I'm not sure if anyone else is thinking this but does anyone think that we're a bit of a long ball team? I don't mean in the West Ham/Stoke sense, we do try and play it on the floor whenever possible and do play some nice things, especially with players like Lallana and Ramirez, Lambert too when he's not using his head. It's just that when we defend, we tend to hoof the ball out instead of trying to pass the ball up the field which is a non risky tactic. Another reason I think we play a fair bit of direct football is because of Danny Fox's crossfield balls to Lambert and how we always play the ball out wide and get our wide players to get the ball into the box. This has certainly been effective because I can recall that we've had Schneiderlin get two headed goals, Ramirez against Everton and Lambert against Man Utd. Plus Fonte's two against Fulham. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, it is effective when it's used appropriately and I think getting the ball up to Lambert is a good tactic, but when we're compared to Swansea who are known for their attractive football, I just don't think that we can compare our style of football to their's. I think our style of play is more like Everton's/Newcastle's IMO where we play a mixture of short and long balls.
In the Championship we were one of the best sides for quick passing football and lovely it was too, but there is a time and a place. We are getting caught with the ball too much (see Swansea's goal), so I suspect we will see more long clearances from the back. Points are everything at the moment. We still managed some good stuff as well yesterday.
Well I understand exactly what your saying, we do use diagonal balls a lot and it's a very large part of our attacking threat, sometimes too much for me and it frustrates me when we go through periods where all we do for 10 or 15 minutes is kick it long, lose possession and then invite attacks on us, rather than retaining possession. But I think you exaggerate a touch, statistically speaking, Newcastle average the most long balls in the league with 76 per game, Everton average third most with 66, and we average the joint least in with Arsenal on 52.
If you have a weapon like Lambo who can win the ball in the air against most defences it would be silly not to use it at times during a game, but a one trick pony is not the answer, you have to mix it up, look for the oppositions weaknesses and capitalise, I don't think our players try running at defences enough, always too quick to look for a pass, inevitably backwards and losing the momentum, and up to recently seldom do you see anyone getting to the by-line and crossing into the area. We certainly don't get enough goals from corners, there are things that can be worked on. Gazza has a decent kick on him, which makes it all the more galling as to why he made the wrong decision that led to the Swansea goal.
We are best when we hoof it to Lambert as for as I'm concerned. With him flicking on, knocking down or retaining the ball and passing to others. We haven't done it enough this season. We've been caught in this situation where we want to be seen to be playing nice football where the past two seasons we weren't bothered how we got the result.
In the Championship, we didn't have to move it as quickly as you do in the Prem. One small failing this year has been our inability/reluctance to get nehind full backs. Last year Frase and Lallana were always getting in behind teams and pulling balls back for Lambert et al; this year, neither Fox, nor Clyne go beyond the full back. They stop and check back, or cross from deep. Last year was a mix of the two. I like Clyne, but I can not recall one time that he has run at the full back one v one and tried to go passed him.
Clyne did try once on Saturday and was fouled in the Penalty area! Nothing was given as he didn't dive and tried to play on to get a cross in.
Not sure I agree with you here. We crossed the ball from deep a hell of a lot last season. Richardson was a brilliant crosser from deep last season and it means he doesn't overcommit. We usually play with wingers already we don't need the full backs getting that far forward
I would say that your style is rather Blackpoolesque.We did that last season and got away with it despite a couple of hammerings.I think Saints are in a bit of a false position and a better team than Reading or QPR( well the latter are not so much a team more a gang rambling hobbledehoys atm) It's good to watch when it works and you have nearly had some results with it notably Man City and Chelsea.
This is ironic as I've been thinking almost the exact opposite - that we don't tend to move the ball forward quick enough. Also, there have been a couple of times this season that we've lost the ball trying to pass out from defense and got in trouble from it. Now I'm not saying always pass long, but variety is needed to keep the opponents guessing, also as others have mentioned Lambo is great in the air. However, I think the real problem is that we don't tend to step up through the gears as we go forwards with quick short passes to enable counter attacks.
