We have tried 3-5-2, 4-3-3, 4- 1-2-1-2, 5-3-1-1 and all variations that have produced the same as 3-5-2 just wing backs becoming fullbacks and becoming 4-3-3 with no service from midfield.
If people cant see it now they never will, the defence of 3 is not the problem no matter which 3, the forwards might not be a problem if they were serviced as forwards not continually dropping into midfield or wide to get the ball, meaning we never get into the oppositions box quick enough or fill the box.
Strikers will score if they receive the ball in or around the box, the don't have that luxury, the reason our midfield is pathetic, pedestrian, side wards, back wards and often missing the passes.
Roberts and Bidwell are fine both can cross the ball and both good headers of the ball so yes they stay as left and right midfield, the problem is the centre, the driving force, the engine room, the win it and distribute it, the defence splitting passes, the driving through with runs, this is where we are hopeless, Grimes or Hourihane cant do it, both left sided playing middle, just not working, as they are not powerful enough.
Whether its Smith or Fulton that occupy 1 central role they need someone with a bit of power to drive forward, for this reason I will say it again use Guihi, forget he is the best defender, we wont get rellegated, can he play there, yes of coarse, he has gone forward a few times when he had no one to pass to, he also did it at youth level, there have been bigger ex centre backs than him converted young to become World class central midfielders.
GK ( Whoever) Back 3 Naughton Bennet, Cabango, Midfield 4 Roberts, Smith Guihi Bidwell, up top Lowe on right, Whittaker centre Ayew Left.
No square pegs in rounds holes, players playing on their natural sided. Guihi would not be a square peg. 3-4-3 is played by the most attacking teams in the World, they have tried the rest, lets try to see if this could be the best.
The worst that could happen is we lose but we would not get hammered in central midfield or run ragged as we are now.
Desperate times call for measures that are not desperate but proactive and aggressive in forward play