Latest Birmingham City news from BirminghamLive includes Wayne Rooney on his planned tactical set-up
The three cornerstones of Wayne Rooney’s intended Birmingham squad are a playmaking goalkeeper, adaptable full-backs, and fearless midfielders.
With his tactical lineup against Middlesbrough on Saturday, Birmingham City’s new manager surprised the crowd. The 4-3-3 configuration is very different from what supporters and even members of the team are used to. It changed into an ultra-attacking 2-3-5 shape when the Blues held possession.
Rooney was unhappy and disgruntled when he left The Riverside, but he wasn’t discouraged by the concept he steadfastly adheres to. Rooney told everyone things wouldn’t be ideal before he even stepped off the coach on Teesside.
However, how does flawlessness appear on the tactics board? According to Rooney, full-backs can vary in their role based on the players as midfielders or wingers, or whether your midfielders are playing as tens.
“There is a lot of rotation in what you do, but ultimately you end up in the same shape. I’ve done it at both of my clubs. In possession you end up in the same shape, it’s just what personnel ends up where. It’s a lot of moving pieces. Once you understand it, in your mind it’s a lot easier to execute.”
Rooney emphasised the importance of the full-backs in his system, but the two players who end up either side of anchorman Krystian Bielik are equally pivotal. Former boss John Eustace wanted solid, dependable players in his midfield, whereas Rooney is happy for his midfielders to take risks.
Ivan Sunjic and Gary Gardner struggled to play the line-breaking passes Blues needed against Middlesbrough. Jordan James and Juninho Bacuna might get the chance against Hull City this evening.
“They want to learn, which is the main thing,” the Blues boss said. “That is where we need to be patient. We are going to finish as high up the table as we can, but we knew there was going to be a period where, me coming in and moving on from John – who did a great job – to get a different way of playing, we were going to need patience.
“We have been doing a lot of small-sided possession games and getting them used to taking the ball under pressure in tight areas. From the first day we came in to today, the difference is clear to see. The players are handling the ball better. And that will take time, of course.”
Rooney is changing the way every player thinks and acts on a football pitch. Even John Ruddy, who celebrated his 37th birthday yesterday, is being given new roles and responsibilities.Ryan Allsop
Ruddy is now expected to start attacks. , the Brummie who will keep goal for Hull at St Andrew’s, performed the ‘Ederson role’ for Rooney at Derby County.
“The signing of Ryan Allsop has changed the dynamic of how they play,” Rooney added. He is a footballing goalkeeper. I had him at Derby County and he’s doing the exact same at Hull.
“The way they can dictate where the backline is by their decision-making, whether you play short or long is the reason your full-backs or your wingers are high and wide. If you have got a keeper who can hit those balls, the back-line can drop off and you can start playing short or through the line
“I am doing a lot of work with the goalkeepers here to try and change their mindset on that. It’s not natural, sometimes, for goalkeepers. But I am aware if my keepers can’t get to that then we have to adapt.”
Project has been the buzzword at St Andrew’s since Knighthead bought Blues in July. Rooney, now based and invested in Birmingham, is the man trusted to oversee it.
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