Rovers Manager Considers Home Formation Change
By Deadly Submarine
November 10 2005
Speaking to the Daily Post, Rovers Manager Brian Little has said that he is considering sticking with the effective 4-3-3 formation at Prenton Park on Saturday when Rovers take on Milton Keynes Dons in Coca-Cola League One in a game in which they really need to bag maximum home points.
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The 4-3-3 formation that Rovers have been playing in recent games appears to have greatly improved the performances of the team so it seems a little surprising that Boss Brian Little has been having reservations about employing the system on their home turf.
However in an interview with today’s Daily Post, Little insists that he is now considering using the 4-3-3 formation at home for the first time when Rovers take on fellow League One strugglers Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday at 2pm.
Little implemented the formation for a short spell at the end of Rovers 0-0 home draw with Colchester three weeks ago in an attempt to get something from the game but since then Rovers have recorded a 2-0 win at Doncaster and were then somewhat unlucky to be knocked out of the FA Cup at Bradford after possibly their best performance of the season using the formation.
Little told the Daily Post, “I think the difficulty of playing it (the formation) at home is that people will see just one centre-forward and will be lulled into thinking we are trying to play with one forward when we are actually trying to play with three. There is certainly a temptation to try it and we can easily switch to something else if we have to."
"I'm not frightened of trying it at home because of the freedom it gives Steve Jennings, Danny Harrison and Steven O'Leary in midfield and the way Mark Rankine has settled into the deeper position, ratting around people. That suits him."
If Rovers play using the 4-3-3 formation, it seems likely that Danny Harrison, who returned against Bradford from a broken nose, will drop to the bench as Little welcomes back loan signing Steven O’Leary whom Luton had insisted did not play in for Rovers in the FA Cup.
Other than that change, it is likely that an unchanged squad will be named for the game. Stay tuned to Total Tranmere for a full Match Preview and Stat Pack including all the latest team news.