This new formation of ours...

[Nobody]

Very good post Shak, agree word for word. Especially regarding Nolan, who when he played off one striker, he was comparably easy to take out of the game, but now defenders have to concentrate on both Carroll and Shola, which will give Nolan a lot more space between their defence and midfield. I can see him being marked out in games where the opposition plays a good out and out DM who is there to pretty much take him out of the game, but that will leave Barton and Jonas with more space when they drift inside, which both of them tends to do, whether we play this system or a "normal" 4-4-2.