Watching other Prem teams and even that Champ game on the box last night between Brom and Leeds, they've mastered the art of one touch passing. We want to take two or three touches before shifting it and that gives the opposition time. Ralls was especially guilty yesterday seeming not to know what to do when he had it, but not just him. Even with 10 men, Brighton were quick on the break and made the ball do the work whereas we tried to carry it giving them time to regroup. When we did pass, the quality was poor yesterday. The ball was either passed behind the receiving player instead of in front making them have to check their run (I bloody hate that! ) or straight out of play - so frustrating. Passing the ball quickly and accurately is just basics and until we drum that into the squad we'll always rely on the long ball. The argument that we don't have the right players is a non starter - it's a coaching matter. Anyone can be taught the basics of passing rather than just lumping. Both tactics are valid but we've only got the one for the majority of the game. That will cost us because we have no plan B except sending on subs who then have no influence on the game. Someone will probably argue that we passed the ball 16 times between ourselves before we scored that first goal - that just proves the point.
The passing was good for the 1st goal. But generally poor. We need to be working harder in training at this. I dont think keeping possession is worked on enough. The ridiculous kick offs are embarrassing. So are the throw ins. You cant question the effort but we need to work on possession and passing and moving.
Only Camarassa and Arter can pass in front of them; all the others with Ralls the main culprit take the sideways/backwards option. What I’ve noticed in most games is how little time the opposition give our players on the ball and how City players stand off their opponents. Saying that how many times did Gunnarsson break up play yesterday and get to the loose ball first? And as for the long throws I thought they were better yesterday and in fact lead to our winning goal!
I have been moaning about our poor possession stats and passing accuracy for at lease 2 seasons. If we were Man City, maybe we could afford to let the opposition have more of the ball, but we ain’t Man City. Out passing has also been poor for a long time, I think that is why the long ball and long throw is used so often. The long throw rarely leads to a goal, It is a good weapon in the arsenal, but not if it is used every time. Rant over.
Gunnar's throws do not cause anywhere near the threat they used to. He has not been the same since his shoulder injury 2 or 3 years ago. He can't do the distance or variety anymore. In saying that our winner yesterday started with a long throw then a bit of pin ball around the 6 yard box.
I can understand why Morrison does it ie to get the ball into the other half. I’ve no problem with that. In any event City are hopeless at short throw ins.
The game of football, particularly Premier football, is all about passing. We simply can't do it to the extent it makes us a viable members of that League - at the moment. We're trying to blag a place up here for next season with our (Warnock's?) direct style rather than coaching alternative methods into the side. I'm not advocating the expansive game that Fulham are trying under Jokanavic that's gone tits up at the moment, but we must have a plan B and even C if necessary. It's not too late for the club but may be too late for the present management team. Maybe the ultimate opposite to Warnock, but I watched Guardiola and his young No. 2 Arteta yesterday. Yes, they have better players no question, but they are years ahead of others in this division and bloody light years ahead of us in approach to the game. They like some others (Howe, Santo etc), are playing the modern game of pass and move, not smash and grab. Warnock, Blackwell and Jepson are old school and more in tune with lower league football where grunt counts as much as passing skills. That may be enough to keep us up and they can then say "I told you so", but what do we do next season - go through all this **** again?
OS I made the same points about Man City today on another post and about Bournemouth and Watford’s style of play some time ago. I watch those teams with envy.
Sorry sparky, it was a serious point. Often a short throw in is a tap back to the person taking the throw and another first time pass to an other player, often in tight corners. I think we avoid the short throw ins as quick passes need to follow which we can't execute.
I know it was a serious point remote, and I completely agree with you. Essentially we're afraid to take short throw ins because we can't pass the ball afterwards. We are stuck with the long ball launch wherever the throw is. That is just a symptom of our deficiencies with the ball when it's on the deck.
