Good post, Yankee. Your observation about the first five yards is spot on - any coach will tell you that that is the most critical factor in beating a marker. You are also right in that Sincs does often disappear for large chunks of the game - mind you, we are all aware of what he can do when he's in the game! This isn't about knocking our players. All players have weaknesses and it can only benefit them and the team if these weaknesses are worked on and eradicated.
norway if you are old enough to have seen LJ play then you would not make such rash comments, LJ was regarded as one of the best wingers around in his day and knows more about that position than you me and Brendan, Top player in his eraand stillould teach a thing or two...
ivor- your talking like i didnt see those players , i did . take serious issue if you like i couldnt care less. the guy is an idiot and to think that because he was a good player back in the day makes him an expert in coaching others is foolish at best. if he had any talent in this area he wouldnt be getting sacked from the likes of aberdare town !! rose tinted specs IMO. i never said he wasnt a good player i just said that its foolish to think he can do something to improve the current crop of players when he was a disaster in local league football. To take your point about the final ball, well up until this season we have never had a target man of any real standard so how you can judge properly is beyond me . tell me what they were supposed to aim for last season ? as i said earlier its difficult to compare old with new . some people have a romantic notion of how good things were in the tosh days ,but the same team got relegated in its second season and most of the players never played consistantly at the highest level after that. We will agree to disagree ivor , but in my view LJ was a good player in his day but should now stick to being a lolly pop man and writing rubbish in the evening post . If he was any good as a coach then stuart roberts would have had a career after taking in his wisdom instead he plays welsh league. thats how good the LJ crossing cliniq is !!
superswan99- As isaid , LJ was a good player indeed but remeber the full backs that played the game in those days ?? John charles was the greatest player to play the game full stop. All the things he knew about football eh ? what did he do as a coach/manager ? nothing . the 2 things dont always go hand in hand , just because he was good player doesnt mean he can explain it as a coach !!
Norway, read my post properly. I do not maintain that LJ would make a good coach - I specifically said in that particular discipline and I stand by that. You come across as not liking LJ as a person which is your prerogative but that doesn't mean to say he can't teach a thing or two about crossing. Funnily enough, the commentary team on the link where I am watching the Sunderland game made the point that both Sinclair and Dyer have been lacking with their final ball/cross. With respect, your point regarding Tosh's team in their second top flight season is irrelevant and you also fail to mention several credible mitigating factors for their demise anyway. As for Stuart Roberts, what does his level of achievement have to do with his ability to cross a ball? He could have been the best crosser of a ball in the world but if his attitude, commitment and ability in other aspects were not up to par then he would not make it in football. As it happens, I believe that his was a talent squandered. I will never forget the shelling he gave Julian Dicks when we played West Ham in the cup and they were First Division then. I do not look at anything with rose-tinted specs. I call it as I see it - always have and always will. This has never prevented me from trying to see the other pov and respecting other people's opinion. I respect that you have your's even though I disagree with it so, as you say, let's agree to disagree and move on.
ivor- you make fair points , having just watched the game i can safely say there were crosses going in today just nothing on target . we dont play a traditional winger style anyway so the whole point is kinda irrelevent TBH. there isnt much point in going to the by line to cross when there is only 1 centre forward there to head(and the opposite winger drifting in) the ball , its not really how we play and hasnt been for years. My view on this thread is all about LJ as a coach, thats the main point of this thread i beleive, saying that he can improve players even though he has no track record of doing such a thing. the rest of the points made are something that is open to debate and therefore a side track to the origin of the article
Delivery is a problem, and it will take some time before we get it right, the boys don't have so much time on the ball as they did in the championship, but it will come as the become acclimatised to the Prem, by the way LJ was a great player!............... please log in to view this image
Think Sinclair's crossing ability today was fairly good, Taylor's was fantastic! That one deep cross right onto Graham's head was brilliant. Dyer on the other hand is an inigma, reminds me very much of Aaron Lennon. Lightening quick, terrorises defences constantly beats them but then comes the final third and we get near enough didily squat!!! Not sure what the issue could be?
Not saying LJ wasn't a good player, just that he won't be able to offer anything as a coach at our club, sorry but the game has vastly changed since he was a player, and we have a system of play not dreamed of back then. We will continue to play the way we have for the last 4 or 5 seasons, it has served us well, and it will continue to do so, I just can't see our club changing the philosophy of our club because of a retired lollypop man.
well well.. i didnt know he was a RETIRED lolly pop man . maybe he could "coach" other lolly pop men in the skills of helping kids/oaps cross the road ?? i heard he was the best in his day so he must have something to offer other lolly pop men?? unless the lolly pop man game has moved on since when he did it ?
Causing mayhem I'm sure Jager, ever been up to shepherd's Bush way lately!................. please log in to view this image
Great game today just a touch of luck with sinclairs shot hitting the bar and DG header and we would have won but its starting to look like we will turn that corner very soon. Our Positioning is looking good in attack and even a few more crosses and headers seem to have been included all of a sudden and Taylors pin point cross to DG head at the far post was class. Have they had some coaching with it ? Vorm is having a superb start to life as a swan isnt he !
Taylor's cross to Graham was superb, as was Kemy's dink. Give DG a little time and he will be burying those sort of chances. Just needs his first goal then he'll be up and running because he's getting in the right positions. Well pleased with today's performance.
having extra coaches around is always a good thing(no matter who it is) having ex pro's is helpful because they've gone through it all before, all the top sides will have an army of coaches for each area of the side, they be studying upcoming sides formations and tactics and working on ways to get around it, brendan, curtis and co need more help now we're in the big league.
As well as wingers crossing i think practice of quick one touch passing ball play for our front line when in range of goal will free up more space for DG now they are starting to gel. It would help in games against quick strong defences that most prem sides have. Weve made a good steady start and the players can see theres nothing much to fear in the prem and the confidence is growing a little run of wins could be on the horizon !
