There’s a chicken and egg problem. Players won’t tend to try to get on the end of crosses if the crosses don’t tend to be made. If you have a crosser who is not so much reliable as predictable, like Trippier, players will time their runs into the box to be there or thereabouts when the cross they expect him to make comes in. The more predictable the crosser’s crosses are, the more players will be there to get on the end of them. One of Chadli’s strengths is that he’ll hit stand up crosses and passes across the goalmouth predictably enough that other players anticipate and score from them, as Kane and Carroll did the last couple of games. What I like about Trippier in the attacking end is that he becomes the default option if nothing better is on. He provides an outlet and sends a ball towards the keeper. It keeps the tempo up, which suits the team’s style, and averts the tendency to tap it around the edge of the box until possession is lost. While the number of crosses that result in goals is low, other good things can happen, like corners, rebounds, goal mouth scrambles, ogs and bad or incomplete clearances. Even if the other team does regain possession, it provides good opportunities for the high press. IMO teams that sit back look a lot less comfortable to the degree that shots and crosses come in. Every ball that heads towards the goal creates a chance to score and a much greater chance for chaos. Looking to pass through the middle when defenders are well positioned does not. If these dangerous balls come from the sides, it forces defenders to defend against both wide players and runners more aggressively, making it easier to pass through the middle. Finally, if the other team does regain possession and gets the ball up the pitch, they unpark their own bus and provide a countering opportunity later. But I agree the right side looks more vulnerable to attack with Trippier at RB. Colchester was having a lot of success creating opportunities on Trippier’s side. They have a young player who played on the left who looked very promising.
"People lose their faculties when assessing crosses. Pundits are always saying that no-one got on the end of a brilliant cross. I say its the same as anywhere else on the pitch: its the job of the crosser to pick out a team mate, not to punt it hopefully through the six yard box." If I know that a team-mate can put in 6 yard crosses with impunity, then when I see them close to making a cross then I am going to make the effort to be on the 6 yd line before he crosses.
"If I know that a team-mate can put in 6 yard crosses with impunity, then when I see them close to making a cross then I am going to make the effort to be on the 6 yd line before he crosses." Dele Alli makes good far post runs. Harry Kane makes them when he is central but much of his game involves him pulling out wide and very often crossing the ball to a void. None of the other attacking players gamble on getting to crosses that I can see. A lack of aerial power shouldn't prevent scoring, particularly at the near post with flicks from boot or head.
Spurs: Lloris (c), Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose; Dembele, Dier; Alli, Eriksen, Son; Kane. Subs: Vorm, Davies, Trippier, Bentaleb, Carroll, Chadli, Lamela. Norwich: Rudd; Pinto, Klose, Bassong, Olsson; Howson, Mulumbu, Tettey (c), Jarvis; Naismith; Mbokani. Subs: Ruddy (GK), Martin, Jerome, Hoolahan, Redmond, Bennett, Odjidja.
Keep the goal replays coming Inda, some of us are stuck in Africa with a poor so called 3 G signal and a cheap mobile. Cheers mate, COYS.
