My 1000th post, and it's a classic! - Something else that has really annoyed me...

[Noblelox]

There is one thing that some of our players keep doing, and I really, really hate it. When someone passes them the ball, they just pass it straight back! Not a thought for what options maybe on, or turning with the ball, they just ping it right back to whoever passed to them. I can't name many names, but I know both Adam and Spearing have done it more than once, but they are not the only ones. Are they unable to turn with the ball at their feet? They don't even take time to put their foot on it and look around, they just make the previous pass totally redundant. They are real "roll the eyes" moments, you are just left thinking "what is the point?" A player has picked you out and given you the ball, and this is all you can think to do with it??? Grrrrrrrrr

 

[DirtyFrank]

I don't mind if it's to draw the defender in then the original recipient spins as the original passer dinks it back again. But yeah; I noticed the irrelevant ones too...

 

[The artist JerryChristmas]

You need to get out more

 

[moreinjuredthanowen]

i actually totally agree.

when a man makes a "run" toward the man in possession demanding a pass he really ought to have some clue what his next move is. i see a lot of our players making this knock it right back move and it is rather pointless.

for one if a player makes a run twaords the ball to recieve it and draws a player with him someone else ought to be half intelligent enough to run into said space.

I'd love our guys to be one move ahead and know that their plan is.

this along with sideways or back passing annoys me too. a forward pass should always be option 1.

 

[DayDoDoeDontDayDoe]

i actually totally agree.

when a man makes a "run" toward the man in possession demanding a pass he really ought to have some clue what his next move is. i see a lot of our players making this knock it right back move and it is rather pointless.

for one if a player makes a run twaords the ball to recieve it and draws a player with him someone else ought to be half intelligent enough to run into said space.

I'd love our guys to be one move ahead and know that their plan is.

this along with sideways or back passing annoys me too. a forward pass should always be option 1.

Sometimes the immediate return pass is THE RIGHT THING TO DO, it makes the defender run more with no chance of getting the ball Xavi,Iniesta,Messi do this all the time, it depends on the situation

 

[Red Hadron Collider]

Sorry Noble. This is NOT a 'classic' post

 

[saintanton]

Sometimes the immediate return pass is THE RIGHT THING TO DO, it makes the defender run more with no chance of getting the ball Xavi,Iniesta,Messi do this all the time, it depends on the situation

I agree.
Barca do this all the time and wait to open up a gap for the killer pass. If you're playing against a tightly packed defence forward passes- although a more exciting spectacle- are far too easily defended. Short interchanging passes back or square combined with constant movement are what opens up that type of defence.
Of course, you then have to have the forwards to exploit the gaps made- which is where we've let ourselves down this season.

 

[Denny Kalglish]

1 word.

Barca.

 

[danilo.]

The difference with Barca is that their players are acutely aware of where their teammates are, where the defender is, where they are positioned relative to the goal/defender and such. That means they don't make these pointless passes. Adam and Spearing regularly do it with no hint of positional knowledge, for example at the halfway line (as if that will draw out defenders) and usually lose that attack's fluidity or movement in doing so.