The Premier League is facing its most boring season in over a decade, with teams scoring fewer open-play goals than at any point since 2009-10. Through 28 weeks, Premier League clubs have combined for just 505 open-play goals, the lowest total since the pandemic-affected 2020-21 season. Teams are also taking 300 fewer shots on target compared to recent seasons, while completing nearly 10,000 fewer passes in the attacking third.

This tactical stagnation follows a decade of innovation sparked by Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola's arrivals in 2017. Their risk-forward approaches forced the entire league to adapt, creating what many consider the peak of English soccer. Now, however, the game has been overwhelmed by set pieces and conservative play, with even Champions League teams struggling to create open-play chances. The analytics revolution that once promised exciting, possession-based soccer has instead led to a stalemate where the best teams eschew the risky, intricate passing patterns fans love.

Ryan O'Hanlon suggests the solution lies in embracing the back three formation, which has historically been the choice of overachieving teams like Inter Milan, Chelsea, and Atalanta. Despite its reputation for being easily countered, the back three offers tactical flexibility and attacking potential that could break the current tactical deadlock. With Manchester United's recent struggles after abandoning the formation under Ruben Amorim, perhaps it's time for a brave coach to fully commit to this underappreciated system.