Crossing the ball.

[theflyingplumber]

How often do we here comments made by football pundits and managers alike as well as we football supporters about crossing the ball from the wing (meaning a cross in the air) ????, pretty regularly I would suggest. Poor cross, over hit cross, under hit cross, far post cross, near post cross etc etc. This is all well and good but even the best high cross from the wing is relying on a team mate getting on the end of it, and one who is good in the air as well.

When recognised wide players (as wingers have now been christened) provides a high cross from the wing it should be a good cross as that is part of his repertoire, but he is still relying on someone geting on the end of it to make the cross count. We also now have what is known as wing fullbacks, who are expected to have a duel role as the name wing fullback suggests.

Have managers, coaches, pundits etc, forgotten that the most dangerous pass in football is a pass played along the floor back from the goal line. This pass is the most difficult for defenders to deal with as usually they are facing their own goal, and invariably when used it is successful and ends with a goal.
The difficulty is that that the provider must have the ability to get to the goal line before making the pass, which usualy includes having to beat an apposing player first.
IMHO very few wing backs have this ability and end up having to cross the ball in the air, which tends to be a hit and hope ball. Even when it's a good high cross defenders are favourites to get the ball as they now have their back to their goal.

In modern day football this ability to beat a player get to the goal line and make a good pass along the ground back from the goal line, seems to have disappeared except for the Prem league. In fact the ability to beat a player by skillful means seems to be a dying art in our game.
Tactics are being used more and more as THE way to beat the opposition, is this because most modern day players cant beat an opponent OR the manager/coach tells them to get rid of the ball. You can see this in all it's glory at junior level were the youngsters are berated by the manager for holding on to the ball.

I have to admit that there is no simple and easy answer to this problem (if there is a problem), but I have to admit that I get a bit fed up of seeing teams on the attack and ending up with an aimless high ball into the middle (or worse) that comes to nought except for allowing the defending team to go on the offensive.

Has anyone any thoughts on the above comments. Agree/disagree doesn't matter at all but the site is quiet and could do with some debate.

 

[themaclad]

Morning Plumber, all these top footballers, paid thousands a week and cannot cross a ball, can't get it past the front post when taking corners, can't even use both feet. Never rose above park football but I used to score direct from corners, I could cross a ball about the only thing I could do mind you.
That is what makes Beckham stand out he can cross a ball.

 

[finneyfan]

Love to see a winger beat his man, get to the byline and fire in a low hard cross, just never or rarely see it these days, even the last two wingers we sold hardly ever did it.
Lack of skill or confidence or playing to orders ? who knows but it's still one of the best sights to see on a footie field.
You watch the top prem wingers,wingbacks and they hug the sideline, ours often seem to want to drift infield, narrowing the pitch, again maybe it's orderws but I love to see wide , expansive footie

 

[theblues]

Hi, wycombe fan here but can empathise

Our right winger is Ainsworth (familiar to some here) and is 38 and can't oupace anyone, so always cuts inside or passes infield. Our left winger is right footed so likewise always shoots or passes infield. The point is I can't remember the last time i saw a good headed goal from a cross.

 

[Ruby Ruby Ruby Boveeeeeer]

I thinks thats why we (Charlton) signed Danny Green, the boy was born to cross!

 

[theflyingplumber]

Afternoon footie fans, thanks for you're comments etc. Glad to see that I am not alone on the subject of crosses.

Maclad hits the nail on the head when he mentions players earning thousands of pounds and can't provide a telling cross that puts defenders in trouble, either in the air or on the ground. Same applies to being able to use both feet as in most cases players think one leg is just for standing on..
How many times have we seen an English player at International level showing the same deficiencies in his game, it's pathetic when you think about it.
I was two footed when I played and that didn't come by accident, it came from time spent practicing with the weaker foot. I admit that football has changed since I last played the game, but most players of my time could use both feet to good effect.

Finneyfan obviously feels pretty much the same as me re wingers and beating players.
For me (and many others) there is no more exciting sight in football than to see a winger take the ball and go on a run straight at the opposition defence beating players and ending up having shot on goal or getting to the goal line and providing a killing pass back to his team mates. Of course those of us who are still around who saw Finney and Mathews, know only too well what a devastating effect this kind of wing play can have on the opposition. But they were not on their own, as nearly every team in the Country had wingers who could excite the fans in much the same way. In more recent times you still get the odd player who can do this, Ryan Giggs springs to mind remember his goal for ManU V Arsenal ??? . And who could forget the John Barnes goal for England V Brazil.

The bluesfan from Wycombe mentions Gareth Ainsworth who is now in the twilight of his career, but when at PNE proved to be a major favourite of the fans when playing down the right hand side. Brave as they come and had only one thought in mind and that was running at the fullback beating him and them providing a team mate with a goalscoring opportunity. Bluesfan also mentions the problems of having a player who is only one footed playing on the wrong wing, and then having to stop and turn in order to have the ball on his good foot before making a cross. We have seen this at International level as well when watching England.

Ruby Ruby Ruby the Charlton fan is I think giving PNE a warning that Charlton have found a bit of a gold nugget in the form of Danny Green, so PNE had better be on their toes when the two clubs meet....Thing is that RRR can see the possitive effect that having a player who can make telling crosses for his strikers can have on his team and results. PNE have two very good fullbacks I should point out..

 

[theflyingplumber]

Just out of interest but anyone who saw the England V Wales game last night, will have seen how many aimless high crosses were used by England and the ONE time that a player got to the goal line and played the ball back it resulted in the match winning goal. There were also several instances where a wide player had to stop and turn before he could deliver a cross with his stronger foot. Pathetic IMHO.

 

[themaclad]

Just out of interest but anyone who saw the England V Wales game last night, will have seen how many aimless high crosses were used by England and the ONE time that a player got to the goal line and played the ball back it resulted in the match winning goal. There were also several instances where a wide player had to stop and turn before he could deliver a cross with his stronger foot. Pathetic IMHO.

Don't get me started Plumber on thousands a week a they can't cross a ball

 

[markos50]

At Deepdale and Div 1 & 2 grounds all around the country you will hear moans and groans at what seems to be poor play , wasted chances or an inability to cross. We need to take stock. England were rubbish, awful, boring and lacked IMO any get up and go. Clearly 100K+ per week is not enough to give them the desire. they are not worth watching. I even found myself shouting at Earnshaw for missing the chance the great Mark Sale would have put away !!!!