Football has come a long way since the ‘dark ages of 4-4-2’. Not many premiership teams now employ a midfield consisting purely of a destroyer and a creator flanked by two crossers. Three man midfield, secondary strikers who like to drop deep, playmakers on the flanks are more of a norm than an oddity. All are direct or indirect result of teams trying to take control of the ball and dictate the tempo. Transfer policies of teams are heavily dictated by the ‘systems’ their managers prefer to play.

<rant>
GARETH BALE THIS. GARETH BALE THAT. Hearing a lot of Gareth Bale related whining since the end of last season.
We sign Paulinho - our first signing of the summer, and a record signing at that .. Oh no Gareth Bale is leaving. We’re doomed.
Last season Lennon was out injured and we missed a winger big time. This summer we sign Nacer Chadli - Oh no! Gareth Bale is leaving. 
Everyone was crying out for a striker last season. Sign Soldado - a STRIKER. Proven goal scorer. OH MY GOD. NO!! GARETH BALE IS LEAVING. WE’RE F*KED.