So uncertain when the new owners arrive, says Jimmy
land, they will change formations.
“But there are always little things you are surprised by and we can’t give the players everything, we can only prepare them so much.
“Certain things will happen on the pitch that we can’t prepare for and they will have to make decisions for themselves, to resolve it for themselves. That’s why you want good players who can handle those little changes.”
Given the relative success of the 3-5-2 formation against Plymouth, is it something Burton supporters can expect to see more regularly? Apparently, yes.
“I won’t be shy about changing formations,” said Hasselbaink.
“We’ve always had in the back of our minds that we need a second formation. We’ve not really been able to work on it as much as we wanted.
“It will be something in the future we’ll look at. We want to get stronger and more comfortable with it. Once we think we are comfortable, you will see it more.
“At the beginning of the season, I said that I wanted to have a formation in which I could play two strikers and that formation (3-5-2) gives me that opportunity.”
JIMMY Floyd Hasselbaink has recalled the “uncertainty” felt by players at a club which is the subject of a big-money takeover.
Such deals have been in the news in the last week with the sale of Newcastle United to a Saudi Arabianbacked consortium.
Burton Albion manager Hasselbaink was playing for Chelsea when Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.
The then manager, Claudio Ranieri, was handed funds to strengthen the side and, after passing his 32nd birthday, Hasselbaink found others ahead of him in the manager’s thinking – but he continued to score goals.
“In my experience, it was exciting but there were also a lot of uncertainties,” recalled Hasselbaink.
“At that moment, Ranieri was there. A lot of new players came in. Obviously, the new owners wanted to stamp their intent and show the direction they wanted to go in. That’s what Abramovich did.
“You are thinking about your future, about what is going to happen. Do they want me to go?
“Am I going to be part of this? In my case, Ranieri said that I could go but I didn’t want to. I wanted to stay, I had another two years left.”
The Dutchman’s response to the situation was precisely along the lines of his regular advice to players, as a manager.
“It was just one of those things. There’s uncertainty but it’s just head down, work hard and make sure you cement your place, make it hard for them to go past you,” he said.
He was reminded that he managed to be top scorer in the season of the takeover despite all that was going on around him. There was a broad smile.
“Of course! You make it sound like you’re surprised,” he told his questioner at his press conference on Thursday.
“I was top scorer that year and I didn’t play every match because he brought in other strikers.
“At the end of the season, when there were important matches, I was always in the team.
“If you want to stay at the top you have to be mentally strong and believe in yourself. Then, when you get opportunities, you have to take them.
“It wasn’t easy but I made sure when I got an opportunity I did a good job for the team.”
Hasselbaink moved on the following year, to Middlesbrough, having scored 91 goals in 177 matches for Chelsea, and finished playing, aged 36, with Cardiff City in 2008.
2006:
International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed confirmed Pakistan had withdrawn fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif from their squad for the ICC Champions Trophy following positive drug tests.
2011:
English driver Dan Wheldon, 33, was killed in a crash at the Las Vegas Indy 300.
2014:
Former France, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur defender William Gallas retired at the age of 37.
2016:
Munster head coach Anthony Foley, 42, died at the team hotel in Paris before their European Champions Cup tie against Racing 92.
2018:
Wales beat the Republic of Ireland 1-0 in their Nations League match in Dublin.