Goalkeeper Dean Gerken is loving his first experience of the possession football that new boss Paul Lambert has implemented since taking charge seven games ago.

The new style has earned five points, courtesy of one win and two draws, and although it still looks like a mammoth task to beat the drop into League One there have been plenty of encouraging signs about the front-foot approach preferred by the ex-Norwich manager.

For Gerken it means more responsibility as Town try to play out from the back, something rarely in evidence during the Mick McCarthy years as he looked to get the ball from back to front as quickly as possible, whereas the Lambert blueprint for survival preaches patience and possession.

Gerken said: “We’ve been using the ball so well in the games since the gaffer’s been here and probably not got what we deserved.

“It was a harder game last week against Wigan for us because as we begin to play more games in the gaffer’s preferred style — playing out from the back and a more possession-based game — the opposition are going to be aware of it and will try to stop us doing it.

“Wigan did it well. They laid traps for us and made it a bit sticky for us in certain situations, so it was important for us on the day to have — not a Plan B, but a roll-your-sleeves-up type of win.

“The boys were buzzing afterwards and you could see what it meant to everyone. It was a great result.”

Gerken has teamed up with Lambert for a second time after they were together at Colchester — and he has seen a change in his old boss.

“He has changed a bit,” he added. “He did a tremendous job at Colchester because he came into a club that was on a downer, with a depleted squad, after just being relegated from the Championship.

“He turned it around and had everyone pulling in the right direction again. That’s what he has done here. Everyone’s getting on with each other again and you saw it at our Christmas lunch at the training ground today.

“The atmosphere around the club has completely changed and it’s an enjoyable place to come to work each day and play football.

“But the way we’re playing at the moment is different to how we played back then at Colchester — I don’t think that style had even been invented back then!

“What he’s done is great for me because I find that as you get older you want new ideas to occupy your mind and learn something new.

“As far as I’m concerned learning keeps you young. We have meetings every day about the tactics and the way he wants us to play.

“He teaches us something new every single day. It’s brilliant and it’s stimulating for the mind because you have to work out certain things.

“Chambo, Skusey, the older heads in the team, are enjoying the fact that at an advanced stage in their careers they are still learning new stuff.

“You wouldn’t maybe think this team could be playing the kind of football we’re playing at the moment and that shows a tremendous amount of respect to the gaffer and what he is doing.

“He makes you feel like you’re a good player overnight and that’s a hard thing to do. I saw him do it at Colchester and I’m seeing him do it here again. It just shows how good he is and why he was appointed here.”

Asked how comfortable he feels within the new system, Gerken replied: “I’m not just comfortable with it, I prefer it because it means I’m involved in the game a lot more.

“If you take a goal-kick that’s you done, but now the keepers are an option, the same as any outfield player.

“I prefer it that way because I’m always in the game. I know that if I receive the ball I need to know where I’m going to pass it.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever done it so we’re not completely up to scratch with it. It’s a brilliant system and really enjoyable as well.

“Bravery — or stupidity — comes into it. If I pass the ball out and then get it back I need to know where the next pass is going to be.

“Unless someone on the opposition team does something completely out of the blue we know what we’re doing with the ball, instead of it being a guessing game.

“We have a meeting every day to look at tactics and show the various out-balls for every single player, including the keeper, rather than just booting it to an area of the pitch.

“Now we’re all looking for a team-mate who is going to have time to be able to bring it under control and do something positive with it.”

Photo: TWTD

Pecker added 20:25 - Dec 20 Hopefully the results will follow.
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Bildestoned added 21:02 - Dec 20 As much as we all love/loved Bart it may transpire that he simply can't play that way and may possibly be too long in the tooth to adjust. Just look at Hart and Man City. Certainly from my position behind the goal in the Sir Alf stand I know who looks the more comfortable keeper.
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ArnieM added 22:30 - Dec 20 I've always said Gerkin had a better command of GK basics than Bart, who “ lives” off his eyecatching instinct , reflex saves. However that aside , this report shows the stark difference between McCarthy's outdated tactics and Lamberts more forward thinking style of football. “ be careful what you wish for”. I'm glad Lambert is here now . I definately “ wished” for him at Town ( even when he was manager at scum). I just wish we'd had him from the summer. Town would definitely not be in this position now , and if we do get relegated it won't be down to Lambert!

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wilnisfan added 01:36 - Dec 21 Interesting insight into the workings of Lambert and how much he has important players on his side.
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Garv added 02:14 - Dec 21 Reading this makes me wonder why we wasted so many years under management who weren't interested in evolving and developing a style of play, while other clubs did and spent more money on players than us in the process. Incredible how enthusiastic Gerken is about a manager asking players to pass the ball and how new it all is.
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Dissboyitfc added 08:56 - Dec 21 I really love the fact we are passing the ball rather than just booting it up field! My biggest single gripe under MM was watching players launch the ball up the pitch without even lifting there heads to have a look! Simply awful to watch! I love this passing possession based tactics, in order for it to work though Gerkens kicking needs a lot of work. The old saying "cant teach an old dog new tricks" comes to mind. But it will all take time! COYB's

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Hegansheroes added 10:20 - Dec 21 Interesting. Really shows just how awful the football was under MM. Never want to see or hear that monotonous moron again.
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