Should Inzaghi Experiment with Three Central Defenders?

Milan have conceded nine times in their first six matches, tied with a slew of teams in the bottom half of the table for the second-worst concession rate in Serie A. 

Four of those goals did come via Parma, but even if you exclude that match, the Rossoneri are merely an average defensive team. They'll need to be better than average in order to live up to the supporters' and front office's sky-high expectations.

Per Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia), Inzaghi has been critical of his back line this season and it raises an interesting point: In an effort to promote defensive solidity, should Milan try a three centre-back system?

In this article, we'll take a hypothetical look at how the Rossoneri could line up using a three-man defense. Please note that this is purely speculative and that when Inzaghi has opted against using his 4-3-3, per WhoScored.com, it's the 4-2-3-1 that the Italian manager favors. 

Three-defender formations are popular, and they can be incredibly effective, in Serie A—look no further than an Antonio Conte-managed Juventus to see how well a central defensive triumvirate can function.

Although the Rossoneri have nowhere near the defensive talent of Juventus, given the recent results, a change could at least be considered.

Inzaghi has fielded four nominal centre-halves this season: Alex, Daniele Bonera, Adil Rami and Cristian Zapata. Philippe Mexes, Michelangelo Albertazzi and Cristian Zaccardo have yet to see the pitch in the 2014-15 campaign. 

Zapata's pace and performance this season, and in Brazil over the summer, means he's a definite inclusion. Both summer signings, Alex and Rami, should be preferred to Bonera, who is best utilized as a rotation player at this point his career.

Where Zapata and Rami are quite wasteful in possession— per WhoScored, their sub-80 percent pass-completion rates are underwhelming— Alex is a sure passer who's completing nearly 95 percent of his passes.

The former Chelsea man is best-suited to the central position, given his assured distribution, tremendous ability to keep attackers in front of him and knack for clearing play—all musts for a sweeper.

Marco Vasini/Associated Press

Perhaps most importantly is that Zapata, Rami and Alex are all strong in the air and including all three of them in the starting XI could help solve Milan's problems defending set pieces and flighted crosses. 

In Milan's 5-4 thriller against Parma, per WhoScored, the Gialloblu scored two of their goals off corners, and Antonio Cassano also headed a third home.

Their set piece problems surfaced again the following week when Empoli scored both of their goals on dead-ball situations.  

If Inzaghi were to experiment with three defenders, a 3-4-3 formation could allow for a similarly prolific attack, while also strengthening the weakest part of their lineup.

In addition to the back line, the midfield is another area that gets a major upheaval with the proposed formation change.

Nigel de Jong has been excellent this season, and he could be parked in front of Alex as the midfield destroyer, tasked with shielding the back three. 

While De Jong is an unequivocal starter, his midfield partner could be a number of players, at least until Riccardo Montolivo returns, which, via Football Italia, isn't too far off.

In the interim, Sulley Muntari and Andrea Poli could do the job, as could Marco van Ginkel. Poli is the most intriguing choice as he's younger than Muntari and stands to improve with more playing time. He'll also be around next season, while Van Ginkel will return to Chelsea.

Based on his early season form, the right-midfield position has to go to Ignazio Abate. The Italian international, who, via Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia) has been linked with a move to Juventus and a reunion with Max Allegri, has notched a league-high four assists, according to WhoScored.

A right-back by trade, Abate would surely track back and support the defense, acting as more of a wing-back in practice.

On the left, Inzaghi has a number of options. He could opt for Pablo Armero, the pacy wing-back with considerable experience in that role, Mattia De Sciglio— though one would be loath to play him in an even more unfamiliar position than the left-back role he's already been relegated to— or summer signing Giacomo Bonaventura.

Bonaventura is an exceptional defender for his position and fielding the summer signing behind El Shaarawy gives Inzaghi both offensive firepower and willing defending on the left flank.

Milan could potentially be susceptible on the left, but with Abate in place on the right, Inzaghi could make in-game alterations where he sees fit, shifting into a more traditional four-man back line, with Abate moving into his familiar right-back role and the other three defenders shading to the left.

If Inzaghi is amenable to a slightly radical formation shift, the 3-4-3 would serve as a tactical change-up and potential ace-in-the-hole.