I think it doesn't help that we're very poor at the physical side of the game this season. Not just in terms of being physical but in terms of staying on the right side of the ref. We've got a few players who struggle to compete physically and then overcompensate with a daft challenge that's always going to be a foul. That was the problem in the first half when two or three of our breaks in a row ended with defensive free kicks; our attackers looked desperate to compete with Sunderland's much tougher defenders and that desperate look always makes it easier to give a foul against you. On the flip side, at those corners where we're overcommitted we should be able to either withstand the challenge, or make sure it's a foul, but we go down meekly and don't force the ref's hand. You could almost guarantee if it was Coyle in that position he'd win a free kick, because he knows how to compete and also how to be fouled.
I'd say the point is to occupy their defence and free up space for someone else to receive the ball. We have scored goals from it this season so there is a clear purpose. It's just a question of whether it's worth the risk, and whether we can mitigate the risk without losing the reward.
Sunderland fans were making plenty of noise before they had a shot on target. I always thought the idea was to make noise to encourage the team, not keep quiet and let the away fans make it sound like a home game until we score then politely applaud.
Fair point - seems to me that away fans in general (including our own!) tend to make more noise - at least while their team is still in the game.
Definite signs of improvement yesterday . Thought we looked pretty solid at the back for once and young Hughes looks a confident sort and I can see him becoming popular. Not sure if Sunderland where in second gear or what but we didn’t look to far away from them for long periods of the game. Still work to do attacking wise and would like a more settled side being picked every week but that will eventually come about you’d of thought. Unfortunate way to concede and it came at a time when we started to look confident. Though we actually lost the game trying to win it but like it or not that’s the style we play now as Walter implements his way of going for it . Fans will always vent frustration on forums but in the end The Big Turk pays his wages and he alone will make any call as and when HE sees it deemed necessary. UTT.
Drameh Zambrano and Bedia all scored following a short corner. point is we’ve not looked vulnerable on them since the sheff Utd game, Mackey quite literally nearly steps on Mehlem before he loses the ball, had he not done that he’d have immediately passed back to Coyle, he still shouldn’t have lost the ball but the move was completely broken by the referees route
I thought you were solid for the most part and weren’t very open - a contrast to the Norwich game where you just went at them and got picked off time and time again. The main thing I’d be wondering about is why is everyone forward for your corner just after the hour mark for the goal? It’s not like it’s the last minute and you’re needing an equaliser. Seemed suicidal defending to me, I was baffled Isidor happened to be one on one with the keeper when he’s 70 yards away.
Pretty sure we have. Zambrano's goal v Cardiff was one and Drameh v QPR was another. Also one of the goals in the Alanyaspor game which yes was a friendly so counts for less but it still happened.
Yep. But I think this is where you have to trust the coach. He's spent years coming up with these plans and months drilling it into our players. It's all rehearsed and everyone has a role. You can see Kamara makes a choreographed run at a certain time to drag a defender away from Mehlem as he's about to receive the ball. So for us to just glance at a screenshot of it online and say oh just move someone back and it'll be better, that's a bit arrogant I think.
I was trying to watch the game on my phone, while watching NFL on the TV, so my view of the game was slightly distracted. What I did see was a lot of suicidal passing across the 6 yard box, I don’t get why it has to be so close to our own goal. We did stupid **** with Seri last season & he got caught a few times, luckily, so far, we haven’t really lost a goal from this. I know why we do it, it’s to bring the opposite out, so why do we defend on the halfway line then? We want to stretch them out, but then have the ball & lose it & boom, another goal from a high defensive line conceded. Anyway, we lost & we’re not going to be challenging for promotion with the way we play at this rate. I’m worried about how many Burnley will score on Wednesday now.
