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Snodgrass will be given broader canvas for his creativity
NEIL WARNOCK plans to build his Leeds United side around Robert Snodgrass.
The Scottish international, with 12 goals to his name and a tally of assists already in double figures, has been United’s outstanding player of the season.
But Warnock believes United can get even more out of Snodgrass by handing the 24-year-old the free attacking role that he filled in the second half against Doncaster on Saturday.
Speaking exclusively to the Yorkshire Post yesterday in his new office at Thorp Arch, Warnock said: “When you play against good teams, they put two men on Robert Snodgrass.
“I would certainly do that if in charge of an opposing team against Leeds. You can mark him out of the game on the wing.
“The difference with the role I asked him to play in the second half is you can’t mark him.
“The second goal, when he crossed from wide on the left (for Adam Clayton to score), proved that. Doncaster couldn’t pick him up in time.
“Snodgrass is a player who can do anything. He creates goals, he scores goals and he gives defenders a hard time. I want him on the ball as much as anyone.
“I remember his performance against QPR (last Christmas when Leeds beat Warnock’s side 2-0) was outstanding. That is how I see him.
“What I also want to see is a situation where three out of the front four know they can interchange. That is what I love to see. I will be looking for a lot more of that in the coming weeks.”
Warnock visited the United dressing room ahead of kick-off against Rovers but then planned to leave team matters to caretaker manager Neil Redfearn.
That plan had to be shelved, however, as a poor Leeds display in the opening 45 minutes left Warnock knowing changes had to be made.
He said: “It was really frustrating being in the stands. After 10 minutes, I was really wishing I had put my name down on the sheet to be able to be in the dugout as there was a space on it.
“The little things were what I was desperate to change, maybe the ones the punters don’t notice.
“For example, in the first half we defended a corner and (winger Andros) Townsend was inside our six-yard box. This meant we had one lad, (Ross) McCormack, up front with everyone else back.
“I got hold of Townsend at half-time and said, ‘Who told you to go there on corners? I want you on the halfway line on one side and McCormack on the other’. That way the opposition have to bring three back, which is what happened.
“When we did change things, I thought it worked a lot better. And that’s without the chance to show the lads a few things on the training ground. I expect us to be better at Portsmouth (next Saturday) and a lot better the week after against Southampton. We are going to be working hard over the next couple of weeks.”
Along with handing Snodgrass a role similar to the one Adel Taarabt proved so devastating in as QPR romped to the Championship title last term, Warnock also envisages ditching the 4-4-2 formation United have employed in all but a handful of games this season.
The new Leeds chief said: “The fans will have to trust me with formations as I am not convinced we can play 4-4-2 with the players we have got and expect to win games.
“The main thing I can tell the fans is they can come to games knowing the players wearing the Leeds shirt will be willing to run through brick walls for 90 minutes.
“There won’t be anyone putting a Leeds shirt on giving less than 100 per cent for 90 minutes under me, I can promise everyone that.”
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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Comments
There are 3 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
leedsinmyblood
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 04:49 PMI was pleased to read Warnock saying..... “The main thing I can tell the fans is they can come to games knowing the players wearing the Leeds shirt will be willing to run through brick walls for 90 minutes. “There won’t be anyone putting a Leeds shirt on giving less than 100 per cent for 90 minutes under me, I can promise everyone that.” Great appointment!
Headingleywhites
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 01:01 PMLeeds were outplayed for large parts of the game by the bottom side in the division and got a fortunate 99th minute winner. There needs to be a lot of work between now and the end of the season to bring back the 40% who have not renewed STs for very good reasons. It's a decent appointment and there will ,of course, be a honeymoon period. A lot of dead wood needs shifting although who will take them on is anyones guess. Good luck to Warnock and try and keep Kenneth from selling your few remaining assets.
stantheman1
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 11:54 AMBest thing thats happened at Leeds since Howard Wilkinson !!
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