Plan B - Long ball

[Deleted member 875]

Watching the side over the last few games it is obvious that our style of play isn’t getting us the results that we want.

The stats are interesting, because we usually have a lot of possession but not much end product. There is an interesting concept called POMO (position of maximum opportunity) which correctly recognises that you can only score goals when the ball is in the POMO, unfortunately we don’t seem to be in the POMO a lot, and yesterday Rotherham was very effective at getting the ball in the POMO.

I think we need to be looking at going a lot more direct. We don’t play anywhere near as many long balls as we should, and I think we need a target man striker to launch balls up field to, and create chances with flicks and knock ons. We could also do with Freeman and Stevens advancing up the pitch when we have the ball and chasing balls in to the channels.

I think playing a lot more long ball would be in our benefit and get us the results we want, it is all well and good fannying about with the ball but it is pointless if it isn’t getting results, and I think by going long, and playing long ball it gives us an extra dimension to our play, and I think with a big physical target man it would make us a lot more difficult to play against.

 

[Ricky]

We need to be winning the ball in midfield and getting to the second ball occasionally to make such a style effective for us. Yesterday we barely did that once. It was pathetic.

Moving Basham into midfield is our best answer, but it has to be done as soon as it becomes apparent it's that sort of game. Leonard would also have been good for that.

We don't have the strikers that suit direct play though.

 

[alcoblade]

Watching the side over the last few games it is obvious that our style of play isn’t getting us the results that we want.

The stats are interesting, because we usually have a lot of possession but not much end product. There is an interesting concept called POMO (position of maximum opportunity) which correctly recognises that you can only score goals when the ball is in the POMO, unfortunately we don’t seem to be in the POMO a lot, and yesterday Rotherham was very effective at getting the ball in the POMO.

I think we need to be looking at going a lot more direct. We don’t play anywhere near as many long balls as we should, and I think we need a target man striker to launch balls up field to, and create chances with flicks and knock ons. We could also do with Freeman and Stevens advancing up the pitch when we have the ball and chasing balls in to the channels.

I think playing a lot more long ball would be in our benefit and get us the results we want, it is all well and good fannying about with the ball but it is pointless if it isn’t getting results, and I think by going long, and playing long ball it gives us an extra dimension to our play, and I think with a big physical target man it would make us a lot more difficult to play against.

But Rotherham are battling against relegation, and we are battling for promotion.

We must avoid undoing all our good work. We do need to vary our game more, but that might include bringing non a big man late on when all else has failed.

Our main issue is being too idealistic - looking for the perfect opportunity to get the ball into the box. We need to play the percentages a bit more, whilst not giving up on our footballing principles.

 

[mancunianblade]

I agree we could really do with taking adavantage if the electric pace that Duffy, Sharp, Clarke and McGoldrick all possess

 

[Speedracer]

I thought we tried to do just that yesterday, albeit not very well at all. It is a fine tactic if you have a passer like TC & a willing runner up top, & I guess Norwood could possibly do that job. His range of passing is good, but he would have to move further up the pitch & stop taking the ball of JOC & Egans toes, & to fit into the system Wilder wants it is not just a simple case of him pushing up 15/20 yards, other adjustments would have to be made in other areas, as well as investing in the right type of striker. Billy would be perfect if he had pace, but sadly not, although he should be able to form a good relationship IF we found the right player for the tactic.

 

[Houston_Blade]

2/10 for writing such a long fishing post.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Our style of play, even given a recent below average points haul,has us in 5th.

Punching well above our financial weight would suggest is realistically possible.

The REASON for this is our style of play. We went MORE direct yesterday and it didn’t work.

The obsession continues.

#gerritforrardandintbox

UTB

 

[Pedro Verde]

Well we played the Long Ball yesterday up to Sharp up against a 6ft 3in centre half and it didnt work
why we persisted with it I will never know you could see all day long it wouldnt work

 

[FTPE]

We need to be winning the ball in midfield and getting to the second ball occasionally to make such a style effective for us. Yesterday we barely did that once. It was pathetic.

Moving Basham into midfield is our best answer, but it has to be done as soon as it becomes apparent it's that sort of game. Leonard would also have been good for that.

We don't have the strikers that suit direct play though.

I agree 100%.
We have a lot of talent in midfield but as far as winning the second ball goes we are terrible at times.

 

[Fanny magnet]

Long ball was plan 'A' yesterday according to the manager
I think that's why the players had the arse on

 

[robbiez666]

HOOF!!!!

 

[Harry's Game]

Nothing wrong with our current style of play we just need to do it better than yesterday,

AND..

...have the options to change things when it isn’t working.

A Tammy Abraham would have been useful but we let Villa get him because... wages.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Watching the side over the last few games it is obvious that our style of play isn’t getting us the results that we want.

The stats are interesting, because we usually have a lot of possession but not much end product. There is an interesting concept called POMO (position of maximum opportunity) which correctly recognises that you can only score goals when the ball is in the POMO, unfortunately we don’t seem to be in the POMO a lot, and yesterday Rotherham was very effective at getting the ball in the POMO.

I think we need to be looking at going a lot more direct. We don’t play anywhere near as many long balls as we should, and I think we need a target man striker to launch balls up field to, and create chances with flicks and knock ons. We could also do with Freeman and Stevens advancing up the pitch when we have the ball and chasing balls in to the channels.

I think playing a lot more long ball would be in our benefit and get us the results we want, it is all well and good fannying about with the ball but it is pointless if it isn’t getting results, and I think by going long, and playing long ball it gives us an extra dimension to our play, and I think with a big physical target man it would make us a lot more difficult to play against.

I'm not so sure Rotherham went long so much as battled hard to turnover possession and work it out to the wings where tTaylor either ran at our defence or put some decent crosses in to Ajayi (a defender)

 

[cahill]

Wilder and Knil should stick to their principles but buy a striker in jan

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

While the occasional ball is OK if something is on, hoofing it for 90 minutes is hardly going to bring Fleck, Norwood and Duffy into the game is it.

We've seen enough hoof in our time so no thank you.

 

[Marcus Tullius Cicero]

Watching the side over the last few games it is obvious that our style of play isn’t getting us the results that we want.

The stats are interesting, because we usually have a lot of possession but not much end product. There is an interesting concept called POMO (position of maximum opportunity) which correctly recognises that you can only score goals when the ball is in the POMO, unfortunately we don’t seem to be in the POMO a lot, and yesterday Rotherham was very effective at getting the ball in the POMO.

I think we need to be looking at going a lot more direct. We don’t play anywhere near as many long balls as we should, and I think we need a target man striker to launch balls up field to, and create chances with flicks and knock ons. We could also do with Freeman and Stevens advancing up the pitch when we have the ball and chasing balls in to the channels.

I think playing a lot more long ball would be in our benefit and get us the results we want, it is all well and good fannying about with the ball but it is pointless if it isn’t getting results, and I think by going long, and playing long ball it gives us an extra dimension to our play, and I think with a big physical target man it would make us a lot more difficult to play agai

 

[Topplayersleave]

The reason our game plan isn't working is because Fleck and Duffy don't pick the ball up and run into the penalty area and cause panic.
Duffy did it once yesterday and scored, but how often does he do it

Fleck did it at Derby and Basham scored,

Norwood is there to spray the passes, Fleck and Duffy need to be terrorising the penalty area instead of constantly giving three and four yard passes to Freeman or Stevens who haven't got enough confidence in their ability to get a cross in

If it's not Freeman or Stevens it's O'Connell or Basham, neither of whom can cross the ball

Attacking the penalty area and playing one two's with Sharp or Clarke or McGoldrick is what Duffy and Fleck should be doing a lot more of

 

[Marcus Tullius Cicero]

Our style of play, even given a recent below average points haul,has us in 5th.

Punching well above our financial weight would suggest is realistically possible.

The REASON for this is our style of play. We went MORE direct yesterday and it didn’t work.

The obsession continues.

#gerritforrardandintbox

UTB

We need a Tony Currie who can shrug off challenges and a Woodward who can shoot from distance or put a quality ball into the area. I recon we need to spend 20 mill in the Jan transfer window

 

[Fanny magnet]

Nothing wrong with our current style of play we just need to do it better than yesterday,

AND..

...have the options to change things when it isn’t working.

A Tammy Abraham would have been useful but we let Villa get him because... wages.

Gets on my tits that because ....wages shit, where we supposed to find the money from to pay these wages m

Duh ! we could have signed Ronaldo but ......wages .moronic !

 

[DronnieBlade]

We need a Tony Currie who can shrug off challenges and a Woodward who can shoot from distance or put a quality ball into the area. I recon we need to spend 20 mill in the Jan transfer window

Every single side in the country could do with adding players with such proven quality. That’s a given.

If Wilder gets £2m to spend, I’d be surprised.

Personally, I think we are just missing a fully fit and at it Paul Coutts, a fully rejuvenated John Fleck, Oli Norwood to be more consistent, Duffy to be at his best more consistently, and one of Clarke, Washington or a new lad to come in and step up, and we would pretty much be there.

UTB

 

[Marcus Tullius Cicero]

Sorry, as I was kissing the wife the key board got compromised. I was going to say our nice passing game will never stand up unless we sign more intelligent players and have more bite in midfield. Going back to the kissing, laters.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Sorry, as I was kissing the wife the key board got compromised. I was going to say our nice passing game will never stand up unless we sign more intelligent players and have more bite in midfield. Going back to the kissing, laters.

French?

 

[JohnDenver]

Watching the side over the last few games it is obvious that our style of play isn’t getting us the results that we want.

The stats are interesting, because we usually have a lot of possession but not much end product. There is an interesting concept called POMO (position of maximum opportunity) which correctly recognises that you can only score goals when the ball is in the POMO, unfortunately we don’t seem to be in the POMO a lot, and yesterday Rotherham was very effective at getting the ball in the POMO.

I think we need to be looking at going a lot more direct. We don’t play anywhere near as many long balls as we should, and I think we need a target man striker to launch balls up field to, and create chances with flicks and knock ons. We could also do with Freeman and Stevens advancing up the pitch when we have the ball and chasing balls in to the channels.

I think playing a lot more long ball would be in our benefit and get us the results we want, it is all well and good fannying about with the ball but it is pointless if it isn’t getting results, and I think by going long, and playing long ball it gives us an extra dimension to our play, and I think with a big physical target man it would make us a lot more difficult to play against.

Pinchy’s gonna kick your head in.

 

[pommpey]

Watching the side over the last few games it is obvious that our style of play isn’t getting us the results that we want.

The stats are interesting, because we usually have a lot of possession but not much end product. There is an interesting concept called POMO (position of maximum opportunity) which correctly recognises that you can only score goals when the ball is in the POMO, unfortunately we don’t seem to be in the POMO a lot, and yesterday Rotherham was very effective at getting the ball in the POMO.

I think we need to be looking at going a lot more direct. We don’t play anywhere near as many long balls as we should, and I think we need a target man striker to launch balls up field to, and create chances with flicks and knock ons. We could also do with Freeman and Stevens advancing up the pitch when we have the ball and chasing balls in to the channels.

I think playing a lot more long ball would be in our benefit and get us the results we want, it is all well and good fannying about with the ball but it is pointless if it isn’t getting results, and I think by going long, and playing long ball it gives us an extra dimension to our play, and I think with a big physical target man it would make us a lot more difficult to play against.

No mate. With respect, we only have one player who can - 60% of the time - pick out distanced passes and only when our players seem to be either stood out on the flanks or moving into space behind sleeping midfields (like the pigs) Most of the other times, Norwood's pinged passes are hit with such pace - AT recipients rather than TO recipients that they need two touches to bring it under control. Don't get me wrong, Norwood is a key asset but if you are expecting him to drop the ball behind retreating centre backs onto a sprinting Billy Sharp getting in behind then I think you'll be left waiting. There's no one else who can do that - Coutts and Fleck are mainly ball-to-feet midfielders and Duffs plays off scraps and mixes it up. Considering Clarkey is possibly just playing out his contract now and we still can't find any use for McGoldrick and both wing backs don't have sufficient pace, the only way to get the ball forward is midfield>Duffy or midfield>Wingbacks. We proved on Saturday that lumping it forward gave us nothing, and I'd hate for us to be re-labelled a 'long ball side' again.

pommpey

 

[snootyfenooty]

But Rotherham are battling against relegation, and we are battling for promotion.

We must avoid undoing all our good work. We do need to vary our game more, but that might include bringing non a big man late on when all else has failed.

Our main issue is being too idealistic - looking for the perfect opportunity to get the ball into the box. We need to play the percentages a bit more, whilst not giving up on our footballing principles.

Rotherham won't get relegated on that showing, there's a few I've seen ahead of them in the relegation stakes, pigs included.

For us, a good place to start would be to do what Duffy did yesterday, get the ball in attacking midfield position and run through the middle at pace before having a pop. This faff getting it to the wing at all costs is getting on my tits.

 

[Fanny magnet]

Rotherham won't get relegated on that showing, there's a few I've seen ahead of them in the relegation stakes, pigs included.

For us, a good place to start would be to do what Duffy did yesterday, get the ball in attacking midfield position and run through the middle at pace before having a pop. This faff getting it to the wing at all costs is getting on my tits.

They will ,they are fucking awful and but for a moment of keystone cops defending would have lost to an absolutely atrocious sheffield United side who looked like they had been on a two week stag do

 

[Mumbo]

The reason our game plan isn't working is because Fleck and Duffy don't pick the ball up and run into the penalty area and cause panic.
Duffy did it once yesterday and scored, but how often does he do it

Fleck did it at Derby and Basham scored,

Norwood is there to spray the passes, Fleck and Duffy need to be terrorising the penalty area instead of constantly giving three and four yard passes to Freeman or Stevens who haven't got enough confidence in their ability to get a cross in

If it's not Freeman or Stevens it's O'Connell or Basham, neither of whom can cross the ball

Attacking the penalty area and playing one two's with Sharp or Clarke or McGoldrick is what Duffy and Fleck should be doing a lot more of

Spot on mate.
Watched brookes do it last week for Wales,fleck and Duffy definitely have the ability.It’s very difficult to defend against a player with close control and determination under those circumstances.

 

[Silent Blade]

Watching the side over the last few games it is obvious that our style of play isn’t getting us the results that we want.

The stats are interesting, because we usually have a lot of possession but not much end product. There is an interesting concept called POMO (position of maximum opportunity) which correctly recognises that you can only score goals when the ball is in the POMO, unfortunately we don’t seem to be in the POMO a lot, and yesterday Rotherham was very effective at getting the ball in the POMO.

I think we need to be looking at going a lot more direct. We don’t play anywhere near as many long balls as we should, and I think we need a target man striker to launch balls up field to, and create chances with flicks and knock ons. We could also do with Freeman and Stevens advancing up the pitch when we have the ball and chasing balls in to the channels.

I think playing a lot more long ball would be in our benefit and get us the results we want, it is all well and good fannying about with the ball but it is pointless if it isn’t getting results, and I think by going long, and playing long ball it gives us an extra dimension to our play, and I think with a big physical target man it would make us a lot more difficult to play against.

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[Cassius Kray]

Yesterday almost every ball from Henderson was a big hoof up front, almost always leading to us losing posession. It was clearly under instruction from Wilder (who bizarrely in his post-match interview criticised the players for not going direct enough). I can only assume that he thought a) Rotherham would press us hard at the back and it'd be risky to play from the back and/or b) he thought Rotherham were poor on the second ball and we'd tend to pick it back up. As it turned out, we only did anything of note when we were back to our usual passing game. Really surprised that we set up to play like we did, and even more so that we continued when it was clearly not working.

 

[Northyorksblade]

2/10 for writing such a long fishing post.

If you ard talking about the OP, that's not long by Brownie's standards