Team Focus: Cesare Prandelli - 99 Problems and 3-5-2 is One

“There is nothing wrong with the tactics,” Cesare Prandelli stressed following Galatasaray’s humiliating 4-1 defeat against Arsenal in the Champions League.

Prandelli had already used a 4-3-2-1, 4-3-1-2 and 4-2-3-1 before his latest eureka moment - a 3-5-2 setup against Arsenal. The ensuing 90 minutes revealed that in fact there was something wrong, something fundamentally wrong. The Gunners picked Galatasaray apart with their fluid passing moves and tormented the Lions down the wings. Right-back Veysel Sarı in particular had a woeful evening, securing the lowest rating from WhoScored.com of any outfielder (5.92). Arsenal had obviously done their homework and identified Sarı as being the weakest link. 48% of Arsenal attacks were launched down the left flank and three of the goals came down Sarı’s side.

Galatasaray’s highest rated midfielder in the league, Felipe Melo (7.25) has been one of the Lions most influential players over the past few seasons. The Istanbul giants have only recorded a single victory in the last nine games Melo has missed. However, Melo found himself at centre-back alongside Semih Kaya and Aurelian Chedjou against the Gunners. Suffice to say the three-man defence is still in its early stages but all it has achieved so far is to remove Galatasaray’s best performing midfielder from his strongest position and disrupt the synergy that Kaya and Chedjou had built up over recent weeks.

Another surprise was Wesley Sneijder being deployed in a regista role. Perhaps Prandelli envisions Sneijder playing a similar role to the one he had Pirlo playing for Italy. The former Champions League winner had an unremarkable performance against Arsenal in his new position but did attempt more passes (81) than any other player. It would be a surprise if Prandelli were to permanently convert Sneijder from a No 10 to a regista but as the 57-year-old manager has demonstrated, he can be quite unpredictable.

Prandelli has experimented with just about every formation in the book but he has been pretty consistent in using a three-man central midfield - 4-3-2-1, 4-3-1-2, 3-5-2. Ideally Prandelli would like to have three hard-working midfielders adept at defensive and attacking duties. Currently, however, he has an out of form Selçuk, Dzemaili, who has not settled in yet, and Yekta Kurtuluş is more a squad player than a first team regular. The return of Hamit Altıntop will be a boost as he offers more of the qualities Prandelli desires from his midfield with his work ethic and versatility. Also it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Melo were to return to his preferred midfield role.

Despite an embarrassing loss against Balıkesirspor in the league the Lions are just three-points behind league leaders Akhisar and there are a few positive signs. Galatasaray have been keeping an average of 62.2% possession and have the highest pass accuracy rate in the league (84.5%), with only rivals Fenerbahçe having completed more passes this season.

However, the former Italian national team coach will be concerned that not one of his midfielders have provided a single assist so far this season. Service to Burak Yılmaz has been sub-par for the most part but the Turkish international striker has still managed to score four times in five appearances. Prandelli has entrusted the striker with a spot in his first-team but his partner in crime is still undetermined. Prandelli had a choice between experience in Champions League winner Goran Pandev and youth in 19-year-old Portuguese winger Bruma against Arsenal. Pandev was given the nod but in hindsight it limited Galatasaray’s counter-attacking options.

Bruma gives what is an ageing and pretty slow Lions side an injection of explosive pace and creative wizardry. The youngster has completed more successful dribbles per game (2.7) than any other Galatasaray player this season but has failed to start in both Champions League games so far. It is also worth noting that while Galatasaray have struggled for goals this season, averaging one per game, both Bruma and fellow winger Olcan Adın have an assist each.

The players are going through a number of teething problems trying to adapt to various formations and unfamiliar roles. Talk of a crisis is premature and may sound absurd at such an early juncture but considering the average Süper Lig manager lasts just seven months Prandelli has cause for concern.

He has asked for patience but the fans are beginning to lose theirs with the team. Galatasaray are currently in turmoil, club president Ünal Aysal called for an early election and revealed that he will not be running for another term. Election campaigns can get pretty ugly at the best of times so Prandelli must tread carefully as the club enter treacherous waters off the field and improve results to alleviate his precarious situation. Any hopes of a renaissance from here on in will be determined in a fortnights time when Galatasaray have the chance to beat rivals Fenerbahçe in the Intercontinental Derby.

What formation should Prandelli be using at Galatasaray? Let us know in the comments below