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So far this season, under both Dave Challinor and Graeme Lee, there has been a clear system favoured by both coaches at Hartlepool United, either the 3-5-2 or the 5-3-2.
To look back to the start of 2021, Challinor slowly began the shift away from the 4-2-3-1 to the prefered 3-5-2, something that he has stuck with after his departure to Stockport County.
Looking to Graeme Lee’s system before his move to the Pools, he too used the 4-2-3-1 system during his role with the Middlesbrough under-23 squad. However, since his move to Hartlepool, he has largely used a 3-5-2 system and it is relatively clear to see why.
The 3-5-2 is one of the most versatile systems in football offering the ability to switch into and from a multitude of different formations allowing a consistent changing of shapes when in defence and attack in order to confuse oppositions.
Just to expand on this, it is very easy for Lee to tactically change his side depending on the factors within the game. For example, if Hartlepool are facing more attacks, the wing-backs can take a deeper role, changing the defence to a bank of five as opposed to the three and offering a more resolute system.
To further this, when on the attack, the current Pools boss has the confidence in his wing-backs to provide the attacking threat that they did last season. Whilst last season had its very clear stars at the top end of the pitch, the influence of Jamie Sterry and David Ferguson played a pivotal role in the Hartlepool promotion story.
A large majority of the Pools’ attacking phases involved the wing-backs and it has to be said they created a large amount of threat to oppositions in the Vanarama National League. With the ability to create dangerous runs down the lines or when in possession of the ball, having the ability to find their teammates in or around the box was vital.
Defensively the 3-5-2 excels also as Hartlepool’s three centre-halves have rarely seen much change this season or to extend it further, over the past year, with the only newcomer of the defence entering the side during the course of the summer window.
The first of the three is Timi Odusina, who often takes his place on the left side of the three. Odusina, formerly of the Norwich City academy system, is the youngest of the three at just 22. However, his youth should not be taken into account given how comfortable he looks in the system, often playing from the back, and at times, underlapping the wing-backs.
The second and middle centre half is Gary Liddle, who is currently in the midst of his second spell at the club and is in the last year of his contract. His first spell with the club came over a six-year period from 2006 until 2012 as featured 247 times for Hartlepool. Now on his return to the club, Liddle looks a formidable force in the heart of the Poolies defence and offers key leadership qualities in that role.
The last of the three centre-backs is Neill Byrne. The 26-year-old joined the side after his time at Halifax Town where he impressed a lot, becoming a regular and leader during the year he was there. With Ryan Johnson’s departure in the summer, it was vital that Hartlepool found a player with similar qualities and traits, and it is fair to say, the replacement has worked well for the Poolies.
The final aspect of how Hartlepool could cause yet another ‘cupset’ is the triangle of attackers that Graeme Lee often starts with. It is believed that Saturday’s front line could see a return to the side for Irish midfielder Gavan Holohan and Millwall loanee Tyler Burey.
The triangle in attack offers a number of different options for the side, meaning that one of the strikers could drift wide allowing Holohan to come into the space or could allow the midfielder to make late runs into the box with a lower risk of being marked due to the two focal strikers. Partner this with the quality Hartlepool possess in their wing-backs, this could create a massive overload for Blackpool’s defence.
Whilst the side have only beaten Blackpool once in their history, a 2-1 win at Bloomfield Road in 2005, Hartlepool come into this game in much greater form, with Lee’s men only losing one of their last seven fixtures.
In comparison, Blackpool in the same period of games have lost five, a daunting statistic for the Tangerines that they will certainly be looking to change. However, whether they will be able to beat a Hartlepool side who are gaining quite the reputation as the underdogs in this competition will only be seen on this weekend.
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