Bolton FanZoner Gareth McCann questions the lack of varying tactics from Wanderers boss Owen Coyle.
I have a friend who's a Burnley fan. Honestly I do. He's not a close friend, mind. He calls Owen Coyle "Plan A" because, in his opinion, Coyle has no Plan B. My Burnley pal says that if Coyle's first plan doesn't work, then he tries it again, and again.
I sometimes wonder if my acquaintance was one of the Turf Moor faithful that labelled Coyle "God" but I haven't had the heart to ask him.
The number two thing that annoys me about premiership managers is those that are devoted to their adopted style of football above all else. This annoys me just as much when it's Wenger as when it's Pulis, or even Allardyce.
Football can be played in a variety of ways and strict adherence to one style creates teams that are unadaptable and matches that are predictable. That is Plan A management. (The number 1 annoyance is switching clubs and taking all their old players with them - the current West Ham squad looks like the Bolton Wanderers side from 1995.)
Talking tactics
In recent games, however, the players and formations and tactics that the Wanderers have employed have shown that this derogatory nickname is not true, if it ever was. I'd like to be able to pronounce it as evidence of Coyle's, if not god-like genius, certainly tactical nous, but I'm not sure I can.
Over the last few games we have had to adapt the 4-5-1 system that has brought us not that much success this season, but is the formation that we have used on the occasions we have played quite well. We have moved Tim Ream from centreback to defensive midfielder in a 4-1-4-1 on occasion, and have played striker Ivan Klasnic as a deep-lying forward in a 4-4-1-1.
However, the reasons for this have not simply been a reaction to the perceived strengths and weaknesses of opposing teams, but also a reaction to our dearth of midfield options. A spate of injuries have left us with literally enough midfielders for the first team.
These tactical switches have not just been injury caused. I may have mentioned it before but Bolton are not having a great season. Despite Owen Coyle winning Manager of the Month for March on the back of three straight wins, we could not muster any sort of performance during our last home game against Fulham. Coyle made three changes at and just after halftime that for a while looked like they may have at least resulted in a consolation goal.
Obviously the quality of decisions made is a big factor in football management but another important skill is being brave enough to make decisions in the first place, especially under the pressure there is at the wrong end of the table. Whether it's been dropping Kevin Davies or reinstating him, or giving Riley and Alonso their chances, Coyle has shown that he is not afraid to make big decisions. And over the next few games I'm sure he will have ample opportunity to demonstrate that skill. These decisions don't have to prove Coyle to be a footballing genius, or even a god. But it would be great if they did.
