Tactically I don't see much difference at all between how we set up in our successful periods last season, and what we're trying at the moment. It's still very much Parkinson and Sorvel's ID. We've got a keeper being asked to distribute, ball-playing central defenders, full-backs encouraged to push up the pitch, a 'double pivot' in the middle, inverted wingers cutting inside, a number ten, and a lone forward - all hallmarks of our successful sides over the past 5 seasons.
I appreciate why a switch to 3-4-3 is attractive but I don't think the formation is the issue here, first and foremost I'd say it's a massive lack of confidence across the pitch, mixed with weaker personnel in key positions.
Byrne
Barrows, Mullarkey, Cooper, E. Jones
Lundstram, Osborne
Kaja, Pringle, Colclough
Hulme
That's how I'd start, if Hulme is fit. I thought we looked decent with Pringle at 10 against Chesterfield. I've also been content with Lundstram and Osborne in the middle. Up until Solihull we weren't getting battered or sliced open in midfield, we've been fairly solid but just making mistakes at the back.
On paper that XI has enough to get us going.