Formation
Choosing a formation was the first headache.
This is not so much because of the need to pick a style which fits with modern tactics and game approaches, but rather the question of which players it would naturally include or exclude.
Numerous options abounded: 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-5-2, 3-4-3, 4-5-1.
Each has their own merits.
Traditional 4-4-2 systems give an order and structure to a team, which the more modern 4-5-1 tends to overlook in favour of fluidity.
In the end, the choice was for 3-4-3.
This was partly to ensure that certain players who couldn’t possibly be left out were part of the team, and also to fit in with the club’s attacking ideals.
But it does mean that certain outstanding players were no longer in contention, especially in positions such as full back.