Leaving aside fitness issues, I really don't see where Rafa vdV would fit in Stam's preferred 4-3-3 formation. If we were playing 4-4-1-1 or 4-2-3-1, then maybe, with Rafa behind the striker, but in a 4-3-3? Nah. It doesn't have to be a flat, and formations are never or should never be as rigid as ...