Good article, JMF, and I agree with Andy that we now have a squad with good quality in depth, well settled before the season starts. As for formations, I wrote this earlier on the Pick your Line-up thread:
"DF's 4-1-4-1 easily changes into a 4-2-3-1 when the ball is lost and then into two ranks of four to defend against an attack. When the ball is won, it changes back to a 4-2-3-1 again as the ball is played out. If possession is retained, it then changes to an attacking 4-1-4-1 again with the FBs providing width to support the attack (effectively a 2-3-4-1).
Leitner is at the heart, influencing the tempo of play and distributing the ball to set up attacks. The FBs will be key players, sliding up and back along the flanks as possession changes and Pukki's pace opens up new options up front, like at Luton when Godfrey sent a long crossfield pass to Marshall breaking out of defence, who then put a perfect cross to the feet of a charging Pukki to slot it home. Hernandez now looks a much better player, adding guile to his pace and McLean has added a dynamic element to midfield. Both Thompson and Godfrey are better passers than Tettey, which also opens up new possibilities. IMO the line-up at Brum will be based on a 4-2-3-1 which can then change according to possession.
Krul
Marshall, Hanley, Klose, Husband
Thompson, Leitner
McLean, Pukki, Hernandez
Rhodes
If so, compared to last season, we now have two strikers, a much improved Hernandez at WL, McLean replacing Watkins at WR, Marshall at RB, a ball playing DM in Thompson and Leitner as a deep playmaker.
