Ward`s 'Expressive Football` Means Less Long Ball?

A new Colchester United manager promises a departure from the either real or imagined style of long-ball football associated with Aidy Boothroyd.

John Ward faced plenty of questioning about his potential philosophy as a coach yesterday and fended them pretty well - time will tell of course.

Ward Worked as a coach at Watford under the Graham Taylor when he supposedly delayed a direct style of play and also spent last season working alongside Boothroyd at Colchester last season, also famed for that brand of football, before he left to Coventry.

Ward gave a long answer to an apparently short query at yesterday`s press conference: "I`ve worked with Aidy and I`ve worked at different football clubs and under different managers. I want players to try and win games of football. I like players to have expression, I like watching games of football where crosses are coming in and attempts at goal are happening."

Honing in on a more tangible target, Ward then explained he wanted the ball to hit sting more often under his leadership. He said: "We`ll try and get more goals than we got this year. I think our home form was excellent- fifteen wins at home, only five away."

"I want to play well, I want to score goals. I want players to have some freedom of spirit to go and play. They`re the things I`m looking for," he concluded.

Winning alongside good football? That`ll do nicely, thanks John!




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