WANDERERS are hoping that the transfers they make over the rest of the January window will provide them more tactical flexibility, including the ability to switch to a back four.
Ian Evatt switched to a 4-4-2 diamond in the second half of Saturday’s 2-2 draw against , admitting it may be the best method to accommodate all of his central midfield skills at the moment.
The squad currently lacks a recognised left-back, however it is believed that one of the players being sought prior to the deadline can fill that position.
Wanderers are also searching for strikers who can provide more aerial danger, and have considered both loan and permanent possibilities in recent weeks.
Ian Evatt wants to stick with the possession game he’s utilised for the past four and a half years, but he also wants more freedom to adjust the shape of his team.
Following the Cambridge draw, he told The Bolton News: “We’re looking at other ways.
“Obviously, the modifications we can make in this time will provide us the flexibility to do so. Finally, we moved to four-diamond two. We have a lot of good midfielders at the moment.
“Maybe switching to a back four and four more narrower midfielders is the way forward? We’ve got some very talented boys in there. We can look at it.
“We won’t make any impulsive decisions. Eoin (Toal’s) return will be vital for us next week. Josh (Sheehan) coming back and demonstrating what he can do tonight was fantastic.
“But we will keep moving forward. It’s undoubtedly tough. As previously stated, we are not a million miles away.
Sheehan made his first Bolton appearance since early December, coming on in the second half, and believes the diamond midfield will be beneficial.
“Yeah, for me as long as I’m on the pitch I’m happy,” explained the player. “It definitely could suit us as a squad because we have a powerful midfield, and I believe that structure would suit us.
“That configuration, along with the 3-5-2, might be quite useful to us in the future. It may be one of those situations where teams expect us to do this, and if we can change into that even in the middle of the game, it could really confuse other teams and help us.”
Wanderers have generally recruited wing-backs in recent years, rather than full-backs, however both Gethin Jones and Josh Dacres-Cogley have played on the right side of a back four.
Szabi Schon has never played left-back before, and like Jordi Osei-Tutu and Randell Williams, he began as an offensive midfielder on the wing.
George Johnston has formerly played as a left-back but prefers to play centre-half.
