LAST weekend’s win showed the genius of McKinna’s formational flexibility.

Firstly, great result against Newcastle – particularly after such a disappointing performance against Wellington the week before. The Wellington game was so bad that by half time my attention had drifted off to thinking about how I was going to re-stock my household supply of bourbon for my Sunday evening ‘back to work’ relaxer. After all, I was down to less than half a bottle.

All the post-game commentary in the press this week has focused on Lawrie’s successful ‘gamble’ on going with three forwards, and the now much vaunted ‘4-3-3’. Tactically, the Mariners midfield was bypassed a little more than usual, and the only real width was provided by Sasho’s tireless runs to either side of Simon and Big Mac, as he went looking for the ball.

As an aside, don’t you just love Sasho’s reaction when he doesn’t get the ball to his feet? (It's pure gold).

Macallister was very good, and was rewarded for his efforts with what could be best described as a Viduka-esque goal. For a big guy, he does have a nice first touch, and this goal displayed some of his other qualities, with some deft footwork, and a first class finish. When you consider the other high quality goals Matty Simon has scored this season, it is clear that we will continue to score if the service is there.

As for the 4-3-3... Well, really, the formation looked more to me like a 4-2-2-2, or possibly a 4-2-1-1-2...OK, maybe I’m pushing it a bit. But come on, we were up against GVE, the so-called master tactician and his ‘preferred’ 4-2-3-1!

Of course another problem with going with the old 4-2-1-1-2 is that I don’t think the Fox Sports pre-game team line-up graphics can display this many layers of formation.

Seriously though, looking at the week ahead, the real question is whether Lawrie will again depart from his ‘natural Scottish instincts’, and field three forwards and a three man midfield, against the front runners of the competition? It must be tempting, particularly when he now has Mrdja available, and keen to display his ample goal scoring skills.

Regardless of the formation, the Mariners again need to play up-tempo, and win possession with as much vigour as they did against the Jets. If they can also maintain the high level of organisation they displayed at the back, I really fancy our chances.

For me, the key for Sydney is Stevie Corica. Sydney’s best attacking moments are focused in and around him. Even if he does not get the ball, it is his work off it that creates space.

This is why Jedinak is such a huge player for us. Hopefully he is fit, as I see him as the key to nullifying the Corica threat.

It’s a vital game for the Mariners, and although I think Simon, Sasho and Big Mac all deserve to start, I’m going to give Lawrie the tip here - it may be wiser to revert to a more ‘conventional’ formation. As that great fictional England manager Mike Bassett once said, ‘I’m an old fashioned manager, I write the team down on the back of a fag packet, and I play a simple four four f-kin two!’