When a team dominate us as they did in the first half, the one thing a team needs to do is get the ball and keep it. What you don't want to do is rush it forward and give it straight back to the dominating opponent. Guess what most our fans seem to be screaming for the team to do? Too many fans don't really understand the game. They like it and have watched it for years, but they don't really understand it.
I was watching on a stream, so wasn't able to see too much of Gabbiadini's off the ball movement, but it clearly impressed Hoddle who actually said that we should have looked to get the ball up to him quicker, or even over the top, because Gabby's runs were crying out for it. I agree that we shouldn't just be lumping it forward, but sometimes we do need to release a long ball sooner, if only to keep the opposing defenders guessing. If we always play short, and to foot, it is easier for some defenders to just get tight and prevent the striker doing anything other than play the ball back again, but by mixing it up, a defender won't get so close to a striker who has him for pace.
Of course Badger, it's about mixing it up. My point is that at most games, I listen to thousands of fans screaming at us to get it forward, particularly in a game like yesterday when it wasn't what was needed. All we did was give it straight back to them. You have to take the sting out the game at times.
I've said this before, but it really bugs me when we do this, especially when a forward pass is on, but it entails the player using his least favoured foot. Do they never have training sessions where they can only play the ball with their weakest foot? Grrrrrrrrrrr Seriously, the amount of time they spend on the training pitch, they should all be more than capable to make a 20 yard pass with their wrong'un, without even thinking about it.
Interesting and logical thought. I used to think the same. Here is an alternative.. devil's advocate if you will... I have two good feet. I don't (or rather, didn't) batter an eyelid if it came to my left or right foot. No problem. Perhaps that made me bang average and one reason why I didn't make it. A player who is really one footed and excellent with it is probably better than some one good with both feet. Maybe. Maybe not. Maradona was the most one footed player as is Messi.
Yeah it is frustrating. Worst was the Liverpool cup game with everyone shouting '****ing press them!' When we were doing brilliantly keeping our shape and they weren't going anywhere. With regards to yesterday whilst I agree, I do think we actually went a bit too far the other way not looking for the early ball etc... and due to how effectively they pressed us and shut down space we ended up hoofing it anyway but by then they were all set up. Didn't really turn them around at all.
I was in block 19 yesterday, just in front of the disabled section. I must be really lucky where I normally sit in block 18 row FF. Most of the people around us are pretty good natured, & quite a few have been there since League 1. Of course, it's the Chapel so no one sings
All I can say to this is the lads in the academy will be trained on a daily basis to use their weakest foots to pass the ball. It's standard practise.
We couldn't get the ball off you mate, and when we did we lost it straight away because you closed the space down so quickly. I know you've been inconsistent this season, but yesterday was a pretty slick performance. Maybe we could have put more pressure on the ball, but we were chasing shadows a lot of the time. For the record, I don't think our tactics were wrong. Even at 1-0 we were still in it, but the second killed us. Obviously we do all watch different games, because I actually thought we played beter after we conceded, & I also think the substitions made us look more of a threat.
Every time we did play the long ball forward - and we did, a few times - it got intercepted, not because it was a bad pass but because the City players, pretty much to a man, were quicker to read it.
We needed to play well to win this and, as a team, we were a little under par. I think we chase shadows better sometimes and that creates mistakes. ManCity played well, which clearly didn't help, who knew Otamendi was that good(?), but we did also waste the ball when we won it. If Tadic could have hit that shot better and scored, it could have rattled them out of their state of superiority, but at the end of the day you're going to miss VVD and Oriel eventually and yesterday, we missed them. Only moan really is why oh why did we end up with Dusan & Boufal on the pitch together, again? I don't see that being a suitable idea against any EPL team IMPO it almost lost us the game v Bomo and didn't help yesterday
I totally agree, the reason we do get everyone back I think is because we expect our striker to stand at the front post, then everyone fills in around them. The striker doesn't mark anyone, but only attacks the ball. Long does it well, Pelle did it well, obviously Gabbi is not going to do it as well but it's an easy way of ensuring you can clear it if the ball in is not perfect. I think it's reasonable having Long come back to defend when he is playing, but we should then leave Redmond or Tadic upfield. This is problematic when they have to cover the short corner but still it's easy enough to leave a player upfield who can be used as an outlet
I guess the problem is 10 v 9 in our area is easy to defend, 8 v 7 gives more space away. But speaking of corners, I vote for far more (like above 50%) short corners. Partly because they are probably better, but mainly to annoy our own supporters.
