Toronto FC: 3 reasons to abandon the back three

1. Michael Bradley and playing out from the back

One of the main benefits of having three center-backs is that it allows a team to build out from the back proficiently. The two wide center-backs make it difficult for a center-forward to press, thus allowing the ball to be moved into the midfield with relative ease.

Conversely, back-four-based systems can be vulnerable to the high press with only two center-backs to feed passes into the midfield from deep positions. As a result, in the modern game, it is not unusual for teams to drop their central defensive midfielder between the two center-backs to breach the press and make their way up-field.

Fortunately for TFC, Michael Bradley is capable of inheriting such a role, and the emergence of metronomic midfielder Liam Fraser ensures Vanney can drop his captain further back while Fraser dictates and participates in the attack.

For example, Toronto could line-up in a 4-2-3-1, like so:

"View post on imgur.com"

When dealing with a 4-4-2 high-press, Bradley can operate as the third center-back to create a three vs two advantage. The Reds would also maintain numerical superiority in midfield by pushing their fullbacks forward:

"View post on imgur.com"

The U.S. international can move further up the pitch as his teammates progress into the final third, providing a pass-back option while simultaneously shielding the defense, the task of the best defensive midfielders in the world:

"View post on imgur.com"

In doing so, Toronto FC will still be able to work the ball out of the back and add an extra man to their attacking play. Bradley allows for the team to play with a back four and gain all of its advantages, without having to suffer from its greatest weakness: playing out from the back.

Do you think Greg Vanney should continue to favor a back three? Let me know in the comments below.