Shrewsbury Town boss Sam Ricketts calls for cool heads
Sam Ricketts is looking for cool Shrewsbury Town heads to guide his side through difficult spells during matches.
Town have found themselves behind in three of their last four matches, although they only went on to lose one of those – on Boxing Day against Rotherham.
Ricketts admits, particularly during a disappointing first half in the draw at Bolton Wanderers on Sunday, that a lack of composure is a sign of inexperience in sections of his squad.
He said: “We started (at Bolton) really well. The first five minutes, I thought ‘here we go – exactly what we spoke about’.
“We had a chance and didn’t quite take it, and another and didn’t take it.
“And through our naivety – We’re still a young side with some who’ve played a vast amount of games and some who haven’t – maybe in those instances in getting someone to take hold of the game with calmness and just relax.
“We need to get a run of possession and not just keep giving the ball away after two passes every time, as it gives the impetus to them.
“It’s me nitpicking because the group have been excellent this year and fought in games whether we’re winning or coming back to win.
“The commitment from players can’t ever be questioned, I’m just pushing them on because I think there’s more in there.”
The Town boss began this season using a 3-5-2 formation, but switched to a 3-4-3 a couple of months in, a change which yielded impressive wins against Sunderland and Peterborough.
Fejiri Okenabirhie has been the lone striker in recent weeks, while Jason Cummings, Daniel Udoh and Callum Lang – in the brief time he was fit – have also occupied it. Dave Edwards and Shaun Whalley have been the main pair cast to support the frontman.
Asked if it can be a difficult role for a striker, Ricketts replied: “Not really, an awful lot of teams play with one up front.
“We’re not at Premier League level but Chelsea have (Tammy) Abraham, Liverpool have (Roberto) Firmino, some players prefer it – I know a number of strikers who prefer playing one up top.
“Obviously players come and join in around them. You need certain attributes to play it and bring others into play but no, I don’t see it as a downside at all.”
