Three-man defense is a bit of a fashion,”a bit like skinny pants or crocs tops“jokes the right side of Stade Lavallois Anthony Gonçalves. In Ligue 2, eight teams lined up three central defenders from the start, during the first day of the championship last week (Laval, Guingamp, Saint-Étienne, Annecy, Rodez , Amiens, Caen, Nîmes).This Saturday at 7 p.m., at the Francis Le Basser stadium, Tango and En Avant Guingamp may find themselves in the same pattern of play in 3-5-2 (unless Mehdi Merghem’s injury in front changes the situation for the Bretons).
“Eat the Chalk”
Why do we observe this pattern a little more than in football before? “There may be fewer specialist position players” says Mayenne coach Olivier Frapolli. “At one time, they were said to eat the chalk, as these players moved down the line. The notions of “false feet”, “inverted feet” did not really exist, so _the full-backs weren’t allowed to go up for example_. They had to defend first and foremost. And then little by little, we asked the full-backs to overtake, so they became very attacking players“ continues the technician.
It all depends on the animation
Having three central defenders allows the full-backs, known as pistons, to play higher up the field. Anthony Gonçalves should play again on the right side this Saturday evening. “We often thought that this system was defensive whereas personally, I find it rather offensive, with a straight lane to cross“explains No. 39. And for attackers, the three-man system doesn’t really change, says striker Sébastien Da Silva. “We all know that the most important thing is the animation, what we put in it. Bastia last week played four behind, and we were able to find the fault twice. So I don’t think as a player it changes anything“.
Last year in National, after playing the first two days with four defenders (defeat against Orléans and Annecy) Olivier Frapolli opted for a three-man defense for the rest of the season. With the success that we know behind it. Laval and Guingamp have already faced each other this summer, in a preparation match. The Bretons won two goals to one.
Some information to remember before Guingamp
- Kévin Tapoko is suspended (one match + one suspended match after his red card in Bastia)
- Fumu Tamuzo and Perrot are still in the infirmary
- Alexis Sauvage should play with the Stade Lavallois reserve on Saturday morning in a friendly match
- For each home game, the staff of Stade Lavallois will share “a glass of friendship” with the staff of the opposing team