LUFCTALK

Working on the basis that Bielsa's preferred team setup is a 3 4 3 formation, I would be interested to see what peoples thoughts are as the team stands and then when we sign new players how they would fit in. Two of the most important positions in a 3 4 3 system are the wing backs, they have to attack and defend, and remember it can't include anyone we haven't signed yet. This isn't my ideal team BTW just utilising the players that we have available at the moment.

.............................BPF.....................
.............Ayling ..Jansson....Cooper...........

Alioski.......Foreshaw.......Vierra...........Pearce.

......Roberts..........Siaz..........Hernandez...........

Looking at Bielsa's Bilbao teams, the 3-3-1-3 is rather fluid, and can interchange into a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1, due to the selections. The middle CB tends to be a midfielder, of whom could operate at the base of the midfield in a 4-3-3, or push up into a 2, with one of the midfielders moving further forward to sit behind the striker.
----------------Peacock-Farrell
Ayling---Shaughnessy-Jansson---Pearce
--------------------Vieira/Rey
---------------------Forshaw
-------------------Baker/Saiz
Alioski-------------Roberts--------Hernandez


Clearly, we need a GK, CB and a ST, and then possibly a LB, DM/CB and/or LW.

Going on recent clubs, I would guess we would go with the 3-3-1-3 set-up but who knows really. With current players, I'd expect to see: (* indicates potential new signing replacing)

---------------BPF*---------------
---Ayling---Jansson---Berardi*------
--------------Forshaw-----------------
--Alozski------------------Pearce*-------
-----------------Saiz------------------
---------------------------------------
-----Baker---Roberts*--Hernandez---

I'd say the front 3 of attacking midfielders would be quite interchangeable and possibly looking at another 4 arrivals which could look like:

-------------Blackman-----------------
---Ayling---Jansson---Bartley------
--------------Forshaw-----------------
--Alozski--------------------Byran-------
---------------Saiz/Baker------------------
---------------------------------------
-----Vydra---Hernandez--Hernandez---