Why Formation Is the Biggest Issue Facing Manchester City Ahead of New Season

Manchester City’s preparations for the new season are well underway in Australia. A behind-closed-doors match on the Gold Coast against Adelaide United was followed by a narrow 1-0 win over Melbourne City in a historic first match against their sister club.

Tuesday’s penalty shootout win over Roma saw their fitness tested still further, and their final game in Australia against Real Madrid later this week looks set to be their toughest challenge of the summer so far.

City have brought in new faces already, with more expected to follow soon. Manuel Pellegrini’s task now is to forge a new side from a mix of his old guard, new big-name signings and a sprinkling of the club’s most promising academy players, with Australia his testing ground. 

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And on the evidence of pre-season so far, the Chilean looks set to switch to a 4-3-3 formation, the kind of all-out-attacking system the club wants to play across every level of the club. It’s taken a while for Txiki Begiristain’s Barcelona-inspired vision to begin taking shape, but a switch to 4-3-3 would be a significant step towards realising his ideas.

It’s a formation that requires hard work and diligence from every player in the side. It’s too open to carry any defensive passengers. When it works, it can overwhelm and overrun the opposition, but if it isn’t executed expertly, it is easy to play against.

Barcelona are the finest exponents of it. Under Pep Guardiola and now with Luis Enrique in charge, their three-man midfield works harder than any in the land. They swarm the opposition to win the ball back, and pass and move at speed when they have possession. It’s tiring and frustrating for teams who simply cannot match their talent or work rate.

The key to the best Barcelona sides has often been the quality of their front three. The current Neymar-Lionel Messi-Luis Suarez triumvirate is probably the best three-man forward line the game has ever seen, capable of tearing defences to shreds with ease. It was what last season’s Champions League triumph was built upon.

It has everything. The trickery and menace of Neymar, the predatory instincts of Suarez and the genius of Messi, the game’s greatest-ever player. It’s too difficult to stop them all at once.

bleacher Report: Formation Builder

City look like attempting to replicate their style and system. A front three of David Silva, Sergio Aguero and new record signing Raheem Sterling may not match the brilliance on display at the Camp Nou, but it has plenty to offer City in their quest to reclaim the Premier League title next season.

Sterling is the headline new addition to the side. He brings pace, which City badly lacked going forward last season, and options. He can play on the right or left side of a three-man forward line and even looks to have the capability to move inside and play centrally when needed.

It took him just two minutes and 17 seconds to score on his debut against Roma, calmly slotting the ball past Morgan De Sanctis who had tried to narrow the angle. Sterling’s finishing has been widely criticised, and there’s no doubt he needs to develop a cooler head in one-on-one situations, but this was a perfect example of what he can do. He looks a huge talent.

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PELLEGRINI: "@Sterling31 demonstrated why he’s here, not only as player now but I think he will improve a lot in the future."

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) July 21, 2015"

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PELLEGRINI: "I think @sterling31 will improve playing with such players as Yaya, Silva and Aguero. I'm happy with the future of this team."

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) July 21, 2015"

As does Kelechi Iheanacho, the City youngster who looks the most likely to step up from the EDS and make an impact on Pellegrini’s first-team plans in the coming season.

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Pellegrini hails @Manugarcia_98 and @67Kelechi following shootout win over @ASRomaEN. Read: http://t.co/XHxWlTzQTb pic.twitter.com/nuYTTxpi2J

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) July 21, 2015"

He led the line against Roma in the absence of Aguero and impressed. It was his wonderful pass to Sterling which set up the opener, followed by a display defined by confidence, an assured touch and constant movement. He scored a superb goal to put City in front, a left-foot finish that left De Sanctis with no chance. City, it seems, have a star in the making.

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MATCH SHOT: A picture of composure - @67Kelechi moments before his goal #cityontour #ICCMELB pic.twitter.com/SkU7ChgQvO

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) July 21, 2015"

There are, as ever, issues facing Pellegrini. Will Vincent Kompany improve on last season's dreadful showing? Can City's other young players step up and augment the senior stars? There are a number of question marks hanging over City as they look to improve on last season, one that saw regression in every aspect of first-team affairs. 

A switch to 4-3-3, though, would be perhaps his toughest task as manager. It's a bold move, one that could backfire. If it works, it could offer City new impetus and initiative that they badly lacked during the last campaign. 

They have the players to do it and their transfer activity this summer is yet to be completed. Get the right men in and implement what would be an attacking, expansive style of play, and City could once again be the most entertaining side to watch in the Premier League. 

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and follows the club from a Manchester base. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.