Doncaster Rovers: Grant McCann's praise as squad learns adaptability

He may be steadfast in his belief that his Plan A will work but that is not stopping Grant McCann preparing his Doncaster Rovers squad for every eventuality.
Grant McCannGrant McCann
Grant McCann

McCann raised a few eyebrows on his arrival when he declared he would not be wavering in his faith for his preferred system.

But in recent weeks the Rovers boss has instructed his team to switch from his favoured 4-3-3 during games with a good deal of success.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And he says his players will only get better at adapting to changes within games '“ even if 4-3-3 will remain his number one choice.

'In 95 per cent of the games we've played this season, we've played a 4-3-3.

'That is the system the boys know inside out and we work on.

'They also know if we need to change to win a game, if we need change within a game to get a foothold.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

'It's not about us changing for one team or another. We change to get us a foot in a game. And we can do it very easily.

'We work on it constantly. The boys are well drilled to change into two, three, four different systems.'

McCann praised his players for having the football intelligence to take on the information he is giving to them and showing they have done so by carrying it out on the pitch.

'We've got that flexibility but you also need a clever group to do it,' he said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

'It has to be a group that is going to be willing to take messages.

'Maybe that was a reason Mallik Wilks was off it for a couple of weeks, because we were giving him different messages, or too much instruction.

'But we simplified it for him last week.

'And the rest of the group, have adapted to different systems and conditions.'