The problem would be that Thomas, Runyon and Simmonds are all natural center forwards--and that is the only position, IMO, that Thomas and Simmonds can play. Simmonds played wide this season--but she was not at all effective in that role. Lawton is much more naturally a wide player, which is why she was much more influential than Simmonds at that position. Runyon is also very definitely a center forward. She perhaps could play wide--but she'd probably be less effective. We could play a 4-4-2, which is what we played two years ago when we had so much success, and then you could play two of the three up top and they could move around in the attacking half as needed and not necessarily stay wide.
We were arguably dumb this year to play a 4-4-3 because we didn't have the wide forwards to be effective with it. Simmonds and Nelson were not effective at all. Almost nothing in terms of goals or assists from either of them. It's only when Lawton started on the left, after Runyon's injury, that we got better, as then Simmonds could move to the CF position. It's not like she's been great there, either, but she's been better there than outside. Nelson remains ineffective The fact that Kirt has started her every game at forward is evidence, to me, of Kirt's highly questionable decision-making. We'd be better off playing Greiner at that position--much faster than Nelson, very competitive, a promising player---and giving her valuable experience. She couldn't be any less effective than Nelson--and she's got upside. Giving heavy minutes to seniors who are not effective is not smart coaching. Greiner has played as a sub at CF this year, coming in late in the first half for Runyon, but she looks like a more natural wide forward to me.