Front role brings the best out of Kapo

Nov 10 2007 By Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

IAN Atkins said that Olivier Kapo's front role does bring out the best in him.

Debate has been raging as to whether Blues boss Steve Bruce should adopt a traditional 4-4-2, with Garry O'Connor or Mikael Forssell alongside Cameron Jerome.

"Kapo, behind Jerome floating about, is better there than being stuck out on the left," said Atkins, who made more than 100 appearances for Blues and guided them to promotion in 1992 from the old Third Division as Terry Cooper's assistant.

"When he drifts into that hole he is a danger and I think the 1/1 with four behind in midfield is a sensible way to get a foothold in a game at this level.

"It's not being negative - they all do it abroad - the player in that space is the focal point of attack.

"Get the ball into him and then the wide players join in, it is a very difficult system to combat."