LoupaBi's Pivotal Shift Pays Dividends: New Formation Secures Champions Title!
On-loan Fulham forward Aaron Loupalo-Bi feels Walsall are adapting well to the more attacking system played under interim boss Darren Byfield.
Walsall winger Aaron Loupalo-Bi says the change in formation under interim head coach Darren Byfield has been a positive move as the club try to maintain their push for a play-off place in League Two. Loupalo-Bi, who joined the Saddlers on loan in January from Premier League Fulham, made his first start for the club as automatic-promotion hopefuls Cambridge United were held to a goalless draw at the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium on Tuesday. Former Walsall striker Byfield is taking charge on a game-by-game basis since the sacking of Mat Sadler and has picked up four points in his first two matches.
He has moved from a three-at-the-back system used predominantly under Sadler to a 4-3-3 formation, with Loupalo-Bi supporting Daniel Kanu and veteran Albert Adomah - who has started both games under Byfield - up front against the U's. "I have played on the wing before so it wasn't a shock for me," Loupalo-Bi told BBC Radio WM. "I knew what I was going to do.
I knew I was going to be comfortable. "I think he's (Byfield) even spoken to my coaches from Fulham so he's had insights of how I am on the wing, so he knows what I can do over there. "The formation switch has been amazing.
I feel like the team has adapted well and all the attacking players are all showing him what we can do. " 'Whatever happens I'm happy' - Walsall's Byfield Ambitious Byfield targeting Walsall revival Walsall sack head coach Sadler after poor run Walsall sign Lopata and Loupalo-Bi on loan The game was 20-year-old Loupalo-Bi's eighth for Walsall and, after coming off the bench in his last action against Fleetwood Town two weeks earlier, he said making his full debut was special. "I'm so happy.