News & Notes From Training: Formation Changes

Three points and a change in formation. LAFC had the internet buzzing during and after its 2-0 victory in Vancouver, as Bob Bradley arranged his side in an unfamiliar 3-4-3 formation to face the Whitecaps.

After training at the LAFC Performance Center, Bradley shed some perspective on the change.

“The idea is that on different days, we can adjust the starting points without losing the overall part of what we want our football to be about,” Bradley said. “I think that was pretty positive.”

With LAFC returning to winning ways after consecutive defeats, there’s been speculation as to whether the new formation would be a mainstay going forward. For Bradley, it’s less about the formation than it is giving players the best platform to succeed.

“You always try to look at the best way to put players on the field. Then you are specific to what that might mean against each opponent. In certain situations, 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, you have an extra man in the midfield that at times you use to try and control the games,” Bradley said. “If you play a version of 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-3, you’re trying to take advantage of your attackers finding some of the half spaces and you get width at times from wingbacks.

“When I talk about principles, you want to be a team that has width and ideas in your attack, and when there are advantages, how to come forward, how to get numbers in the box, and then of course, as you do all that, how to make sure that behind the ball there’s organization to deal with counters. Like I said, the concepts don’t change, but then it’s being able to do it in different ways.”

Against the Whitecaps, Bradley had one of his changes forced on him, as rookie João Moutinho was suspended after picking up two yellow cards the week before in Atlanta. Jordan Harvey stepped into for Moutinho, who will be available this weekend against Montreal (April 21, 10am PST | YouTube TV, UniMás).

Whether or not the 3-4-3 formation stays, remains to be seen.  But expect Bradley to have his side in the best position to return home to Banc of California Stadium with back-to-back victories.

News & Notes

• Omar Gaber made his first MLS appearance in the 2-0 victory over the Whitecaps last week. The Egyptian defender's return from injury was another positive on the day for LAFC: "It was great to get Omar on the field. He’s going to be an important part of our team," Bradley said. "That first opportunity is special. He’s continuing in a good way in training. And it will only continue to build."
• LAFC trained for the first time on the pitch at Banc of California Stadium following a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Club's new home on Wednesday. 
• Defender Walker Zimmerman said he feels "very healthy" after missing the first three matches of the season. Zimmerman started alongside Laurent Ciman and Dejan Jakovic in LAFC's three-man backline against Vancouver.