We’ve got our tactics sorted

Aug 6 2008 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

TRANMERE boss Ronnie Moore insists that he is satisfied his players have mastered the mechanics of the new tactical approach they take into the League One campaign this Saturday.

He is also confident there is sufficient energy and talent to make the 4-3-3 system work. But Moore acknowledges that the opening fixture at Swindon Town marks the start of the true, acid test of the changes in playing pattern and personnel he has made this summer.

Even so, the manager could hardly be more satisfied with the progress of a pre-season programme that finished, for the majority of the senior players, with a confident 1-0 win over Championship visitors Blackpool at Prenton Park on Saturday.

Victory was secured by a high-class goal started and finished by new signing Charlie Barnett.

Moore said: “Football-wise, the performance was everything I could have expected. The passing and movement we saw in the first half was good as anything we have had here for a long time. The goal was brilliant. Charlie Barnett has a talent that excites me.”

“I think our supporters appreciate what we are trying to do. We are not looking to play too many long balls. We are looking to pass it.

“There maybe one or two times when your heart goes in your mouth, when we take little chances at the back and maybe get punished. But it is the way we have to do it. I think we have got to get the ball down and play.”

Tranmere dominated Blackpool in midfield, where Barnett, George O’Callaghan and Steve Jennings out-manoeuvred the visitors.

Moore added: “There is bags of energy with those three players in midfield. We are a young side with more legs and more energy than we had last season.

“When Charlie Barnett picks up the ball he can motor – and nine times out of 10 he picks out the right past. The midfielders know what we want and the strikers know what we want.”

Rovers have a long roll-call of injury issues to resolve before Moore can select a squad for Swindon. The most serious are to goalkeeper Danny Coyne (calf strain), winger Chris Shuker (knee) and striker Chris Greenacre (calf), all of whom are doubtful.

Also missing against Blackpool, but expected to be in contention, are striker Ian Moore (back strain), full-back Godwin Antwi (infection) and midfielder Gareth Edds (hamstring).

The Prenton Park manager puts his faith in goalkeeping coach John Achterberg providing reliable cover for Coyne, as he has in the last two games, although second-year trainee Peter Kennedy could find himself on the bench at the County Ground. Moore said: “Pre-season results count for nothing. It’s the real ball at Swindon next weekend. That’s when we start and we have got to try and take this winning streak into the league games.”