What is going on with City when creating chances in the final third, 9 times out of 10 our crosses are shocking. and when we get the ball in the final third we struggle to do anything. I am not knocking the players in any way, as they have been class, I just wonder what training we are doing, for us to completely breakdown in the final third. Steve Harper said as much in his Radio Blunderside Interview. I believe there is a massive question mark here, it seems to (arguably) of got worse since Phelan came in.
Well, we never have a central midfielder breaking anywhere near the box when a cross comes in (though we have scored 2 from crosses to the back post for the opposite flank player coming in); we never seem to have the strikers making different runs (or any runs half the time....they stand handily placed behind a towering centre half), and now we have Akpom up front we have even less chance of winning a header. I wouldn't blame the crossing; although a bit hit and miss, we have seen some brilliant balls in over the past couple of seasons...we just don't seem to have any real appetite or nous to get in there and attack them.
Elmo isn't always that great a crosser, in fact in our first season back in the top tier he was terrible the first half of the season. Of course you neeed people who take good corners too. I think it comes down to Bruce and how he trains the players. And Phelan as well, though I can't say I've noticed that much difference since Phelan was brought here.
I'd disagree. I think we've put some quality balls in over the last few seasons. Runners from midfield into the box is the real weakness. It unsettles defences and gives forwards that bit of extra space. I'm sure our problems are replicated in teams up and down the leagues though.
Clucas looks like he will remedy that, (running from deep) Huddlestone will always struggle do it but Meyler and Hayden look like they can so exciting times ahead. Our problem has been service from the middle with Livermore and Huddlestone. Maybe 1 in 10 is the correct ratio for crosses anyway, not sure it is quite the problem that the thread says, I've never seen a team constantly providing pinpoint crosses from the flanks anyway
I know I'm quoting top class players here but remember the way Franki di Lampi and Gerrard would burst into the box really late just running in in time to nut the ball with their noggins or give it a good welly with their boot. We could really do with someone attacking the box like that. Meyler would ****ing love it, he should do it.
Meyler definitely has it in him, his goal in the FA Cup v Sunderland was one of my favourites in recent times, not just because it was on my birthday either! He's a good finisher too, think he was unlucky at times last year as with a real run in the team instead of Bruce picking Livermore he could have developed a lot
