flobaba The same can be achieved by having Rice sit alongside Zubi. The only other reason I can think of is fullbacks are generally not good in the final 3rd, so it makes sense keeping them further back. However that is not case for someone like Calafiori.
The advantages of playing with overlapping backs is they create overloads (helping negate those 1 v 2s tactics that teams use against our wide players). It also allows our wide players to play closer to goal, popping up in half spaces where they will be harder to pick up. I think Saka's numbers could explode if we used him that way. It would also suit Eze, Nwaneri and particularly Martinelli.
I am not a huge fan of Martinelli but I think he could be more effective for us if he played as an inside forward because that's actually what he's IMO. He should play like Ronaldo did in his latter years at Madrid: no dribbling, just clever movements in and around the box and looking to finish off chances. Using him the way we have done just exposes one of his major weaknesses, which is dribbling from a standing start. The aim is to use players in a way that hides their weaknesses whilst maximizing their strengths - the opposite with what we have been doing with Martinelli
