One hour before kick-off, in a gleaming, state-of-the-art studio in London, the world of football punditry was thrown into chaos.
The official team sheets for Manchester City versus Crystal Palace had just been released, and the host of the Sky Sports pre-match show stared at his monitor in stunned silence.
On the giant screen behind him, the Crystal Palace lineup was displayed not in the expected 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, but in a formation so audacious, so unexpected, that it felt like a typo: a 5-2-3.
"Well," the host said, finally finding his voice, a note of genuine shock in his tone. "It appears Danny Walsh has ripped up the script."
The camera cut to the panel. Jamie Carragher was leaning forward, a look of pure fascination on his face.
