Three Observations from Bayern Munich’s 3-1 friendly win over RB Leipzig

The debut of the 4-3-3 was a flop

Followers have been theorizing that Vincent Kompany will take the lineup in a unique route this season. Right this moment, we bought a glimpse of what that may seem like.

Bayern Munich began the sport with three specialist midfielders within the beginning XI. Aleksandar Pavlović and Joshua Kimmich fashioned the bottom of a triangle with Tom Bischof at is apex. The reasoning was sound. This preseason has showcased Tom Bischof as a technical and dynamic midfielder with the bodily attributes of a correct #8. His profile enhances Kimmich and Pavlović, who’re each midfield controllers.

Sadly, on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Munich, issues didn’t work out based on the speculation. Positioned in a sophisticated midfield place, Bischof appeared largely misplaced and unable to make an influence on the sport. His actions had been disconnected from his midfield companions, who in flip discovered it tough to utilize his presence up entrance. The sport was crying out for a real attacking midfielder, a spot that might not be stuffed till Jamal Musiala and Ismael Saibari had been subbed on within the second half.

Defensively, Bischof was known as to press the Leipzig backline, whereas Kimmich and Pavlović dropped again. It meant a number of working for little acquire, because the 21-year-old fruitlessly chased shadows when Bayern Munich misplaced possession.

You must marvel if Kompany bought it fallacious, or performed it too protected. This iteration of the 4-3-3 merely resembles a fundamental 4-2-3-1 with a ahead swapped out for a midfielder. It doesn’t leverage the qualities of Tom Bischof to make the Kimmich-Pavlović pivot extra steady. His bodily items are wasted, and he can not shine technically when surrounded by defenders. If Bischof is allowed to play a deeper position, he may nonetheless add one thing to the XI.

Regardless of the case, it stands, model 1.0 of this new 4-3-3 system merely didn’t work as meant.

Evident holes within the squad

Three (possibly 4) accidents inside 90 minutes. Does Bayern Munich actually have the squad depth to compete on all three fronts?

The dearth of a striker backup is obvious. Arijon Ibrahimović merely is just not that man. Sure, Nicolas Jackson wasn’t superb final yr, however at the very least he offered a tall sturdy goal to purpose at. Ibra lacks the bodily presence of a goal man and his motion and technical ability falls in need of a false 9.

Ismael Saibari may play the latter position, as proven within the brief sequence the place he assisted Jamal Musiala, however absolutely Bayern Munich didn’t purchase the gifted Moroccan to play him out of place in a task that hardly exists within the squad.

Luis Díaz faces an analogous prospect, although much less extreme. Not less than within the case of the Colombian, Kompany may theoretically transfer Jamal Musiala or Alphonso Davies to the left wing and plug the hole.

The ultimate headache is right-back, the place the Konrad Laimer and Josip Stanišić each have their fair proportion of weaknesses. Then you’ve got Sacha Boey, who’s an honest 1v1 defender however struggles mentally along with his positioning. In the event you may in some way smush these three profiles into one, you could possibly have a treble caliber right-back. Nonetheless, because it stands, the place is perhaps the largest headache on the squad.

Basic modifications? Not but

Vincent Kompany didn’t get a lot time to experiment on this preseason. We noticed glimpses of the 4-3-3, a number of cameos from a bunch of kids, however little else. New signings joined the crew too late to actually make an impression, and the absence of Harry Kane turned each sport right into a ponderous train in how you can play and not using a striker.

Going ahead, it appears like Bayern Munich could begin the season comparatively sluggish. Vincent Kompany wants time to combine his new items, and his squad wants time to get match. Followers mustn’t anticipate to see the crew clicking till October/November on the earliest. As for main modifications? Experiments will resume when a basic base has been established.

It will likely be a while earlier than we see a radically completely different setup from Vincent Kompany.