It seems to me the most popular formations being used these days are the 4-2-3-1 (with twin sixes) and the 3-4-3 (ditto). The Cougs seem to play more of a 4-1-3-2, like the old USWNT, with Shepherd playing the Julie Ertz role.

It’s probably not that meaningful what formation they line up in, since Pep’s “positonless” mindset has become more popular and is being imitated on every level. The mindset is the thing… are we playing our CM’s conservative or are we sending one forward?

I’m a Chelsea guy, and we played a double pivot forever with Jorginho and Kovacic, with mixed results. But when you have a world-beater CDM like we had with Ngolo Kante, you can leave him alone and send another guy forward and that’s when the magic happens (Champions League champs, anyone?). Hoping Caicedo is the second coming of Kante at Chelsea, which will allow Enzo to be more offensive-minded.