Coventry City manager has responded robustly to criticism that he has got his tactics wrong and is playing negative football with constantly playing 4-4-1-1 formations, calling his critics Neanderthals
Coleman now has the additional dilemma of having only two recognised strikes following the departure of Leon Best to Newcastle.
The Sky Blues boss, said, “No, no, no, I am sorry, I have been in this game long enough and I know enough about formations and tactics, Swansea play one lone striker and they are in the top six, West Brom do the same, Blackpool, one lone striker, top six. The trick is knowing when to join in with that striker. But I don’t accept that. I think it is a Neanderthal way of looking at things. Everyone used to play 4-4-2 in the 70's and 80's and most of the 90's but teams play differently now.”
Speaking about the type of striker he is trying to bring to the Ricoh, Coleman was both forthright and enigmatic, saying, “They will be established, experienced players and two players who we have liked for a long time. One of them will have an aerial threat that Leon Best had because otherwise we would miss that."
"You try to mix it up a little bit and balance it off, so it is fair to say that if we get the one we are looking at then he can do that job. I am not saying he will be similar to Leon, but an aerial target, yes. As we know with football, there are no guarantees that it is going to happen but we are working hard to make sure it does.
“If we get two, fantastic, because it will give everyone a lift, including Freddy Eastwood and Clinton Morrison, so let’s see what the back of next week brings.”