I’m Shaw about 4-3-3 says boss

A number of Worksop Town fans have expressed concerns over the 4-3-3 system utilised by Shaw, despite a positive start to the season that has yielded seven points from a possible 12.

The main sticking point appears to be a perceived lack of width, and no traditional wingers in the side.

But speaking after a 4-2 win over Matlock Town on Monday, Shaw put forward a defence of his tactics.

“I’m a bit frustrated, as managers get, with some of the comments about the formation,” he said, four games into his reign as Sandy Lane boss.

“Everyone is entitled to their own thoughts about what needs to be done.”

“But I’m not going to be changing it.”

“People are saying that wingers are the way forward, but you look at modern football today and a lot of teams make it difficult in midfield and overload, and then have players who score goals rather people who supply.”

“We get our width from our full-backs.”

“To answer anyone’s question about wingers, we do have wingers, they’re called our full-backs.”

Shaw maintains that a midfield trio allows him to field three strikers, who can cause more trouble for the opposition defence.

And so far the statistics appear to back the manager’s belief, with 10 goals scored in four games, and all of them by strikers.

He said: “We’ve got three forwards instead of two forwards and two wingers.”

“I’m thinking more along the lines of who’s going to get goals and where from, rather than just who’s going to put a cross into the box.”

“I have to give a little somewhere to get a little bit more elsewhere, and the extra I’m getting is three strikers who are free scoring.”

“If we weren’t scoring any goals then we’d look at it and ask why isn’t it working.”

At the other end of the field Worksop have looked shaky, and Shaw admits they need to cut out the errors.

“The goals we’re conceding are from mistakes,” he said.

“We’re a young, naive squad and I think we’re going to give away a lot of chances.”

“It’s not for want of me moaning and groaning at them.”

“But we’ve got a lot of energy, quality and desire.”

Tigers host promotion hopefuls AFC Fylde on Saturday at Sandy Lane.