YORK City manager Martin Foyle is considering fielding Richard Brodie, Michael Rankine and Michael Gash together in attack next season.
The three players have never been named in the same starting line-up for the Minstermen and, in fact, only featured on the pitch together in seven of City’s 54 league and cup fixtures last season, totalling just 98 minutes in game time.
But, with Blue Square Premier play-off final winners Oxford United demonstrating the effectiveness of a three-pronged strikeforce in their 3-1 victory over the Minstermen at Wembley last month, Foyle could consider a tactical rethink during 2010/11.
Foyle did experiment with 4-3-3 briefly during the penultimate month of the last campaign, but elected to play on-loan winger Courtney Pitt in one of the roles rather than pitching three recognised centre forwards alongside one another.
The City manager, who has favoured 4-4-2 for long periods of his Bootham Crescent reign, said: “People can get carried away with formations and get all scientific.
“I like a back four, but the rest is quite flexible and it’s good to look at different things.
“You have to be versatile and adaptable and I would like to have a look at Michael Gash, Richard Brodie and Michael Rankine as a front three.”
Foyle paid £55,000 for Gash and a smaller fee for Rankine last summer, but added that he does not expect to be buying any players as he looks to continue his squad-strengthening plans for next season.
The City chief also expects Gash and Rankine to start the new season in peak physical condition after question marks over their fitness levels when they first arrived at the club.
Speaking about the remote prospect of cash signings this time around, Foyle said: “I thought it was important to get Michael Gash here, and paying £10,000 and offering Craig Farrell was the only way I could prise Michael Rankine away from Rushden.
“I am sure Gashy will be like a new signing next season.
“Both him and Ranks have weight targets for when they come back after the summer and I will be disappointed if they don’t meet them.”
Meanwhile, former Histon captain Matt Langston has joined Blue Square Bet Premier rivals Eastbourne Borough.
Released Mansfield defender Paul Heckingbottom has moved to Gateshead and Fleetwood Town have signed ex-Accrington Stanley right-back Peter Cavanaugh
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment