Actually I think we need to step the tactics up a notch. I'd mimic Spurs a bit. They tend to play with a four across the back, but Naughton and Rose are very attack minded; high end versions of Yedlin and Lazaar! But what happens with Spurs is the full backs are encouraged forward, where Eric Dier is then held back to the point of becoming a back three, with their other CB's like Aldereiweld operating as CB/LB. Now we have the personnel, very much, to make that happen - it's about coaching and tactics for me, as well as of course ability.
But where i think we get it wrong is the front 6 players. This 2-3-1 thing doesn't suit our Championship/poor Premiership players, they're all a bit hit and miss - Silva, Willian, Mkhtaryan, De Bruyne, Alli, Eriksen they AIN'T! So we need to pace things up a bit, in my opinion. I'd retain Hayden, but move him central as a real destroyer (Dier's good with the ball too, but his role is really defensive); all too often with Hayden/Colback/Anita we end up with TWO defending and both getting a bit clumsy with it, with no real outlet and being overrun or just with no options. So I'd then go 4-1-2-3 (or just 4-3-3 really).
So in this formation, with Hayden sitting, I'd have Shelvey obviously back in then look to get Vurnon Anita in there alongside him. He's not a great option, and for me that's an area we have to strengthen, but he's busy, he makes himself available and can exploit space better if Shelvey is getting closed down; it also puts us a bit higher up the field and more on the front foot, with emphasis on attacking. Ahead of those two is then an attacking trio of Ritchie, Perez and Gayle. Notice we're not playing wingers, we're playing attackers; crosses from full back will happen, but less often than playing wingers/full-backs. These three should look to work off each other, drop inside, create space up the flanks for full backs as well as run channels for Shelvey.
The only thing we really lose here is a target man; now it's about research and the opposition. If the opposition needs that up against them, then I'd look to switch into the 3-5-2 formation; Hayden drops right into CB (right side), Lascelles middle and Clark left. Shelvey and Anita sit behind Ritchie, Yedlin/Lazaar on the flanks and Murphy/Mitro partner Gayle up top.
In football manager tradition, I'd have these two formations as my preference in this league. 4-3-3 first, and 3-5-2 second.
