Lee Clark: Why Not Be Flexible?

This season Birmingham City fans have seen plenty of changes to formations and player positions alike, Lee Clark has been speaking to the Birmingham Mail on the subject of player flexibility.

Traditionally, a set up was set in stone, obviously times are changing. So often you now watch the pundits on TV pick apart a tactical set up with all the movement predictions and marking systems, such things really change the shape of a midfield in particular.

Lee Clark said that he doesn’t see why players should be pigeon-holed to one position or style of player. This really is probably his message to the players in training everyday they are there, ‘we need you to do a bit of everything’ and I think he is right to be doing so. With the squad as small as ever it is a real bonus to have plenty of cover for positions by slightly fewer players than you would obviously like.

The boss is also of the opinion that the more positions a player can play makes him much more attractive to managers when they are looking to potentially sign them up. A True statement no doubt.

The past two good results have seen a switch from 3-5-2 to a 3-4-3 system, a system Clark says is similar to what Everton are using now. Well call me predictable but seeing as this switch has worked wonderfully thus far, it would be a shame to see it changed.

With that being said, I’m sure Lee Clark is best placed after seeing the lads in training and reviewing the next opponent to be picking the appropriate means of taking points from our next fixture.

Players like Lingard, Shinnie and Ferguson are all examples of the kind of players who will play several different roles.