Overlapping runs and aggressive defending: How Chris Wilder has used his centre-backs at Middlesbrough – tactical analysis

Chris Wilder made a reputation for himself in English football during his time in charge of Sheffield United from 2016-2021.

When the ex-fullback began his tenure at Bramall Lane, the team were in League One. By the time he had walked away early last year, the Blades had already reached the promised land of the Premier League for the first time since 2007.

Wilder was out of a job for the guts of six months after his departure in March 2021 before Middlesbrough eventually came calling in November. Neil Warnock had just been dismissed as the manager and the board sought Wilder’s help to prevent the team’s season from nose-diving even further.

When the 54-year-old took over at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough were sitting in seventeenth-place in the Championship and had been extremely inconsistent in the league. Now, Boro are fifth after just eight games of his reign.

Wilder has not only stabilised the ship from its prolonged plunging but is now sailing it safely back to shore. While the voyage still has quite a long way to go, Middlesbrough look like possible play-off contenders now.

This article will be a tactical analysis of Middlesbrough under Wilder in the form of a team scout report. It will be an analysis of the sides tactics with a particular focus on Wilder’s use of a back three.

Formation and personnel

Middlesbrough have used a plethora of different tactical formations in the 2021/22 campaign so far. The consistent changing of structures connotates the team’s inconsistency quite fittingly.

Under Warnock this season, the legendary English coach preferred to use a 4-2-3-1, 4-1-4-1, 4-3-1-2 or a 3-4-1-2, although he also deployed a 3-5-2 on a few occasions too. However, since Wilder has been in the dugout, the 3-5-2 has been utilised in every single game.

At She