Quiz any manager, Premier League or beyond, and they will almost all agree one of the more difficult aspects of their job is when the time comes to draw a line under one tactical approach and begin work on another.
New players are brought in to fit the fresh formation. Existing players need to learn new roles. Others require subtle changes to their usual job. And different patterns of play must be drummed into muscle memory.
Not entirely impossible, but rarely does such a transformation instantly click into gear. Particularly when the decision for a new look comes after the start of the season, with many of the players likely to prosper from such a switch unavailable.
