The Lions boss has used a wing-back system in the club’s last two matches but says the philosophy remains the same regardless of the team’s shape
JOE Edwards said he was “trying to put goals on the pitch” by deploying a back three formation against Huddersfield.
The Millwall boss has switched between a back three and back four depending on the game during his seven matches in charge so far.
The return of the back three allowed Zian Flemming to start behind strikers Tom Bradshaw and Kevin Nisbet, the first time this system has been used since Gary Rowett was in charge for the 3-0 win over Rotherham United in September.
Edwards believes the system would help the Lions scoring chances against the Terriers on Saturday, with the match ultimately finishing 1-1 after a late Huddersfield penalty.
Asked about playing with the wing-back system for both the Leicester City and Huddersfield games, the Millwall head coach told NewsAtDen: “If I’m honest, it goes hand-in-hand with playing a lot of games in a short space of time with varied opponents. I’ve obviously changed system a few times since we’ve been in. And I would be more than happy to admit that I’m still looking and sussing out what is the best system for this group.
“What I would say is in terms of styles and principles, I’m not really one to get hung up on the system itself. If you’re clear on what your style and key principles are, the formation and structure of the team shouldn’t change the look of it completely. What I would say is I went with a back five and when you’re looking at opponents of Ipswich and Leicester’s level and going to play them away from home, you can obviously look at the defensive stability that the strength that that system provides.
“But what I would point out about the game against Huddersfield at home, I was looking for a bit more continuity as we had just played that formation three days before. What I was doing at the top end of the pitch by putting two strikers and a no.10 in Zian Flemming on, I was trying to put goals on the pitch.
“Between Bradshaw and Flemming last year they’ve got over 30 goals and Kevin Nisbet has been in a goalscoring run of form. And I felt that getting the balance of getting all three on the pitch together and then still ensuring we had enough protection and stability behind them, I felt that was the best way to go.
“And I would echo that in future. If we go with a back five again and you have someone like Brooke Norton-Cuffy at right-wing back, you do slightly relieve the defensive responsibilities they have. They have to be less diligent in their recovery because they have a third centre-back behind them. And I knew at some point we would have Joe Bryan on the pitch and we’ve been looking forward to seeing the impact he has on the team.
Although people can look at the back five and wing-backs and look at the defensive connotations of that, I’m actually saying you can be very aggressive and attack with that still and that was my approach on Saturday.”
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