Adaptable Curle wants his Cobblers team to entertain '“ and win

New boss Keith Curle has revealed the type of qualities and characteristics fans can expect to see from his Cobblers team this season, with adaptability and entertainment high on his list of priorities.
Keith CurleKeith Curle
Keith Curle

Appointed on Monday afternoon less than 24 hours on from Dean Austin’s sacking, Curle took charge of his first game the following evening when Town drew 0-0 with Bury at the PTS Academy Stadium.

Despite not having the opportunity to take a training session with his new players, the former Carlisle boss was quick to shake things up as he switched formation to 3-5-2 – the first time Northampton have played that system this season – and made five changes, but he says that’s not necessarily how his team will play in the long-term.

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“I can coach lots of different formations and different philosophies and I’ve got an idea of how the game wants to be played but that evolves,” explained Curle this week.

“I think it’s very difficult for a manager or coach to walk into a football club and have a philosophy if you haven’t got the right players in that changing room.

“It’s a case of evolving together as a management staff and a playing group into a philosophy that suits both them and me.

“Adaptability is very important and I consider myself as an adaptable coach. I was adaptable as a player and went from Wimbledon to Man City, which is about as extreme as you can get.”

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On the style of play he intends to implement, Curle continued: “I want free-flowing, entertaining and attractive football that ultimately reduces the amount of goals we concede but increases the amount of goals we score.

“The secret is turning a squad of players into a team on a regular, weekly basis.”

The 54-year-old chose to throw himself straight into the thick of it by taking charge of Tuesday’s game against Bury instead of watching from afar in the stands.

“After the job was accepted the easy thing would have been to come and watch from the director’s box and get an overview of the playing style, but that isn’t me,” he explained.

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“If I get given the job then I start the job straightaway. I’m paid to manager and as soon as I’m employed I manage.

“I think it was the right decision. It wasn’t ideal because ideally all managers and coaches want time on the training pitches to implement their ideas.

“But the belief that I’ve got I think I can get the information over, individually and collectively, to the team in terms of the roles and responsibility required within a team format and team shape.”