While many MLS sides treated their midweek US Open Cup matches as an opportunity to rest players and give reserves minutes, Columbus Crew SC head coach Gregg Berhalter used the chance to debut a new formation.
In Wednesday's road win over the USL's Richmond Kickers, Crew SC came out in a 3-5-2 formation that Berhalter referred to as a 3-2-3-2. Tyson Wahl, Emmanuel Pogatetz and Chad Barson anchored the back line, with Hector Jimenez and Kristinn Steindorsson on the wings and Adam Bedell and Ethan Finlay up top. Kevan George sat deepest in a central midfield triangle that also included Tony Tchani and Ben Speas.
After the match, Berhalter said the system gives his team another option moving forward but is not drastically different than their usual 4-2-3-1.
“In one sense, it’s a variation of our normal system, if you look at where the guys are supposed to be on the field and the positions they’re supposed to take up,” he said. “So it’s not that much different. Given the personnel we had, I thought it was a good idea to try and play that way to have flexibility moving forward.”
The familiarity made the system easier to play, Berhalter said, noting that the 3-5-2 could be used in MLS play.
“I think it’s a derivative of our system, and that’s why it was easy for them to apply today,” he said. “The basic setup is very simple. What you have in the defensive posture is a little different, and I think that could use some work. But I think given the opponent and how we thought they would play, it was a good opportunity to try it.”
If the formation is so similar to their normal style, what advantage does it give Crew SC? Berhalter said it would largely depend on the opposing systems.
“To start, you’re playing with two strikers,” he said. “It depends on their movement off of each other to try and occupy the entire back four. Then it gives you the flexibility of the midfield shape as well, where you don’t have the guy who has to transition from buildup to possession in the midfield; they’re already there.
“Then I think it gives you stability in defensive transition. You’re there with three in the back and you have one midfielder holding, and it’s a very tight shape defensively in transition.”
Finlay and Justin Meram, usually wingers in Berhalter’s system, both played forward in the changed formation. The Crew SC boss said their experience playing striker in college gave them the tools required to do well in that role.
“They’re both variable players, and you can put them in a number of positions and they can perform; that’s their strength,” he said. “They’re both very good at finishing attacks and good on the ball, and they have good movement off the ball. So I think they can certainly play in that system.”
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During his Columbus tenure, Berhalter has generally been rigid with his system, only straying from the 4-2-3-1 during the closing minutes of action when a second forward is sometimes needed.
But having another option, he says, will be better for the team.
“We want to develop our team to be intelligent soccer players,” he said. “Being able to change systems, sometimes even mid-game, could benefit us. We don’t know when we’ll do that, but I think it’s certainly valuable to have that. It’s another way to play, more than a Plan B. But I think it’s just educating the guys on what another system would look like.”
