when we cross it's usually after running out of ideas. you have to get behind a side and have runners to score off crosses. ala diaz v Luton. when you've poor fire from more senior player but the young lads hold up their end its never good. the senior players should be carrying kids.
We aren’t going to score many from just knocking the ball into the box if defenders are set. Only way we generwlly score from crosses is if it’s a quick counter and defence are running back and out forwards are running onto it, or a low pull back like the Nunez one from szobo pull back 2 weeks ago. Saying that diaz ‘header’ was a bit more like a standard one but think was just a brilliant ball that found the sweet spot curling in between defence and keeper along with a great leap and a lucky shoulder. Luton defence was higher up in the box so gave us a chance to run onto it. But we don’t score many like that
What do you mean by "senior" - older, or been around the team longer? Of the starters, only Gomez, and Matip have had a decent number of games - and only the latter has had a prolonged period of being a fixture. There were no leaders in the starting line-up, and it showed.
TBF, we used to say that when Robbo and Trent competing in the assists front, they were constantly putting balls in. Although, Mane and Bobby where there too get in the end of them then too
But they were just crossed into a set defence. They were crosses from counters where defence were running back with them so was a bit different
The midfield wasn't particularly creative, and almost everything came down the wings - at its peak the system was devastating. Now we have a stronger midfield but are sacrificing the attacking FBs to accommodate it. Can it ever reach the heights that the old system did? I hope so, but we'll have to see. I like our new additions, but the lack of width frustrates me.
We're sacrificing the attacking FBs to allow Trent to have a free role. Yet somehow, he's getting lower figures as a result
We're playing on two-thirds of the width of the pitch a lot of the time, which congests the play and makes it difficult to make telling passes. In addition, the LB is in a more withdrawn role to help out the CBs, and if he does venture forward he meets the aforementioned congestion. Like I said, I hope it can be made to work, but I really don't like it. I did feel like we were adopting the formation to accommodate Trent's ambition, but Gomez was being asked to play a similar role, so now I'm not so sure.
I like Trent more involved but I'd prefer him to stay right (and Robbo left) to give width tbh. We've got the creativity in midfield anyway now, just need a Mascherano
It would be nice if we played a system which allows our players to play in their natural position, and not expect them to play hybrid bullsh*t.
i like Trent at right back and I have always felt that is where he should stay. I think we are better off getting a midfielder to drop into the space he vacates, like when Hendo was in his prime. In my opinion, Partly the reason Trent was getting rinsed is the legs were going on the old midfielders. I think if we fix that we can have the balance between width and creativity in the middle.
You answered my first question, but didn't address the rest of the post. Some of them have only been here five minutes, and none of them are leaders, imo.
they are still senior experience professional who've trained with three team for at minimum 4 months and some for 5 years. they should not be shambolic plus every one of them have got plenty of minutes this season already.
stand in the middle and they will. he's not in a position to be actually dangerous. in fact I'd go so far as to say he looks quite ordinary there. we've lots of people who can ping a pass across field. he's strength was delivering dangerous ball from wide areas. he's no longer in place to do so.
