If the manager says he took the captain off because he was worried he'd get sent of, it speaks volumes. Every time he goes in the book(and it will happen plenty of times) is the manager going to be thinking the same? Is it a case of "here we go again" get him off before he's sent off?
3 at the back is a good formation but I don't think it'd work with Adam Johnson and McClean as the wing backs/wide midfielders. Richardson would've actually been the ideal option as a left wing back/midfield, but he seems to be going so I can't see you playing it personally.
