Good Post Barry. Its true about our width....we have always attacked down the lines. If you look at lots of other sides...CCM for example they play a much more narrow game....their width comes from Rose and Bojic??? bombing down the flanks. Having more guys centrally would give better outlets for Sanchez if he was playing deeper. Plus there are more bodies in there defensively.....rather than now, as you said, when we lose the ball up top there are acres of space for their midfield to pour into.
I am still to be convinced that Ricki is the guy to fix all this stuff. I have not seen anything in the last 6 years to suggest that he is capable of playing a markedly different style. Because what we have been seeing in the last few games is not a dramatic change in formation. He has now put someone in the DM position who can pass properly(Sanchez) but we are still playing a "wingers" sort of game. The only difference is they are not lumping in loopy crosses as often. It falls down partly because we don't have a creative AM to set things up in the attacking third. But I am prepared to give Ricki the benefit of doubt....its still a work in progress.
IMO we need to pick either Boyd or Fenton and say...right you are playing more centrally. Fenton strikes me more as a pacey wing type guy while I think Boyd has better feet and composure.....Big ask for teenagers though to come and do that AM role