What do you mean by positioning in a sensible direction? That can be anywhere you find suitable. The one thing I don't like about some tanks is that they never explain what they are about to do. Not every run will be the same.

Are you going to pull all? Two groups? Three? (Because when it looks like you have stopped, Healer is going to heal)
Where will you be tanking the boss? (After the first wipe Healer and BLM should have realized where you're tanking)

It's like no one wants to talk and somehow we think we can read peoples minds.