Thiago Motta has been examining centuries of tactical development and he thinks he might have got something.
The former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, now in charge of the French champions’ Under-19s, has proposed a bizarre new formation that could revolutionise football: the 2-7-2.
Before we go any further, yes, that is 11 players as opposed to the usual 10 with the goalkeeper discounted. There’s a simple explanation for that: the shot-stopper is going in midfield. It’s a sweeper-keeper to the extreme.
“I include the goalkeeper in the seven in the middle,” Motta told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“For me, the attacker is the first defender and the goalkeeper is the first attacker. The game starts from the goalkeeper, with his feet, and the forwards' pressing wins you the ball back.”
It’s certainly a bold strategy but would it pay off for your team? With tin hats to hand, Standard Sport work out how top sides from London and beyond would line up in a 2-7-2.
Here's how Thiago Motta's preferred formation looks on paper...
Arsenal XI: 4. Holding, 5. Monreal, 1. Leno, 2. Bellerin, 8. Guendouzi, 6. Torreira, 3. Iwobi, 11. Ozil, 7. Mkhitaryan, 10. Aubameyang, 9. Lacazette
Chelsea XI: 4. Azpilicueta, 5. Rudiger, 1. Kepa, 2. Moses, 8. Kante, 6. Jorginho, 3. Alonso, 11. Barkley, 7. Loftus-Cheek, 10. Hazard, 9. Giroud
Crystal Palace XI: 4. Sakho, 5. Tomkins, 1. Hennessey, 2. Townsend, 8. Kouyate, 6. Milivojevic, 3. Van Aanholt, 11, Meyer, 7. Zaha, 10. Ayew, 9. Benteke
Fulham XI: 4. Mawson, 5. Ream, 1. Rico, 2. Fosu-Mensah, 8. Seri, 6. Cairney, 3. Sessegnon, 11. Schurrle, 7. Vietto, 10. Kamara, 9. Mitrovic
Liverpool XI: 4. Van Dijk, 5. Gomez, 1. Alisson, 2. Alexander-Arnold, 8. Milner, 6. Keita, 3. Robertson, 11. Shaqiri, 7. Mane, 10. Salah, 9. Firmino
Manchester City XI: 4. Stones, 5. Laporte, 1. Ederson, 2. Walker, 8. De Bruyne, 6. Fernandinho, 3. Mendy, 11. Silva, 7. Bernardo, 10. Sterling, 9. Aguero
Manchester United XI: 4. Lindelof, 5. Smalling, 1. De Gea, 2. Alexis, 8. Matic, 6. Fred, 3. Shaw, 11. Mata, 7. Pogba, 10. Rashford, 9. Lukaku
Tottenham XI: 4. Alderweireld, 5. Vertonghen, 1. Lloris, 2. Trippier, 8. Dier, 6. Dembele, 3. Rose, 11. Eriksen, 7. Lamela, 10. Dele, 9. Kane
West Ham XI: 4. Balbuena, 5. Diop, 1. Fabianski, 2. Yarmolenko, 8. Noble, 6. Lanzini, 3. Masuaku, 11. Anderson, 7. Antonio, 10. Arnautovic, 9. Carroll
England XI: 4. Stones, 5. Gomez, 1. Pickford, 2. Walker, 8. Barkley, 6. Henderson, 3. Shaw, 11. Dele, 7. Lingard, 10. Sterling, 9. Kane
Barcelona XI: 4. Umtiti, 5. Pique, 1. Ter Stegen, 2. Roberto, 8. Busquets, 6. Arthur, 3. Alba, 11. Rakitic, 7. Coutinho, 10. Messi, 9, Suarez
Real Madrid XI: 4. Ramos, 5. Varane, 1. Courtois, 2. Carvajal, 8. Modric, 6. Kroos, 3. Marcelo, 11. Asensio, 7. Isco, 10. Bale, 9. Benzema
