Yes, it is a fact that our passing has been way off key in recent games. The reason is simple. Players have been reluctant to move up in support of the man on the ball. Consequently the passing options become limited. So why is this? Well, when we set up to defend, the momentum goes out of our play and at the moment we don't seem to have the confidence, or the ability, to retain the ball further up the pitch. This is because we are fearful of being caught on the break when we lose it. As a result, we tend to look to maintain our defensive shape and this comes at the cost of losing the ball cheaply because of lack of support further up field. Passing is simple and easy but it is only so when the man on the ball has someone in space to pass to. If his team mates are hanging back and not supporting him then he has problems. Ideally we should attack as a team and defend as a team - the Dutch "total football" concept that came to the fore in the seventies. But you need two things for that; a lot of skill and fitness throughout the team. We have a certain degree of skill but I'm not fully convinced about our fitness. As for Chelsea, I believe that if we sit back, we will be hammered. They have so much talent and ability they are bound to open us up. We need to give them something to worry about and I think we should try and get an early goal to take the sting out of them. Anyway, no matter what we think, I'm sure that Michael already has his strategy mapped out and I can't wait to see what it is.
Same again I think. We defended superbly well in our last three games, Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton but in all there our passing game in the opposition half broke down woefully putting immense pressure on us. In the oppo's half it was like we were playing in flip-flops. We must improve in this area otherwise I can see us losing both cup games.
Hopefully we win whatever our approach as I've just locked in tickets in the posh seats for the game!!
One good aspect of this debate is that we have a choice of how to play. Last season we were one dimensional - now we have several game plans.
I can't see that happening twice as much as I would love it. Chelsea are also scoring for fun away from home.
They will have looked at the way we played last week and will have been preparing for much of the same, especially as we now have a lead to hold on to. I think if we go at them a bit more it may suprise them a bit.
