4-5-1 not the answer Eck; Your Shout.

ALEX Mcleish states there is no evidence that 4-4-2 is better than 4-5-1. Well, I can give him some. Not opinions here, just facts.

FACT: We have not scored a single goal this season in league and cup using 4-5-1. FACT: Blues have failed to score in the first 70 minutes of any game this season.

That's the approximate duration of the game using this dreary system until the manager is forced to change to two up front, sometimes bringing goals - yes, goals - for example, the equaliser at Spurs, two goals at Southampton when we were behind, the winner at Hull and a superb equaliser against Bolton even though we blew it in the end.

Yes, but against teams who will be around us in this league, we have tomake things happen, especially at home and 4-5-1 just Birmingham Mail McLeish also bangs on that home matches against Portsmouth and Stoke with 4-4-2 brought no evidence of better play.

Maybe so but FACT: We kept clean sheets and collected four points by keeping the opposition busier at the back.

So much for 4-4-2 being too "open", Mr McLeish.

Against Villa and Bolton we set up 4-5-1, allowing them to dictate. We conceded goals and lost both games. Zero points. FAC T.

Play 4-5-1 against the better teams away? isn't the answer.

That's only an opinion, of course, but the facts tell you so, Mr McLeish.

Please check the evidence and change it. Let's have a go.

L BARLOW, Erdington BLUES fans who had a go at Eck for the 4-5-1 should wise-up.

We haven't got world class players who can walk all over teams in a 4-4-2 so he cuts the cloth accordingly.

Most Premier League teams play the same system and we have been at our best this season when we've used 4-5-1. Eck has changed the team to a passing style and that's refreshing to see.

All we need are a couple of pounds 10 million players in January and we will be okay.

Carson Yeung can do himself a massive favour by spending the sort of money the old board wouldn't.

K HARRIS, Stechford n Send letters to: Your Shout, Sports Desk, Birmingham Mail, Floor 6, Fort Dunlop, Fort Parkway, Birmingham B24 9FF. Freephone fax: [phone]. Freephone: 0800 138 2555. Email [e-mail]. All letters should include name, address, and telephone number. If you would like to receive information from Bpm Media (Midlands) Ltd in the future, please add a YES at the end of you text or email. The information provided may be of interest to you and will be from Bpm Media (Midlands) Ltd, Trinity Mirror Group companies or other carefully selected companies. The communication may be by letter, phone, email or other means depending on the data you have provided.