A NEW season will bring with it a new style and a new formation for the Blues as Simon Davies embarks on his first full campaign as manager.
Out has gone the 4-4-2 system Bobby Williamson favoured last term and in has come a fluid 4-3-3 formation, which City’s players have been adapting to during pre-season.
Davies has pledged to deliver attractive football this term and the sale of John Murphy last week has made the need to keep the ball on the deck even more imperative as Chester no longer have a recognised targetman.
Having learned his trade as a player under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, Davies grew up with a strict set of footballing principles – and he has vowed to stick by them as he begins to make his own mark as a manager.
“We are going to play attractive football and create chances,” promised Davies. “We hope the fans who have been coming continue to, and we’ll try to create a bigger fan base with results on the field.
“We have a duty to perform on the field and get results. Yes, the loyal fans will probably come anyway – but the more fringe fans need to come to see goals. That’s what we’ve got a duty to make sure happens.”
Chester’s team at Dagenham tomorrow almost picks itself and Davies admitted yesterday that the players had already been told what the starting XI will be. The only question mark surrounds Paul Linwood, who will be replaced by Kevin Roberts if he fails to recover from a back injury.
On his team’s new formation, Davies added: “I’m not saying it’s going to work overnight, but if you have a belief in a system, you persist with it until you get it right.
“If we keep chopping and changing, we will not get anything right.
“We’ve been creating chances against every team we’ve played against. The only thing we have to be careful of when we’ve got all these players running forward is we’ve got to make sure we’re shutting up shop at the other end.”
Three teams will start the League Two season on minus points. Luton have been docked a massive 30 points for misconduct and for failing to satisfy the league’s insolvency rules, while Rotherham were this week hit with a 17-point deduction for being unable to satisfy the normal conditions of Football League rules for exiting administration.
Bournemouth were last night due to hear whether they could begin the new season. League officials had not been satisfied with the viability of the new owners’ plans for the club. But even if the Cherries prove their finances are in order, they are still likely to be hit with a big points deduction.
