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Journalists at City's media day questioned Gary on the shape of his side which has 4-4-2 this season though in the last couple of years it has been a variation of 4-5-1 of 4-3-3 with which City have prospered.
The purchases of Nicky Maynard and John Akide to play alongside Dele Adebola or Lee Trundle seems to be the main reason for the switch in shape but Johnson said,
"We've spoken about formations before and we aren't a subbuteo team.
"We don't place the team out in a rigid 4-4-2 and order them not to come out of that shape."
"Our wide men have to be inside sometimes and outside at other times. The full backs must defend sometimes and support going forwards on occasions. That can make it a 3-4-3."
Johnson insisted that the team shape is very important to the way his side plays though insisted he would not start trialling other things if City's failure to win continued,
"Only at the kick-off, if you took a photo, would you see a subbuteo 4-4-2. That's the only time because there should be movement and interchange. Some people moaned at me that we have no width, but you have to earn that width by winning the battle and breaking from in to out. If you play with two wingers who keep their feet on the line then you'll be very open. You can't do that in the Championship."