Although you could describe the basic formation as fairly simple in the way we set up, the way we put it to use is far from so. You'd think the key for the opposition would be to cut out the wing backs, but how we mix up the way we move the ball around either with quick, short passes or long diagonal balls makes it really difficult for them to do that. If today reflects other home games they'll be countless times when Doherty will be stood in acres of space waiting for the ball. If anything we don't use that right hand overload enough. Out of possession we close space without pressing almost in a zonal way, again difficult to coach I'd imagine.
What we are is extremely well drilled, this year in the future will be held up as the blueprint of how do run a pre season. Management team in early, the majority of players the same, formation identified early, played in all friendlies neglecting short term scorelines. The smartest thing of all though was the identifying of players within the squad who could play that formation and making sure they adapt to it (Coady, Batth, Doherty) and those who couldn't such as Edwards and Dicko and getting rid rather than having a piece of the formation compromised by a player who couldn't play the role the way we needed them to. It wouldn't surprise me to see Marshall leave in January for the same reason.
Hey, we may still finish mid table, but our preparation has set us up so that we shouldn't.
