You can point to problems within the squad but the window is shut now and we're just going to have to get on with it.
I'm sick of 4-3-3. Arnie is a one-trick pony on the left-wing and Walters was never going to achieve anything being slow, out of position, tactically encouraged not to go down the line and supported (theoretically) by Cameron. Whenever we try and attack we therefore have to over-commit Allen and Imbula and so as soon as our move breaks down they're running at Whelan or - as is more likely because he's fucking past it and never in position because he doesn't happen the discipline - the back four. If you haven't got the players for the system, change the fucking system Mark Hughes.
Goalkeeper. Given is never going to be Butland as this stage but he's doing ok. It's not the issue.
Rightback. Is a massive fucking problem. If Bardsley missed today through injury I'd take him back at 50% over Cameron who has always looked like he's been playing out of skin to play at this level and looks now like he can't keep that up anymore. I've liked Geoff for ages but we should sell him asap. Bardsley has been poor but he's the best we've got at the moment. At least he occasionally gets into the final third.
Centreback. Ryan is rightly undroppable but he's also making mistakes at the moment. Indi looked like the PL might suit him: physical and athletic.
Leftback. Pieters has been crap for months but he's the best option we've got as I can't bring myself to trust Muni's legs. They both need replacing.
Holding midfield. Whelan has been the Stoke hipsters flavour of the month as unsung water carrier but all I see is an incredibly limited footballer with age taking with it his only true talents (anticipation, concentration, discipline). On paper Cameron or Muniesa are back ups there. Not in the real world. Left-field suggestion: could Adam play there? He might be a walking red card but he might be able to win the ball through intimidation alone. He's always had a good brain on him but he'd really have to learn to stay in the patch of grass in front of Ryan and Indi and not move. He's never liked running away. And he can score from his own half in he really wants to.
Further forward. Allen and Imbula. I like them both. I think they both should play. They're being asked to do far too much to cover up for the short-comings of others. The wide play isn't working with the current personnel (due to lack of ability and lack of fitness). I'd go 2 up front with Arnie joining the main striker (Bony). Arnie flatters to deceive so very much on the left wing. For our most dangerous player, it's frightening how little value we get out of him. He's big, strong and can make room for a shot. We need to get him nearer the goal. It's called coaching. Even the best players in the world get told what to do by a proper manager. Play him in a front two then, and between the strikers and Adam play Allen, Imbula and Bojan in a wide midfield three with Allen on the right and the one-footed Imbula on the left. We now have options and can stretch the defence without ripping our own shape to shreds in the process.
The strikers can be hit from deep both along the floor and in the air. They can also run the channels and pick up the ball wide. In both cases Bojan, Imbula and Allen are going to be in close support. We can also play through the middle. Adam Bojan Imbula and Allen can all pick passes into the front two while Imbula and Bojan can dribble as well. Imbula and Allen can also get themselves wide where necessary and beat a man/deliver a good cross respectively.
The midfield 3 can also drop back and form a line above the 4 defenders when out of possession, leaving Adam in between to pick up waifs and strays.
I never meant to type all this but having spent all 2016 watching the same mistakes being made by the management it's suddenly all come pouring out.