Koeman cool on Carroll threat

  • by Staff Writer
  • Tuesday, 10th February 2015

Ronald Koeman admits his tactical approach to Wednesday's clash with West Ham depends much upon the potential inclusion of one player.

Southampton's 51-year-old Dutch manager admitted today that if Andy Carroll plays at St Mary's on Wednesday, his entire game plan will change - due to the distinct styles which he believes West Ham employ when either with or without the big target man.

According to Koeman, whose team are currently third in the Premier League having enjoyed a fantastic season so far, the Hammers are far more likely to play direct should Carroll feature in the side.

However he admitted that Sam Allardyce's side have the ability to mix it up and play more possession-based football - as was the case against Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground on Sunday afternoon.

"It'll be a difficult game. I watched the game last Sunday and I think they played very well and were physically strong," he said during this morning's pre-match press conference.

"Much depends on whether they start with [Andy] Carroll, as with him they can play a little bit more direct. [On Sunday] they showed they can play good football without him. It was difficult but they had very good opportunities to kill the game and very a little bit unlucky to only get one point.

"West Ham always have options to play in a different style. What you have to do as a manager is to play with the best qualities the players have. The easiest way to attack is a long ball - like we do. Sometimes we play a long ball to [Graziano] Pelle because in one pass, you're close to the opponent's box. Then you can begin pressing your opponent.

"I always prefer to play football but sometimes it's a good option, if you have a player like [Andy] Carroll or [Marouane] Fellaini at Manchester United, to do something different. To try a different way to score goals is allowed."



With specific regard to Carroll - who failed a late-fitness test before Sunday's game but is expected to be available tomorrow - and the threat posed by the England international -Koeman plans to keep him as far away from goal as possible.

"We'll try to keep him out of the box. We know we have to prepare ourselves for that," he surmised. "If he is playing then we have to press the goalkeeper, we have to press the defenders and try to keep out the long ball they like to play.

"If he's not playing that means a different style with Sakho and Valencia. They are very fast; good players, good attackers. That means we'll need to defend against our opponents a different way.

"It's two different styles of playing. With Carroll it's more long ball and second ball, without it's much more about ball possession and much more movement from the two fast attackers. That means we have to defend differently, but it's no so difficult [to change]."

* West Ham face Southampton at St Mary's tomorrow night (Wednesday). 7.45pm (GMT) kick off.

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