People were saying the same thing about Arsenal a couple of years ago that they always tried to walk it into the back of the net and miss good opportunties to take a shot in order to try and create a better one. We are quite similar in that but I would like to see us be a bit more spontanious and just have a shot and try and work the keeper from range. With the pressing style we play getting the ball back, should we miss not, be too difficult. Is it a confidence thing where too many have gone into row z so they don't want to. Just keep passing it until it gets to Rickie? Not sure but if sides are not wary about long range efforts they will feel quite comfortable letting us have possesion and defend on the edge of their box. They won't come out to block which can leave gaps, therefore the oppostion penalty box is packed and any shot we do have inside the box is going to be blocked or saved.
It's not necessarily that we don't shoot from outside its just that they tend to be woeful. Also when was the last time we scored a direct free kick
13% in PL 2011/12 Good article at http://www.eplindex.com/9750/premier-league-long-range-shots-opta-stats-comparison.html - do remember that the sample sizes are small so there'll be a lot of random variation in there. Looks like half the clubs score fewer than 1 in 20 at that range. So, it might be better to try to run it into the area. Equally, as with anything, variety of play keeps defences on their toes. I do feel there's been a step change recently where someone's said "have a go once in a while". We have certainly been trying more recently. Vin
My main concern is not that we arn't scoring many from outside the box its the fact we don't try shooting from distance enough. How many goals are scored from deflections or forwards following up on rebounds by not shooting we are not creating these opertunities.
Very true, bar Jay Rod against QPR - the only play I actually remember seeing look for long shots and attempting them is Gaston.
I was shocked during the QPR match at this. Julio Cesar was injured and wouldn't have been able to make a save for 5 minutes or so, and yet we didn't even really try and test him. Were we trying to be sporting and give them a fair chance? If not then why didn't Jay or Rickie have a go from distance and test him, he'd already dropped one when he wasn't injured.
It's advisbale to mix it up a little just to keep the opposition on their toes. For the majority of the time we'll play possession football, which is far more enjoyable to watch. However the occasional long ball might catch a defender napping. Likewise, shooting from inside the box probably has a better shot-to-goal ratio, but the occasional pot-shot from outside can surprise the opposition defence. A little variation will keep us from being too predictable.
I'm sure they would have done had they had the chance. Our overall play wasn't exactly brilliant in case you'd forgotten! Rodriguez did have another shot from range which Cesar looked uncomfortable with, right before he went off.
Your perception of what's happening is misleading you. And I say that genuinely, not as an attack - I was surprised by these numbers... Last three games, goal attempts from uotside and inside the area. Versus Outside Inside QPR 14 7 Newcastle 6 5 Man City 5 11 Total 25 23 The out of area shots came from 6 - J Rod 3 - José 3 - Adam 3 - Cork 2 - Fox 2 - Morgan 1- Gastón 1 - Clyne 1 - Rickie 1 - Luke 1- Puncheon 1 - Davis So, plenty of attempts from a pretty wide range of players. All stats from Squawka. Vin
Interesting! But that is just three games. I remember seeing Gaston trying a couple in both Swansea and Sunderland games which I attended. But Jay does seem to try. We aren't great though. One day, son. One day......
It's just three games because the analysis is tough.... In those two games you mentioned, though, Gastón had four shots from range, out of 14. All I'm saying is that we ARE trying from outside the area - they just aren't going in. Vin
