So far, this series has focused on why the manager and midfield have contributed to Argyle’s shocking defensive start. However, the defence itself must take its portion of the blame, and lessons need to be learned to turn the situation around.

It was this kind of tactical genius that helped to elevate a series of relatively average individuals – each with their own flaws – into one of the best midfields in the division. Adams put together a unit that accentuated each other’s strengths and minimized their weaknesses.

When Songo’o plays, not only does he make fewer successful passes than Fox, with a lower accuracy, but the entire midfield makes fewer successful passes with a lower accuracy and the whole team makes fewer passes with a lower accuracy.

Last season, I privately suggested that Adams had mistakenly stumbled onto a near flawless formation … with each passing game this season, I begin to suspect more and more that it could be the case.