Assuming Chelsea’s going to settle on the 4-3-3 with dual eights for real this time, some will be marginalized while others are magnified.
A lot can be learned about a manager based on how they build their midfield. With a pair, it really isn’t here nor there but a trio offers a variety of options due to the increased dispersion of duties. For example, Jurgen Klopp prefers three hard if not flashy workers. The creation of plays is primarily through movement and the wide players. Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, prefers all three of his midfielders to be able to create with the wide players being outlets for the attack instead of the creators of it.
Frank Lampard’s recent return to dual eights is, on paper, most similar to Guardiola’s. Realisitically, however, it is more of a blend between Guardiola’s midfield and Klopp’s. That should come as no surprise as Lampard often seems to blend the ideas of both into his own setup. It is both steel and silk.
This recent formation change has likely been intended for sometime, but Lampard was hesitant until he had the right players to make it work. If anyone goes down, he more than likely does not. Furthermore, while the 4-3-3 has magnified the abilities of some, it has marginalized others in its current iteration. So, who suits each role and how might players away from the club or future transfers strengthen the team?
1. The linchpin that holds it all together
The most important of the three has to be the holding midfielder. It has been the main reason why Lampard was hesitant to switch to the shape; he simply has no depth there. The holding midfielder needs to be able to link up, or at the very least distract the opponent, as the centerbacks build from the back. Off the ball, they need to find the danger areas and cut the play out before the defense is truly under pressure. Thiago Silva has been instrumental for both of these factors because the holding midfielder doesn’t need to be a passing maestro nor locked perfectly central with Silva (and to a lesser extent, Kurt Zouma) behind them.
Thus far, N’Golo Kante is the most suited to the role and the only one on the depth chart Lampard would feel truly comfortable with there. Jorginho could do a job if needed, but he so often leaves his teammates in bad positions defensively or fails to really do anything with his passes from deep that he is not ideal most days. Billy Gilmour could prove an option when he returns from injury, but his ultimate placement in midfield is still a bit up in the air. In theory, Andreas Christensen could play there but Lampard has never done more than mention him as an option.
Ethan Ampadu seemingly offers an option when he returns from loan and that appears to be a part of the plan. The rest of the plan is an all out pursuit of Declan Rice in January. Ideally, the holding midfielder can just as much anchor the center as they can drop between the centerbacks for a 3-4-3 starting formation or a 3-2-5 in possession formation (for the teams that are very counter heavy). Regardless, without someone to fill in for Kante when he is unavailable or needs a rest, the current 4-3-3 with dual eights becomes somewhat precarious.
2. The tip of the spear
Part of the reason why a true holding midfielder is needed is that the two midfielders in front of them are much more attacking. They still need to press and be involved defensively, but without someone behind them to sweep up, the shape collapses.
Offensively, one of those two midfielders will theoretically be more involved than the other. While both will be expected to rotate with their wide man or lurk outside the box, one will do so far more than the other simply for balance purposes. On paper, this is the 10 from the former 4-2-3-1 and, more often than not, they will probably find themselves playing on the right to rotate with Hakim Ziyech’s winger turned 10 turned inverted forward and back again.
Kai Havertz is perfect for this role because of his constant sense of his spacing when the team is in possession. A 10 role in a 4-2-3-1 makes sense for that reason as it allows for a safer free role, but Chelsea’s right backs, right wingers, and the holding midfielder are all players who can cover for him as need be.
What if he isn’t available though? Thus far, only Mateo Kovacic has provided an answer to that and he surprisingly showed a willingness to attack in ways not previously seen. Gilmour could again fill in to this role when fit, though he is probably more suited to being deeper. Further down in the depth chart, Tino Anjorin is likely to be groomed for this role in the long term. It is also possible that Ziyech takes a deeper role if someone is available to come in at right wing.
From the outside, Ross Barkley could play his way into a miraculous return to Chelsea next season. Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek could both do the same, but the former may be suited for another role and the latter still has to show he can return to the player he was before.
There really aren’t any signings linked or rumored for this type of midfielder because Chelsea is pretty well stacked for it. That is not to say that won’t change over the next two windows, but as it stands Havertz is clearly the main man with the only question being who is next on deck behind him.
3. The engine and the counterbalance
If the holding midfielder is the most important, they are followed closely by the counterbalance in the dual eight. While the tip of the spear is shifting around constantly with Ziyech, their opposite eight needs to be more restrained. Not only will midfield become wide open if they push too far forward, but they will also often find themselves behind the more attacking of the two wingers. Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic are great for goals, but tracking back is not necessarily the best use of either even if they are willing.
That is why this midfielder needs to be more cautious. They will still get forward, but not at the expense of exposing the holding midfielder or the flank too much.
Mason Mount is ideal for this role. Not only does he have the second best engine in the entire squad, but he is tidy on the ball when he isn’t trying to force a final ball into the box. His sense of positioning on and off the ball in regards to his teammates is also one of the best in the squad. It is no wonder why Gareth Southgate was willing to play in as a center midfielder in a 3-4-3.
The closest equal to Mount’s role in a 4-2-3-1 was the glue player that connected the more defensive midfielder of the pivot (now the holding midfielder) to the more offensive 10 ahead of them (now the tip of the spear on the other side of the midfield). Mateo Kovacic excelled at this and though 4-3-3 is a rougher fit for him, he can do so again in the shape after a few games practice. Again, Gilmour is an option for the role as he develops further, as will Gallagher be should he be given a chance when his loan ends.
The pursuit of Rice and the future inclusion of Ampadu may see Kante take this role up in the future as well. For whatever reason, Lampard seems insistent that Kante should be played higher up. While that allows him to press more (a big reason why Mount is performing in the role), it remains to be seen if that is something he can continue to do long term.
Similar to Kante being more suited to a deeper role long term, this may be a way for Loftus-Cheek to find his way back in. If his legs just aren’t the same anymore and no longer suited to attacking, he might be able to position deeper and create/destroy next to the holding midfielder. That would take some adjustments from him however.
Again, there really are no players linked to this role because Chelsea seemingly has it covered no matter the eventuality. The only player that truly needs to be brought in is a holding midfielder, either to start or for depth. With that, Havertz and company leading the charge, and Mount and company gluing it all together, Chelsea’s midfield will be complete and capable of competing on all fronts in the future.