Leeds United Football Club - Gray Considers Changes
United caretaker boss Eddie Gray has hinted that he may be ready to change the team formation to help create more chances.
Gray accepts that the current 4-5-1 formation has not presented lone striker Mark Viduka with too many chances since they adopted it, but it had cut down on the number of goals The Whites are conceding, giving them a chance of sneaking a win, particularly away from home.
With so many players unavailable to him, and especially with the likelihood of target man Mark missing the Southampton game through personal circumstances, a change may be forthcoming at St Mary's.
"It's not my favourite formation," said Gray.
"We'll have a think about going back to 4-4-2, as we have done later on in games.
"But the first thing we had to do when I came back here was to get a bit of belief back into the players that they can play without conceding lots of goals in games.
"I know against Newcastle we were under a lot of pressure, but we only conceded one goal when probably it could have been four or five."
"But at the moment we're not creating enough chances, which is a big concern. To win games you need to score goals and since I came back to the club we've not created enough chances and you've got to have quality to do that."
Alan Smith may be asked to play upfront alone against The Saints, or, could be partnered by one of Michael Bridges or James Milner. Young forward Simon Johnson has also returned to the club after a loan spell with Blackpool, and he too could feature in some way.
Defensively Gray is also forced into change this weekend. Michael Duberry's hamstring injury will break up the solid partnership he has built in recent games with 19-year-old centre-half Matthew Kilgallon.
Gray is exploring all options to solve his defensive conundrum with Lucas Radebe still on the sidelines though his own hamstring injury.
Along with a potential recall for Zoumana Camara, one option could see Gary Kelly playing at centre-half with Frazer Richardson - unlucky to lose his place when Kelly returned to fitness again - back in at right-back. Kelly did play a few games under O'Leary in the centre of defence, and even Ian Harte has played there for the Republic of Ireland before.
Whatever Gray chooses, he is certain to keep Southampton's outgoing boss and former United star Gordon Strachan guessing!
United caretaker boss Eddie Gray has hinted that he may be ready to change the team formation to help create more chances.
Gray accepts that the current 4-5-1 formation has not presented lone striker Mark Viduka with too many chances since they adopted it, but it had cut down on the number of goals The Whites are conceding, giving them a chance of sneaking a win, particularly away from home.
With so many players unavailable to him, and especially with the likelihood of target man Mark missing the Southampton game through personal circumstances, a change may be forthcoming at St Mary's.
"It's not my favourite formation," said Gray.
"We'll have a think about going back to 4-4-2, as we have done later on in games.
"But the first thing we had to do when I came back here was to get a bit of belief back into the players that they can play without conceding lots of goals in games.
"I know against Newcastle we were under a lot of pressure, but we only conceded one goal when probably it could have been four or five."
"But at the moment we're not creating enough chances, which is a big concern. To win games you need to score goals and since I came back to the club we've not created enough chances and you've got to have quality to do that."
Alan Smith may be asked to play upfront alone against The Saints, or, could be partnered by one of Michael Bridges or James Milner. Young forward Simon Johnson has also returned to the club after a loan spell with Blackpool, and he too could feature in some way.
Defensively Gray is also forced into change this weekend. Michael Duberry's hamstring injury will break up the solid partnership he has built in recent games with 19-year-old centre-half Matthew Kilgallon.
Gray is exploring all options to solve his defensive conundrum with Lucas Radebe still on the sidelines though his own hamstring injury.
Along with a potential recall for Zoumana Camara, one option could see Gary Kelly playing at centre-half with Frazer Richardson - unlucky to lose his place when Kelly returned to fitness again - back in at right-back. Kelly did play a few games under O'Leary in the centre of defence, and even Ian Harte has played there for the Republic of Ireland before.
Whatever Gray chooses, he is certain to keep Southampton's outgoing boss and former United star Gordon Strachan guessing!