In formation. To 4-3-3 or not 4-3-3

Tomorrow behind closed doors Chris Powell has his last chance to experiment before the season kicks off on Tuesday when Leyton Orient visit The Valley in the Capital One Cup, four days before we go to St Andrews.

In pre-season Powell has tried 4-3-3 and 4-1-2-1-2 in every game and has only reverted back to last season’s staple 4-2-2 piecemeal. I read with interest one comment that the diamond formation or a central three with pushing on full backs has looked better when some of the less senior players have been involved in it, such as Bover, Cook and Evina.

The problem with a formation other than a 4-2-2 is that I don’t think we have the players, or at least enough of them to play it with aptitude, hence why last season we saw the infinite use of 4-2-2, predominately because that was the style that most suited the players available and/or bought by the CP.

Despite the many attributes that Holland, Jackson, Stephens, Pritchard, Green, Wagstaff and Hughes brought to our spectacular season, we lacked a playmaker and sometimes a bit of steel and there was the occasional game when our midfield was overrun.

The midfield, as Powell has obviously worked out, is going to be all important this season. Apart from better strikers in this division, the biggest difference for me a level up, will be better quality midfielders. Better passers, better thinkers, better players.

Certainly it isn’t easy to name a perfect, or at least a good choice to be the fulcrum of a diamond four within our squad. Dale Stephens has the potential but sadly after an impressive start he isn’t yet good or authoritative enough for the importance of that role.

Jackson and Hollands as a middle two I see at this level and I hope Bradley Pritchard can step up again. BWP, Haynes, Kermorgant, Wagstaff, Green, Cook and Kerkar are all interchangeable up top.

Solly and Wiggins both have great ability in going forward and I have to think that CP brought in Wilson thinking he would suit a 4-3-3 formation. He comes with both with work rate and attacking attributes on his résumé.

Another problem I foresee with a 4-3-3 or the diamond is the lack of pace at the back to cover for two marauding full backs. Yes, I think Morrison, Cort and Taylor defensively in this division will be fine, Morrison in particular and I think Cort’s experience will be invaluable. Last season Morro was very dependable in covering for errors but more of those mistakes will be punished this season. A quicker centre-half would give a defensive pairing more luxury, especially if full backs have different or more responsibilities.

To me CP’s plan post season was obvious. He anticipated our midfield being too weak at a higher level but knew that Wiggins and Solly could shine. A change in formation would still mean value in players such as JJ, Hollands, Stephens and Pritchard with perhaps Bover also able to get a chance at some point, but he needed another midfielder, a playmaker.

With JJ moving to the middle, at least in 4-3-3, Powell also needed a left-sided midfielder or winger to fill a hole in the squad. 4-4-2 no doubt will still be a very useful weapon next season and we needed a player with pace and someone that could provide Wiggins with protection. Kerkar was signed but I doubt he was CP’s first choice.

But it was the spine that Powell wanted to improve and his plans were presented to Michael Slater and Tony Jimenez after the game at Carlisle in the middle of April. A striker, a playmaker, perhaps an experienced tough tackler, a quick centre-half and a reserve keeper. Other players were listed such as Wilson and Cook that enabled CP to play a more flexible formation.

That fantasy squad might well have challenged for promotion but changes in the investment structure at the club and thus a different budget to one that was anticipated have prevented Powell from implementing his planned improvements.

Chris now has to use what he has, and although I am sure privately he is frustrated, he won’t be disheartened. He will not want to be part of history that once again jeopardised the future of the club he loves as much as me and you.

Instead, if additional funds are not forthcoming, he will have to be clever in the transfer market. Loans, maybe swaps for Paul Hayes and Leon Clarke, but absolutely he will not have the quality available to him that he had hoped and a change in formation will become more of a gamble, but perhaps a necessary one.

Equally he still has every player that won the League One title with him plus Wilson, Cook and Kerkar as well as a more developed Bover, Smith and Cousins. Players don’t tend to look too far beyond what happens on the pitch, the training ground and the dressing room and one has to believe that spirits are still high.

So, tomorrow at an empty Craven Cottage, CP and his coaching team have their last live opportunity to experiment with formations and positions, and then the real business begins.