PHIL Parkinson prepares to lock horns with new Peterborough boss Graham Westley at Valley Parade tomorrow admitting: "It would be boring if every manager was the same."

On getting the Posh job, Westley fired off an e-mail to season-ticket holders promising a positive attitude with at least 600 passes and 25 shots per game.

Westley gained a reputation for his unorthodox methods during his long association with Stevenage and Parkinson has no issue with the novel approach to his latest club.

The Bantams chief said: "Graham probably realised that the appointment had a mixed reception. I've seen the letter but he knows, like us all, that you are judged on the performances on a Saturday.

"Graham's a good manager. He had a long time at Stevenage and took them up the divisions, although it didn't work out for him for whatever reasons with Preston.

"I know he likes the players in early every day and they leave late but there's nothing wrong with that. If every manager was the same, it would be a very boring game.

"He's got a way of doing things which he has had success with. He makes the players work hard in the gym – but we do that as well.

"Maybe he's got a slightly different method of working but there's no manager the same. That's the beauty of the game."

City do not keep a tally of how many passes they complete but Parkinson stressed it is what you do with the ball, rather than how long you have it, that counts.

He said: "Possession is important in the game but it's not the most important thing.

"We're in an era with the academies where often they are taught that football is all about keeping the ball.

"Sometimes I feel they are forgetting the main emphasis is to be positive when you can and try and get crosses in the box and attempts at goal.

"That's what you look for. There are times when you can take the sting out of the game by keeping the ball but ultimately the most important thing in football is making something happen.

"There are teams who dominate possession who don't win and others who don't have much of the ball but come out on top. There are lots of different ways to win games.

"Peterborough have played the diamond in their last couple of games under Grant McCann and were superb in the 5-1 win at Oldham. It will be interesting to see whether Graham sticks with that.

"It's difficult to tell if he will tinker too much and try to put his own marker down straight away or continue in the mould that Grant had put in place."

Westley was in the crowd for City's 2-2 draw against Sheffield United and Parkinson can see a similarly exciting encounter on the cards. He is confident of avoiding the pitfalls of a 'new manager syndrome'.

The City boss said: "People talk about that but we've got to make sure it becomes irrelevant by concentrating on playing as well as we have been.

"Peterborough have traditionally been an open, attacking side – that's how they were under Darren Ferguson – and you always feel you get chances against them.

"The positive side for me from last weekend was the two wide players. They played really well and are growing into their role within the team."

Luke James is not in the City squad as part of his season-long loan agreement from Peterborough.