Yeah, when I thought aloud about a possibly starting line-up (featuring Thorn's favoured diamond), this is the same stumbling block I faced. Sheffers could be pushed up front with Cody, with Ball on as an impact sub? I am not always fully sold on 'little - little' strike partnerships, but at least we could start thinking about getting our little triangles at work in more dangerous areas of the pitch. I wondered if Fleck or McSheffrey might do a job in the middle of the park, perhaps at Thomas' expense (so as to accommodate both), but I would guess that would leave plenty of defensive questions, not to mention shape. Not a bad dilemma to have (numbers-wise), although there is still the whole square peg element it would seem.
A possible alternative (although perhaps derided for being too defensive in not having two out-and-out strikers) might be to play four (perhaps McSheffrey - Barton - Jennings - Baker) across the middle, Fleck in the number 10 free role in front of that, and Cody as the number 9 poacher further in front still. I am not being dismissive of Thomas at the expense of two players I have seen little of, I think all (if signed) will play a large part in proceedings - unless they turn out to be shit or injured.
*EDIT - (I wish I'd put a few more brackets in there). (Sorry).
