A lot of Everton fans must be a little frustrated at banging the same drum over the system that their side are using.
Five-at-the-back is not an inherently defensive system and a lot of clubs across Europe manage to use it to great and exciting effect with the players they have at their disposal. You can't really dispute that.
However, the Blues have never really been one of them. Granted, playing in a similar formation to this did a job at the back end of last season to keep them in the division, but fans now are desperate to see that evolve into something else.
MATCH RECAP: Look back on how Everton's draw unfolded at Brentford
YOUR SHOUT: Rate the Everton players after 1-1 draw away to Brentford
Even at the beginning of the campaign, when Everton had an embarrassment of riches in terms of their central defensive options, there were many who didn't believe it was the right style for their side to play. Instead, they wanted to see three players in midfield in front of a flat back four.
Of course, earlier in the campaign, the club didn't really have the options available to them to be able to effectively play in that system. But, could Frank Lampard now be forced to change his tact?
Mason Holgate has been an underrated performer during the manager's time at Goodison Park so far. While focus has rightly been placed on just how much Alex Iwobi has improved since the new man came to the dugout, a little less has been made of the solid progression the centre-back has undergone.
He brought some strong leadership qualities and defensive ability from the back end of last season into the beginning of this campaign, but unfortunately he didn't last against Brentford. He was brought off midway through the second half to be replaced by Michael Keane, leaving Everton with a less-than-ideal trio at the back.
All of Keane, Conor Coady and James Tarkowski are good players in their own right - but as a trio in this system they don't have the right profiles. Ben Godfrey's absence, on top of that for Holgate, denies some of the pace and athleticism that the Blues need for that formation to work.
Seamus Coleman has played as a centre-back at the end of last term and against Fleetwood Town so far this season, but he's still not at peak match fitness. So, will that group of Evertonians finally get what they want to see?
Amadou Onana's strong performance against Brentford could well point to the fact that he's ready to step up more regularly. Alex Iwobi has been Everton's best player in that position so far this season. Tom Davies has some really solid performances under his belt against Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.
With Allan on his way back from injury, Abdoulaye Doucoure continuing his recovery and with the hope for a new signing or two in that position too - for the near future at least it's starting to look like Everton's best option.
Even without the injury, however, it seems that something has to give with the way Lampard is setting up his side. Granted they are playing nice football in parts, but they are not controlling matches and they are still giving away silly goals.
Evertonians have seen this all before with past managers trying to set up with a five-man defence, they believe they've seen it all and many hope that a three-man midfield will be preferred in coming days and weeks.
But, only one man makes that decision of course.
READ NEXT:
