Exactly this. Ings, although a terrific player, is not the signing we needed and if anything has totally de-railed our plans for the season. To accommodate him you have to do one of the following:
1. Stay with 3-5-2 and play Ings and Watkins. However this formation as we saw yesterday is prone to defensive mishaps and means that Bailey and Traore, arguably our 2 most dangerous players, will struggle to get into the starting lineup.
2. Play 4-4-2 with Ings and Watkins up top. Again I don't think this will work as our midfield would be totally exposed.
3. Go back to 4-3-3 and drop Watkins and play Ings as a lone striker. This is probably my go to option, however this it at the cost of dropping Watkins which we know Smith will be reluctant to do, or playing him on the wing which, again, Smith would not be keen on.
I think that with Traore and Bailey both out we will be sticking with 3-5-2. Personally I would revert back to 4-3-3 with Ings up top and JPB and AEG on the wings.