Under Garry Monk’s guidance, you could set your clock to the way Swansea City would set up – a 4-2-3-1 formation and a playing style based on possession, pace in wide areas and a strong lone centre forward.
However, under Monk’s caretaker replacement Alan Curtis, Swansea adopted a gung-ho 4-4-2 diamond formation at Manchester City last weekend – and the tactic nearly paid off as the South Wales side were undeservedly beaten 2-1 in the very last minute of added time.
Curtis, a former Wales international forward, left powerhouse centre forward Batefimbi Gomis on the substitutes’ bench, handing speedy Ghanaian Andre Ayew and winger Wayne Routledge the opportunity to play up front together.
Behind the front two, Iceland midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson played at the tip of the diamond, with South Korean Ki and Jack Cork in the centre and former Hammers youngster Leon Britton recalled in the defensive midfield role.
The system, supported by a flat back four and two attacking full-backs in Angel Rangel and Neil Taylor, saw Swansea create a host of chances with their incisive movement, accurate passing and nimble, elusive players in attacking positions.
The irony is that, despite the success of the new system, it took Swansea to revert back to their tried and tested 4-2-3-1 – with Gomis up front and speedy fellow replacements Jefferson Montero and Modou Barrow in the wide attacking midfield positions – for Curtis’s side to score the goal their earlier play had warranted.
Should Curtis go with a diamond again, West Ham’s two deep-lying midfielders and centre-backs will have to watch the front two closely, with Ayew and Routledge each possessing the pace and inclination to either swap positions or run in behind, or both.
Routledge was superb at the Etihad, making diagonal runs in behind from the left flank onto through balls and passes over the top, and shooting with his stronger right foot.
Blessed with a range of passing typical of Academy of Football graduates, Britton was an influential figure at the Etihad Stadium, collecting the ball deep and creating openings with balls in behind the Manchester City back four, or into wide areas for Rangel or Taylor to run onto.
West Ham’s forwards will likely be instructed to close Britton down whenever possible, particularly when the diminutive central midfielder drops deep between his centre-backs to collect from goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
In the centre of midfield, Ki is an all-rounder. Tall, strong and fairly quick across the ground, his passing accuracy is outstanding. His work-rate is also under-rated, but he is an important player for Swansea, no matter how they line up on Sunday.
In defence, Swansea have been suffering from a perceptible lack of confidence, which has resulted in a number of goals being conceded through either a lack of concentration, individual or collective errors.
Captain and influential centre-back Ashley Williams still has the pace and power to stop the best strikers, but his confidence has been sapped by losing too many goals and games, including former teammate Wilfried Bony at Manchester City last weekend.
Alongside him to Williams’ left, experienced Argentinian Federico Fernandez has forged a decent partnership with the Wales captain is also comfortable on the ball and in the challenge. However, his height means he can be found vulnerable in 1v1 situations.
Possible team: (4-4-2 diamond) Fabianski, Rangel, Williams, Fernandez, Taylor, Britton, Ki, Cork, Sigurdsson, Routledge, Ayew