Yes, the leave is not first come first served anymore. It’s better now.
The main thing to remember is ....there is no typical roster..... you can request the various patterns 442 or whatever but month to month the deadheading varies as does the flying.
Some months may have multiple positioning,,, start Gatwick go to USA, back to scandi, back to USA maybe finish Gatwick maybe some place else. Could be Paris or BCN.
3-4 trips a month, 10 days off, those are the Certainties .