We started off the season very slowly. The 5-1-2-2 WB formation, which worked so well in the friendlies, was getting picked apart in the regular season. Plus, it was keeping some of our better talent off the field. We have a lot of strong wing forwards on the team. I switched it up to a 4-3-3 and the results started flowing. We went undefeated in September with the only blip coming in a 2-2 tie against Swindon. In August, we were in dead last. By the end of the September, we have almost come full circle. We sit in 4th place just outside the automatic promotion places and firmly in the playoffs. I'll be sticking with the 4-3-3 as our base formation for the season.
Plymouth, Leyton Orient and Grimsby are trying to separate themselves from the pack. We lead a second tier of teams that are in the playoff hunt but with a good streak of games can push for the top three. Salford is really struggling with only one win and one draw in their first 11 matches.
Ben Stevenson has been the best player in the first two months of the season. Leads the midfield with five goals including four goals in a three-game stretch. He only has one assist in an advanced playmaker role but his five goals more than makeup for it at the moment. Loanee Ryan Edmundson is tied with Stevenson on five goals. He plays at the top of the attacking three in a target man role. Hopefully, his form continues for the rest of the season. Right back Ryan Jackson leads the team with four assists.
In possession, the formation acts as a 3-5-2 with an over load on the wings. The wing backs come up and support the central midfield. The half back stays deep and acts as a shield for the center back. The half back also allows the two central midfielders to push forward as well. Stevenson pushes into the attacking midfield while the two wing forwards sit inside and allow space for the wing backs to put the feet on the sidelines to stretch the field horizontally. The target man has a dual role. The first one is obvious...score goals. His second role is to act as dummy for crosses and occupy bodies while the wing forwards have either a 1v1 or an open goal to shoot at.