The commencement of the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers for the Super Eagles will be against Liberia in Lagos on the 3rd of September and this has provided the opportunity to analyse the formations that they have used during the tenure of Gernot Rohr.
The last two articles analysed the 1-4-2-3-1 and 1-4-4-2 and tried to determine how good of a fit they would be for the Super Eagles.
Today’s article will be doing the same with a 1-3-5-2.
1-3-5-2
Another formation that Gernot Rohr has employed as the coach of the Super Eagles is the 1-3-5-2.
It is a formation that has become quite popular in recent times and has proven be very efficient in attack and defence.
Before taking a look at how the Super Eagles fit into this formation, it is important to have a good idea of its strengths, weaknesses and requirements
Strengths of the Formation
Width
One of the biggest strengths of the 1-3-5-2 is how much width it allows a team to create naturally.
Because the wingbacks are essentially part of a five-man midfield and because there are two strikers in the formation, the three centrally positioned midfielders and two attackers will already have the space in the middle occupied.
This is further compounded by the fact that, in many cases, wingbacks won’t have anyone to protect the vacated space they would leave if they were to move into a more central position (like the outside midfielder in 4-2-3-1).
The width provided by the formation also makes the wingbacks more of a goal scoring threat. By the time the ball arrives in the final third and a cross is about to be made, it is difficult for the opposition defenders to track them because they will usually be arrive late.
Five Players in Midfield
The 1-3-5-2 formation allows there to be five players in midfield which gives the team a numerical advantage and makes it easier to play an indirect style of play and as a result increase the chances of having more possession of the ball.
Two Sitting Midfielders
Of those five players in midfield, two of them are in the holding midfield passion. This makes sure that there is another line of protection before the ball arrives at the three center backs. This, of course, makes it more difficult to concede.
Five Players in Defence
Even though the formation reads like there are only three players in defence, it is not really the case.
The wing backs that make up the wide players of the “5” in the “1-3-5-2” frequently have to drop back when out of possession, which turns the formation into a 1-5-3-2.
Three Centre-Backs
The 1-3-5-2 also allows a team to have three centre-backs instead of the usual one.
Having three centre-backs, especially quality centre-backs, will usually bring more solidity to a team’s defence.
There will be more physicality added and they will be positioned in front of the most important area of defence—the goal.
Two Strikers
Another positive of this formation is that it allows there to be two strikers. This reduces the likely hood that any of the strikers will be isolated, makes the job more difficult for the opposition’s centre-backs, and allows for two natural goal-scoring players in the box during attacks and crosses.
An Attacking Midfielder
The strikers combined with an attacking midfielder in behind, makes the offence a lot stronger.
The 1-3-5-2, unlike many other formations allows there to be a number 10 in the team. This means that there is somebody who can be the link between the offence and midfield. This will only add to the creativity of the team.
Weaknesses of the Formation
No Wingers
The weakness of this formation is that it does not do well at accommodating wingers.
In this formation, defenders have a dual role of attacking and defending. Since the formation does not allow for natural wingers, they are responsible for the majority of chance creation from wide positions.
Types of Players Required for the Formation
Below are the types of players required to have a well-balanced (the team can attack without being easily countered, and can transition to offence efficiently from a defending situation) team.
The two strikers need to complement each other. One should have the ability to stay high and play as classic #9 or target man, while the other should have a more withdrawn role to link up with the midfield. This means they need to be technical and have very good positional intelligence.
The combination of players in central midfield should be a box-to-box or technical player, a defensive midfielder, and an attacking midfielder who can offer creativity.
This creates the appropriate balance needed to the get the best out of the formation.
The wingbacks need to be extremely athletic as they need to cover the entire length of the pitch.
They also need to be good offensively because, in addition to having to defend, they are now the main flank players. They need to be able to cross, take on the opposition 1v1 and even arrive in goal-scoring areas.
In the centre-back positions, the two most outer players need to be good 1v1 as well as competent on the ball because they will often get dragged out to wide positions.
They need to be able to win the ball against wingers when the team’s when the wingbacks are out of position.
Being good on the ball is necessary for getting out of pressure when forced into wide areas.
How the Super Eagles are likely to Line up Relative to these Requirements
In the above graphic, the names written in white make up a potential starting eleven for Nigeria, while also taking into account the players’ qualities relative to what is required of each position.
The player names written in yellow and orange are also alternative options and possible substitutes that the Super Eagles could use, and who still fit the mold of the formation.
In attack, Victor Osimhen and Iheanacho continue their partnership as they did with the 1-4-4-2.
They both have attributes that complement each other. Osimhen has the work-rate and movement to cause trouble for any defense, while Iheanacho has the ability to drop deep and link up with the midfield. They are both also good at scoring goals.
Onuachu can come in for either of them as a rotation option.
In midfield, there is a well-balanced combination of creativity, industry, and defensive solidity.
Iwobi finds himself in a No.10 position which suits his dribbling and passing abilities. Here, he will be able to create for the strikers, so option will always be on.
The two sitting midfielders, Etebo and Ndidi, are able to control the pace of the game with good passing, but are also strong in defence.
These three also have backups in the likes of Ajayi, Aribo, and possibly Ejaria, with Aribo being able to play as an attacking midfielder.
In the wingback positions, Sanusi and Aina will be the best options because they both have the best balance of defence and attack and are athletic enough to cover the length of the pitch.
The latter also already has experience playing in a 3-at-the back formation from his time at Torino.
While there might be reduction in attacking output, Collins and Ebuehi can still make do as rotation options.
The three defenders that will fit this formation best are Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, and Balogun.
As the outer most centre-backs, Balogun and Ajayi are good enough on the ball to connect with the wingbacks. They are also good enough 1v1 to win the ball in wider areas.
Troost-Ekong as the captain will provide good leadership and solidity as the most central defender.
Rotation options in Akpoguma and Awaziem can also be expected to do a good job because of their defensive qualities.
The Goalkeepers Uzoho and Okoye should be able to deal with this formation well. There shouldn’t be much about it that causes them difficulty.
Overall, the 1-3-5-2 has allowed some of the best players to find good roles in the team, but where it falls short is its lack of wingers. Players like Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Henry Onyekuru, or possibly Ademola Lookman (If his FIFA clearance comes through) would not be able to get in the team without being forced out of position.
There would also be a huge drop of attacking output from wide positions because the wingbacks are not as astute offensively as them.
Do Their Tactics Take Advantage of the Strengths of the Formation?
The 1-3-5-2 plays to Gernot Rohr’s tactics well in some regards such as when it comes to playing their mixed direct and indirect style of play, as well as when it comes to defensive organisation.
However, the formation lacks in terms of creativity and directness from the wings.
Offensively, the 1-3-5-2 is good at making the Super Eagle’s mixture of direct and indirect style of play work.
There are two strikers and a midfielder playing right behind them, so any long ball that is played will be well contested by the three. The numbers in midfield (three centeral midfielders and the two wingbacks) allows them to keep possession when playing an indirect style. This is because at best, they have a numerical advantage and at worst they will match the opposition in number. The width that the formation allows also makes possession easier as that is one of the major rules of attacking.
Defensively, the 1-3-5-2 will be fantastic at making sure that Nigeria’s mid-block is resilient.
With three centre-backs in front of the goal instead of two, wingbacks dropping back to make it five total defenders, and two sitting midfielders in Ndidi and Etebo, Nigeria will be very difficult to break down.
Conclusion
The 1-3-5-2 is a good formation for the Super Eagles when it comes to both attacking and defending.
It allows for good amount of chance creation through direct play and keeping of possession through the use of width and a high number of players in midfield.
It also makes defending easier if the wingbacks understand when to drop.
However, the formation leaves no room for direct wingers, which will affect the Super Eagle’s style significantly both in terms of tactics and the quality of players being kept off the pitch.
It would be a struggle to fit players like Chukwueze and Moses Simon into the team.
By Adeyanju Abiodun,
H&B Global Sports Sporting Director and Writer
Instagram: adeyanju026
