But Shaw wIll Play It hIS way
RICHARD Shaw has given a vote of confidence to the midfield diamond that earned Coventry City their superb Capital One Cup victory against Birmingham on Tuesday night.
But the stand-in boss stressed that he will use whatever formation he thinks will get the job done on the day and that players have to be flexible enough to make any system work.
Some City fans criticised Andy Thorn for persisting with the tactics that he introduced during his own caretaker spell at the end of the 2010/11 season.
But Shaw pointed out: “We've used it five times this season and we haven't lost yet.
“I am very much open to different systems but I think there is a lot made of for mations and systems and a lot of nonsense talked about them. I think you play the system according to the players you have.
“We went 4-4-2 against Wrexham in the pre-season and got murdered. Because it was pre-season we were just trying out different things.
“Everyone now seems to play a man in the hole, a man in front of the back four and if teams do that and get on the ball really early you really do have to look at it and change your system accordingly and try to get a foothold in the game.
“We have played the diamond system this year with two up front which is always going to be a threat.
We're unbeaten in five games and every team has adjusted themselves to playing that system, so that's all credit to us.
“Birmingham came to our place on Tuesday and played a diamond because we did and they're a Championship club.“
He added: “In the first half against Bury we were different class and had we won no-one would have even thought about the system. The second half was abysmal so people were saying the diamond system is not very good.
It's all about the personnel.
Players make the system work because if you have got someone who switches off then there's a problem. But, if, like on Tuesday, everyone is on top of their game, in the right slots and right areas, it can be a real handful.
“We played 4-3-3 at Millwall last year and I absolutely loved it. But we had two wide players with pace and we haven't got that here so you have to play according to the squad you have got ­ that's being pragmatic.
“If the team played in a diamond for most of last year and got relegated then people will be down on it anyway; if Coventry had stayed up people would have said `what a great system it is.' “But whatever system you play you expect players to track back and tackle. If you look at the Premier League no-one plays with two up front now. They all play with one up front and one off him or two wide players coming because it causes problems.
“If you can get a centre-forward working like Stephen Elliott did on Tuesday night it makes life so much easier. Carl Baker, too, played his position really, really well. I told Carl that there are times in games when he has disappeared and we've been poor in terms of the structure and shape in the team because if one man doesn't do his job then the whole thing falls apart.
“We're going to lose matches this year by teams being better than us but what I hope is that we are not going to lose games where we haven't worked hard enough. I want all 11 players and all the subs to come off knowing that they have put a shift in. If it is not good enough at least you have earned your corn and you have given the crowd something to shout about.“
If Shaw manages to inspire the Sky Blues to a few more displays like Tuesday's cup win it will certainly strengthen his chances of getting the job on a permanent basis. So far the club have received around 40 applications and a number of other inquiries for the post which is advertised on the League Managers' Association website with a deadline of 5pm on Monday.
One man who is understood to have applied is former City striker Noel Whelan, although the club categorically deny they have approached Oldham Athletic with a view to getting permission to speak to Paul Dickov.
But the man in the driving seat said: “I expect by the weekend there will be about 150 applicants but that's out of my control. I like to think that I have got a good chance. I do want it and I would love the chance to manage this football club and I believe I know the players well enough and that I can affect their performance and do a good job.
“I've enjoyed every minute so far and all I can do if try to improve the players on the training pitch.
Results and the people above will dictate what happens but hopefully I can show them that I am enthusiastic enough to be given a chance.“ Shaw has already spoken to development director Steve Waggott about drafting in a couple of loan players, presumably when the loan window opens next month after tonight's 11pm transfer deadline.
RICHARD Shaw has given a vote of confidence to the midfield diamond that earned Coventry City their superb Capital One Cup victory against Birmingham on Tuesday night.
But the stand-in boss stressed that he will use whatever formation he thinks will get the job done on the day and that players have to be flexible enough to make any system work.
Some City fans criticised Andy Thorn for persisting with the tactics that he introduced during his own caretaker spell at the end of the 2010/11 season.
But Shaw pointed out: “We've used it five times this season and we haven't lost yet.
“I am very much open to different systems but I think there is a lot made of for mations and systems and a lot of nonsense talked about them. I think you play the system according to the players you have.
“We went 4-4-2 against Wrexham in the pre-season and got murdered. Because it was pre-season we were just trying out different things.
“Everyone now seems to play a man in the hole, a man in front of the back four and if teams do that and get on the ball really early you really do have to look at it and change your system accordingly and try to get a foothold in the game.
“We have played the diamond system this year with two up front which is always going to be a threat.
We're unbeaten in five games and every team has adjusted themselves to playing that system, so that's all credit to us.
“Birmingham came to our place on Tuesday and played a diamond because we did and they're a Championship club.“
He added: “In the first half against Bury we were different class and had we won no-one would have even thought about the system. The second half was abysmal so people were saying the diamond system is not very good.
It's all about the personnel.
Players make the system work because if you have got someone who switches off then there's a problem. But, if, like on Tuesday, everyone is on top of their game, in the right slots and right areas, it can be a real handful.
“We played 4-3-3 at Millwall last year and I absolutely loved it. But we had two wide players with pace and we haven't got that here so you have to play according to the squad you have got ­ that's being pragmatic.
“If the team played in a diamond for most of last year and got relegated then people will be down on it anyway; if Coventry had stayed up people would have said `what a great system it is.' “But whatever system you play you expect players to track back and tackle. If you look at the Premier League no-one plays with two up front now. They all play with one up front and one off him or two wide players coming because it causes problems.
“If you can get a centre-forward working like Stephen Elliott did on Tuesday night it makes life so much easier. Carl Baker, too, played his position really, really well. I told Carl that there are times in games when he has disappeared and we've been poor in terms of the structure and shape in the team because if one man doesn't do his job then the whole thing falls apart.
“We're going to lose matches this year by teams being better than us but what I hope is that we are not going to lose games where we haven't worked hard enough. I want all 11 players and all the subs to come off knowing that they have put a shift in. If it is not good enough at least you have earned your corn and you have given the crowd something to shout about.“
If Shaw manages to inspire the Sky Blues to a few more displays like Tuesday's cup win it will certainly strengthen his chances of getting the job on a permanent basis. So far the club have received around 40 applications and a number of other inquiries for the post which is advertised on the League Managers' Association website with a deadline of 5pm on Monday.
One man who is understood to have applied is former City striker Noel Whelan, although the club categorically deny they have approached Oldham Athletic with a view to getting permission to speak to Paul Dickov.
But the man in the driving seat said: “I expect by the weekend there will be about 150 applicants but that's out of my control. I like to think that I have got a good chance. I do want it and I would love the chance to manage this football club and I believe I know the players well enough and that I can affect their performance and do a good job.
“I've enjoyed every minute so far and all I can do if try to improve the players on the training pitch.
Results and the people above will dictate what happens but hopefully I can show them that I am enthusiastic enough to be given a chance.“ Shaw has already spoken to development director Steve Waggott about drafting in a couple of loan players, presumably when the loan window opens next month after tonight's 11pm transfer deadline.
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