Certainly I believe before we start buying players it would be as well to ascertain what formation we will be using to accommodate the players.
I prefer 4-4-2 or perhaps 4-4-1-1 depending on how you see it, with a creative second striker behind a prolific front man. With one attacking winger and one wide midfielder, and two c midfielders making up the quartet.
e.g.:-
Mancini Gerrard Masch Barry
Aguero
Torres
This season we have had a great deal of success playing 4-2-3-1, but I think that against the better sides Torres has found himself isolated and has taken too much stick. Gerrard finds himself pushed deep to support the midfield and we begin to lose our shape. It is certainly a formation that we should use on occasion but perhaps not as our regular shape.
If we go with 4-2-3-1 from the start (as I think we well might) We are certainly going to need greater support from our midfield 2 than we saw this season, especially against the better sides, with maybe better/more attacking wing play as well.
eg:-
Masch
Barry
Mancini Gerrard Babel/Silva
Torres
I honestly believe 3-5-2 etc are more for Championship manager than real life, with the obvious advantage being... you can fit all your favourite players in
