Defensive shuffle is part of plan to create flexibility
CHRIS Wilder wants his back three to be flexible to move into various different roles, which is why we saw plenty of shuffling among the centre-backs in Wednesday night’s defeat to Barnsley.
Dael Fry and Paddy McNair made their first starts of the new campaign alongside Anfernee Dijksteel in a backline which, personnel-wise at least, was more akin to what we had become used to seeing last season.
Tactically it started differently, with Dijksteel in the centre of the three and Fry to the left.
Throughout the summer Wilder has been clear in his aspirations to have more balance by fielding a left-footer on that side of the back three.
As such, Fry has had to sit on the bench for the first two league games while Marc Bola has played the leftsided role with new signing Darragh Lenihan preferred in the centre for his leadership and orchestrating abilities.
In the cup clash with Barnsley, Fry started on the left, then switched briefly to the right before eventually settling back into the central role he played so often last term.
With a key game against Sheffield United coming for which any new recruits are unlikely, as well as other unique challenges Boro will face over the course of the season, Wilder admitted the cup game was an ideal opportunity to experiment.
He said: “Dael can play left and played there a bit during pre-season. Anf can play left and right and
Paddy has played right tonight and left all last season.
“They’re versatile players and I thought their play and their attitude was really good.
“It sometimes doesn’t help Dael from the middle to get out of defence because it can expose him from a defensive point of view and makes him defend one versus
one. “On the ball he’s fabulous, totally committed, he didn’t lose a header all night - but you also want him to be better at certain aspects.
“We want Anf to be better with the ball too, so that’s why he played through the middle.
“You know what you get with Paddy. We’re open to flipping it around and they might have to do that if we have certain situations we have to deal with.”
The positives of balance are seen more when Boro are in possession and attacking, the issue of a stronger foot not one which massively impacts them when defending.
With a stronger opponent in Sheffield United on Sunday it will be interesting to see if Wilder sticks with Bola for the balance or looks to shore up his backline with Fry.
They’re versatile players, and I thought their play and their attitude was really
good.
Chris Wilder