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Aluko: There’s Too Much Depth in Our Squad to Play Every Game
Tuesday, 22nd Feb 2022 11:31

Sone Aluko admits players always want to play every game but knows that with a squad as strong as Town’s that’s not going to be possible.

While manager Kieran McKenna has been consistent in selecting the same keeper, back three and wing-backs since he has come to the club, the Northern Irishman has switched his forward players on a match-by-match basis.

Aluko, 33, knows that that’s going to be the case given the quality and variety of attackers McKenna has at his disposal.

“You’re always going to want to play every game, but you can’t sign for Ipswich and look at the squad and think that’s going to be possible. There’s too much depth in our squad to play every game,” he told TWTD.

“So when a player’s not at full freshness, it doesn’t make sense to keep playing them because someone else will come in and have as much impact and is able to have the same intensity, the team will probably play the same way and then we can be intense for longer through the season.

“So when teams are tiring at the back end of the season, we’re going to pick up form, have our momentum hopefully and it’s going to be a big factor. You only have to look at Manchester City, who have a huge squad, and how they do it.

“I think that’s the nature of football. If you want to have an intense style of play, you have to rotate the team, especially when it’s Saturday-Tuesday.

“The defence is slightly different. Once you have a run of clean sheets and have set up organisation, it’s more a cultural thing, you just keep that same back four, back five.

“But attacking players, you’re always going to have a change because you’re doing a lot of intense pressing, a lot of intense running.”

Having played wide more regularly earlier in the season, the Nigeria international, who has scored three goals in 17 starts and 11 sub appearances for the Blues, has usually played as a number 10 under McKenna.

“Tactically the formation’s changed so our start positions are different on the pitch, our pressing’s different,” he said.

“My role has changed. Everyone’s role has changed. I’ve been more central since he came in, which kind of changed just before he came in. I think the last couple of games before he became manager he watched me playing centrally, so I’ve been a lot more involved in the build-up of the play.

“Going through the pitch, I’m a lot more involved in the build-up of the play rather than before I was more of a winger closer to the end of the move. So I’d wait for the ball to get to me before, whereas now a touch the ball a lot more, which I enjoy.

“But it’s a role I’ve played previously at other clubs, so it was easy to transition back to that kind of role.

“Do I prefer that role? The way I play, I’m probably more effective but I wouldn’t say being out wide I like it less than I do as a number 10, but I get more touches of the ball, so I have more impact on the game playing that way.

“I’ll probably end up scoring fewer goals than if I was out wide but I’d probably play better more often.

“When you’re out wide, it’s more one-v-one, you versus whatever defender you’re playing against, but this way I can play better in more ways than I was playing on the wing before.”


Photo: Matchday Images



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Guthrum added 12:03 - Feb 22
It seems that McKenna has managed the remarkable feat of getting ambitious football players onside with (rational) squad rotation!
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Stato added 12:08 - Feb 22
I wish more of our fans would accept this truth and drop the whole ancient idea that you never change a winning team
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Orraman added 12:11 - Feb 22
According to earlier reports from Sone there does appear to be a great squad togetherness and this means a great deal as just one moaner can upset the team rapport. Sone also appears to be on the same wavelength as Kieran regarding team selection. Providing there are no serious injuries or suspensions then the current defence/midfield should remain as it is.
Kieran seems very astute in sussing out our opponents weaknesses and the front three are being shuffled around to exploit those weaknesses. Another benefit of this is that opponents just never know what to expect from our attacking formation unlike the rigid formation of Cook. It would appear from Sone's comments that whichever 3 from 6 are selected game by game, the other 3 will offer their support and as we have seen at least 2 of them will get minutes from the bench to maintain match fitness levels. Happy club - Happy days
5

Pettabelieveit added 13:45 - Feb 22
Agreed BossMan
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SussexTractor added 15:48 - Feb 22
Kieran McKenna is a much better tactician than Paul Cook. Cook would play the entirely predictable 4-2-3-1 formation which works for pacey teams like Fulham but does not work for ITFC. Keeping the opposition guessing as to which front 2 strikers (not one upfront) they will face, has played handsome dividends and it also means the substitutions of forwards, has a greater impact in disrupting the oppositions defence.
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midastouch added 17:41 - Feb 22
AC Milan (arguably the best team in Europe then) had a spell in the 90s where they couldn't decide if to start Leonardo or Boban (as I used to watch a lot of Italian football in those days when it was on Channel 4). It reminds me a bit of our selection headache between Chaplin and Celina. Not a bad problem to have though having the choice between two quality players like that in League One! Just shows that we do have some very good strength in depth at this level.
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