricky.
For: freeing Duranville (and Amuzu)
The golden rule of a back three is that the full-back must cover his flank as well as possible. If Francis Amuzu started integrating this habit, Julien Duranville is struggling in this role and at 16, it seems like a real waste to ask him for real defensive work. To take advantage of his genius, it would perhaps be better to leave him full freedom to rush forward, or at least share the tasks with N’diaye.
Against: and on the right?
The concern would come from the right flank: if Amir Murillo is obvious, who could occupy the right flank in front of him? Well…Julien Duranville, actually. Anderlecht supporters discovered the “kid” as a substitute for Francis Amuzu, and he shone on his left flank, but Duranville is well and truly used as a right winger in U23 and national team. On his good foot, he could very well shine.
But at 16, he probably couldn’t take on a full-time starting role, and the question will then arise: who to replace him? Neither Stroeykens nor Verschaeren have the necessary explosiveness. Raman has already played in this position, but is a disaster this season. Aligning Fabio Silva there would be a waste. In short: difficult to imagine a 4-3-3 based 100% on a right winger barely 16 years old.
For: the keys to the game in Verschaeren
This Thursday, Mazzù had opted for a middle three. Apart from Kristian Arnstad having truly shone in his box-to-box role, Yari Verschaeren, a notch higher, also seemed liberated. Not yet decisive, but well and truly reinvigorated after difficult months. It is in this role that he can really find his best level. In a 4-3-3 with a 10 behind the striker, Verschaeren can thrive.
Cons: only one seat in front
Fabio Silva has been toiling alone in front for weeks, even though he is, on paper, accompanied each time. Whether by Lior Refaelov, Mario Stroeykens or – during the game – Sebastiano Esposito or Benito Raman, it’s the same old story: the Portuguese must do everything alone. Let’s be clear: apart from a 37-year-old Refaelov, no pair works. Esposito and Raman are below everything, Stroeykens (for the moment) insufficient.
However, is it healthy for the group that only one player starts in attack (knowing that it is absolutely certain that it would be Silva)? How to handle such a situation? There are plenty of goods, and none of the above names can realistically be sidelined. Fabio Silva, however, might not see the difference…and might finally receive some good crosses.
There remains, all the same, the main “cons”: Felice Mazzù, a bit like Roberto Martinez in his field, is faithful against all odds to his system. As we can see, changing the system might bring some solutions… but also its share of questions. Anderlecht’s core isn’t necessarily ‘more’ or ‘less’ suited to a back three or back four; what would change things is probably in the game animation rather than the schematic. And on this plan, very clever who can say where the solution is: in the heads, or in the legs? At Mazzù, or at his players? Mystery…
