Billy’s positional play

[NotTheSharpest]

i know that the constant Sky ‘attention’ has been a frustration to many of the Sheffield based Blades but for some of us expats it has allowed for a greater level of visibility and insight than the iFollow service has ever allowed.

Almost without exception the analysis and commentary has continually called out the quality of Billy’s positional play. In every game he has found space in the box but the ball hasn’t found him. The Sky team have called it out time and time again.

In prior games when the ball has actually reached him he has more often than not put it away.

In the Derby game we saw the strength of his positional play in the unusual number of chances that he missed. We got the ball to the space he was in more in the Derby game than the last 4 or 5 games put together. He could easily have had a hat trick with a little more luck.

He is outstanding but before the Derby game we didn’t get the quality balls into the box early enough to benefit.

I know Chris has called bullshit on those questioning the quality and speed of the crossing over the last few games but we did get the ball in earlier and into better spaces in the Derby game and look at the result........

Just saying......

 

[Bladesman]

It is something everyone has been pointing out for a while that an early cross can cause havoc for the opposition especially on the counter attack.

Sharp is usually the player that thrives on that even if he misses a few chances.

 

[boo radley]

CW might well be protecting his players overall when he claims it bull shit. He is the best man to manage our team at the moment and we all love what he has given us. However, we are all not so naive as to notice when SOME crosses should go in a lot earlier than they do. Especially from the right at the moment.

 

[Revolution]

This is a bit subjective, but by my reckoning 10 of Billy's 13 league goals have been scored directly from, or shortly after, a first time cross or ball into the box.

The exceptions are his second at Blackburn, his goal at Millwall, and his goal at Ipswich. In each case there was play around the penalty area before the ball was crossed, or (in the case of Blackburn) the cross took some time to be delivered.

 

[Mumbo]

Said it all season as have thousands of others,get on Billy’s wavelength
and he’ll put 25 in.

 

[NotTheSharpest]

This is a bit subjective, but by my reckoning 10 of Billy's 13 league goals have been scored directly from, or shortly after, a first time cross or ball into the box.

The exceptions are his second at Blackburn, his goal at Millwall, and his goal at Ipswich. In each case there was play around the penalty area before the ball was crossed, or (in the case of Blackburn) the cross took some time to be delivered.

I was running through them myself and came to the same number.

Billy makes moves into space continually but we are so slow in the build up thatbthe advantage is often lost.

He is not the striker to play through balls to as he lacks pace. Nor is he the striker to score from set pieces and slow build up as he lacks height. But as the fox in the box to find space for quick balls whipped into the box there are few others to match in this league.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

On the flip side, if we did exactly what seems obvious, it would be easier to defend

 

[Revolution]

On the flip side, if we did exactly what seems obvious, it would be easier to defend

Would it? An early cross can come in before defenders are set.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Would it? An early cross can come in before defenders are set.

and Billy wouldn't be there yet

 

[Revolution]

and Billy wouldn't be there yet

You need to look back at the goals he's scored.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Would it? An early cross can come in before defenders are set.

Early first-time crosses, while effective if done correctly, are generally harder for players of average crossing ability to do. JOC’s one on Saturday shouldn’t necessarily give the impression it’s easy, which is why there have been several examples of both him and Basham sending early first-time crosses sailing over the bar from good areas. At any rate, looking back at that JOC and it actually took some excellent movement and technique from Sharp to twist and lurch backwards to direct it into the corner – a much tougher chance to get good contact onto than either of Sharp’s other big chances that game.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

You need to look back at the goals he's scored.

and you need to check my emojis

I just think we're all making it sound black and white. Sure we could cross it earlier some times but there are many facets to the way we play and that's what makes us hard to play against. McGoldrick is quite often the furthest player forward and Billy often drifts out wide, it's not just the case that we have both in the middle stood there waiting for a cross.

 

[Stretch]

He's a master poacher, an absolute master. He is always the one who seems to know where the ball is going to drop. Down to practice, experience and some kind of sixth sense which all the best strikers seem to have.

As much as we all like to criticise Sky's punditry [and I do as much as anyone sometimes] it is worth remembering that most of them played football at an incredibly high level, for a long time so actually do know what they are talking about, even if their delivery and subjectivity occasionally clouds how they get their points across. It's universally accepted now that had Billy been blessed with another yard of pace he would have played at the very top for one of the world biggest clubs. I would argue that he would still bag a handful in the PL, with the right service and I suspect many pundits would agree with that.

Lower down the pyramid you also have to look at someone like Jamie Cureton as well. Another remarkably prolific player who never quite had the attributes to cut it at the very top but has got goals at almost every club he has played for [20+ clubs in all. up and down the leagues.] Still banging them in regularly now at 43 years of age, albeit in non league.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Said it all season as have thousands of others,get on Billy’s wavelength
and he’ll put 25 in.

Is that "short-wave"?

 

[Revolution]

and you need to check my emojis

I just think we're all making it sound black and white. Sure we could cross it earlier some times but there are many facets to the way we play and that's what makes us hard to play against. McGoldrick is quite often the furthest player forward and Billy often drifts out wide, it's not just the case that we have both in the middle stood there waiting for a cross.

There is a happy medium with everything. I would agree that an early cross is harder, but it appears to be more effective. I'd like to see Stevens in particular put in the ball a little earlier.

Emojis are for children. I ignore them.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Completely agree with the OP.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

i know that the constant Sky ‘attention’ has been a frustration to many of the Sheffield based Blades but for some of us expats it has allowed for a greater level of visibility and insight than the iFollow service has ever allowed.

Almost without exception the analysis and commentary has continually called out the quality of Billy’s positional play. In every game he has found space in the box but the ball hasn’t found him. The Sky team have called it out time and time again.

In prior games when the ball has actually reached him he has more often than not put it away.

In the Derby game we saw the strength of his positional play in the unusual number of chances that he missed. We got the ball to the space he was in more in the Derby game than the last 4 or 5 games put together. He could easily have had a hat trick with a little more luck.

He is outstanding but before the Derby game we didn’t get the quality balls into the box early enough to benefit.

I know Chris has called bullshit on those questioning the quality and speed of the crossing over the last few games but we did get the ball in earlier and into better spaces in the Derby game and look at the result........

Just saying......

It's all about the creative diving headers...

 

[NotTheSharpest]

It's all about the creative diving headers...

Early creative diving headers into space......

 

[Guesty]

and you need to check my emojis

And you need to check yourself 'for you wreck yourself.

Anyway, yes, early crosses are great but you can't do them every time, there needs to be variety. It's the same with the SHOOOOOT! debate. No-one (I hope) is advocating shooting from distance at any given opportunity but it needs to be in the locker, because a) we might score from it, but more crucially b) if teams know we might have a dip, they need to defend against it and it'll open up more options everywhere.

 

[boo radley]

There is a happy medium with everything. I would agree that an early cross is harder, but it appears to be more effective. I'd like to see Baldock in particular put in the ball a little earlier.

Emojis are for children. I ignore them.

Corrected for you.