Comment: Birmingham City fans must lay off Alex McLeish

Sep 30 2009 by Chris Lepkowski

Not all the time, perhaps, but many of the games, home and away, saw a tinkering of formation which caused consternation at 2.55pm among some fans, but still produced goals and results by 5pm.

Tony Mowbray explained at the time that it worked because midfield players attacking from wide and central areas were harder for defenders to deal with or mark than a conventional, rigid 4-4-2, where they generally know where to go due to its predictability.

The above won football matches at their respective level because they had better players than the opposition.

Formations are adapted to suit players’ strengths – not the other way around.

So when Bolton pitch up at a ground near you and snatch a victory, then they will do so because they have better players.

Johan Elmander, alone, cost more than Blues’ entire side yet he couldn’t find a place in Gary Megson’s starting line-up.

Formations can, of course, bring out more in certain players but in the main it will be a player’s ability or skill which brings victory.

Which is why Blues fans need to give Alex McLeish a break.

He went for a 4-5-1 – or a 4-4-1-1 with Lee Bowyer behind the front man if you prefer – because he works with these players every day, he knows their strengths and knows that for certain games it will be the best formation to try to get three points.

Blues lost on Saturday because they switched off at a set-piece for the first goal and lost their discipline for the second.