The long ball over the top down the middle

[FMBlade1]

By my count (games I've watched), today was the third time this season we have been left horribly exposed by it, which resulted in Egan being sent off.

The other times were against West Ham where we were fortunate as Felipe Anderson missed a sitter and Watford where we were punished by Deulofeu.

Were there any other occasions people can recall?

Might be over analysing or overexaggerating this but seems to be a bit of an issue that we need some work on.

 

[raul]

We have to accept it - you've only given 3 examples after all - as a consequence of how we overload the flanks when we properly commit to attack.

There's a load wrong atm, but baby/bathwater.

 

[FMBlade1]

We have to accept it - you've only given 3 examples after all - as a consequence of how we overload the flanks when we properly commit to attack.

There's a load wrong atm, but baby/bathwater.

Very fair point, can't have everything. Was more curious if people can recall any other examples. I'm sure they work on these things in training and yes individual mistakes happen, just wonder if this is an achilleas heel.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

Newcastle at home?

Say what you want about Steve Bruce, but elephants never forget.

 

[Lowen]

Chelsea (A), Newcastle (H). Definitely and issue and something teams are probably aware of and try to exploit.

 

[Stretch]

I seem to recall that teams started doing this to us in the during the first season back in the Championship. We learned to deal with it in the following season through a combination of certain players improving, and an upgrade in the central CB role.

We will figure this out again, but I think it is academic if we don't start scoring more goals in the near future. This for me is the main weak point and we can't exist in this league long term by scrapping out 1-0 wins.

 

[Bladesman]

So we need to fit Egan with some sort of rocket?

 

[Ricky]

We should sign Upamecano for CB.

Solved.

 

[Shoreham_Bhoys]

Sometimes the old ways are best, especially with a big striker like Joelinton to aim at.

We don't really have this option and it's also not in Wilder's philosophy.

 

[FTPE]

I agree.
Nothing makes you look softer defensively than a big hoof forward troubling your back line, or worse still carving you open for a goal, but that's our style, we are going to get caught out.
Most teams will have covering wingbacks but Enda and George are probably in the opposition's box still when their keeper smashes it forward to their striker

 

[HeySethUTB]

Games against Liverpool/arsenal at BL the few times they went longer we managed to get out of jail due to last ditch tackles or poor finishing. Question - How do we tweak the system to score more goals without losing our defensive solidity? Or is it a case of just buying better players.

 

[Ricky]

Dare I suggest we might need more pace in the back 3.....?

(And everywhere else)

We can carry on without pace and stay strong defensively, but at what attacking cost?

 

[Houston_Blade]

We frequently get caught attacking a ball that just doesn’t need to be attacked, it drives me mad. Another trick is Egan attacking a ball regardless of whether it’s Basham/JOC’s to attack.

I have said all season that for a team with a ‘lean’ defence, we are very prone to a defensive error.

 

[Geordie Blade]

Dare I suggest we might need more pace in the back 3.....?

(And everywhere else)

We can carry on without pace and stay strong defensively, but at what attacking cost?

I don't think it's a pace thing, though. The three instances cited all stemmed from John Egan misjudging the flight of the ball, or seeming to be caught in two minds.

 

[HeySethUTB]

If Bournemouth go down, would Nathan ake be beyond our reach? Saying that not sure who he replaces to stop defensive errors.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Very fair point, can't have everything. Was more curious if people can recall any other examples. I'm sure they work on these things in training and yes individual mistakes happen, just wonder if this is an achilleas heel.

Leicester/Vardy

 

[Bergen Blade]

Rather than challenging for the dropping ball Egan may have let the ball bounce, or even let Joelinton attempt to take it down, get goalside of him, holding him up until Basham got back to cover. Egan is strong and usually wins those balls, but it's risky when he's completely isolated.

As Joelinton got goalside of him it was a poor decision by Egan to grab him and get sent off at that stage. Egan may have caught up with him before he finished. If not, this particular striker is usually poor when he's clean through, while Henderson is very good in those situations.

 

[CentralQuay]

If Bournemouth go down, would Nathan ake be beyond our reach? Saying that not sure who he replaces to stop defensive errors.

Man City/Leicester wanted him and Bournemouth asked for £80 million.

 

[TJB.]

We need someone to battle for Egan's place. Perhaps he's gotten a little too comfortable. Someone whose career has fallen a little flat and has a point to prove. Someone who needs the kind of revival only Wilder and Knill can provide.

Only one man for the job...

 

[Superblades]

Liverpool @ home, Mane missed a sitter.

 

[Bladesthorpe]

Yes defenders making mistakes left right and centre, hang on a minute who has got the best defensive record in the league bar Liverpool.FFS.

 

[Gimli]

Yes defenders making mistakes left right and centre, hang on a minute who has got the best defensive record in the league bar Liverpool.FFS.

I get what you’re saying - and there’s been a lot of overreaction to yesterday’s poor performance, but I do think that there is a genuine point being made here rather than just criticism for criticisms sake - we do get exposed by the long straight ball over the top, it’s been particularly apparent in the 2 games post lockdown and is something that we need to address.

 

[Snowflake]

Sometimes the old ways are best, especially with a big striker like Joelinton to aim at.

We don't really have this option and it's also not in Wilder's philosophy.

We used it a lot yesterday with Henderson launching it towards McB

 

[Nah den]

We have been undone by the long straight ball a few times this season, and it does need addressing. Yesterday i just thought Egan was trying to be too clever, a bit cute. He seemed to try to cushion the volley to Basham, rather than just putting his foot through it. If he went to take everything the ball goes miles away from the danger zone, in whatever direction, doesn't matter - his role first and foremost is to defend, just clear it.

 

[Sheff de party]

By my count (games I've watched), today was the third time this season we have been left horribly exposed by it, which resulted in Egan being sent off.

The other times were against West Ham where we were fortunate as Felipe Anderson missed a sitter and Watford where we were punished by Deulofeu.

Were there any other occasions people can recall?

Might be over analysing or overexaggerating this but seems to be a bit of an issue that we need some work on.

West Ham’s goal at their place if I recall.

 

[SheepdipBlade]

Games against Liverpool/arsenal at BL the few times they went longer we managed to get out of jail due to last ditch tackles or poor finishing. Question - How do we tweak the system to score more goals without losing our defensive solidity? Or is it a case of just buying better players.

My understanding is that the quick, full field press is supposed to close down the opposition before the long ball can be played.

Maybe we're rusty with this part of the system (amongst others).

The only other option I can see might be to hold a deeper line.

 

[Bladesthorpe]

I get what you’re saying - and there’s been a lot of overreaction to yesterday’s poor performance, but I do think that there is a genuine point being made here rather than just criticism for criticisms sake - we do get exposed by the long straight ball over the top, it’s been particularly apparent in the 2 games post lockdown and is something that we need to address.

The point is there's another 18 teams supporters who will be dissecting all their goals conceded, what I'm trying to say is our defence has been our outstanding part of the team until yesterday.

 

[Gimli]

The point is there's another 18 teams supporters who will be dissecting all their goals conceded, what I'm trying to say is our defence has been our outstanding part of the team until yesterday.

Yeah undoubtedly the defence has been superb - I don’t think anyone, even us as fans, really expected that we’d have the 2nd best defensive record in the league (even after conceding 3 yesterday).

In terms of player of the season you could make a case for any of the back 6 (including hendo) as they’ve all been absolutely outstanding.

But I don’t think it’s wrong to point out where we are being undone - it’s likely that other teams have noticed we have a bit of a weakness around the straight ball - whether that’s through Egan not being the fastest or not being the quickest to turn, or whether it’s because we’ve committed too many on the overlap, it will be picked up on - like you say we have a really good record defensively so teams will be trying to exploit any perceived weakness.

 

[PokerBlade]

It's probably reading too much into too few instances, but Newcastle's goal in the home game was a good instance of someone exploiting our set up. A player comes short, dragging Egan forward, and flicks it into the space behind for a runner. I can't think of who of the top of my head, but other teams have tried to do it, mostly unsuccessfully.

To some extent the Egan red is just shit that's going to happen with the way we play. He's isolated, high up the pitch, and he cocks up the challenge. Even then, cover arrived in time to make it not a straight red. And were it not for getting booked for absolutely nothing we'd have had eleven men on the pitch.

I don't want to sugar coat that performance, because it's probably the worst we've played in the league in a long, long time, but I'd hasten to add that we all knew that kind of result can happen to us with the way we play. Remember getting beaten 4-1 by Walsall? We play a weird system and if players aren't doing their jobs it can fall apart. That's the risk, the rewards so far have been well worth it.

 

[FMBlade1]

Watching full highlights again, Giroud almost made 2-1 with a long ball over.

Is there a way we can stop this weakness without throwing the baby out with the bathwater?

Or is it a small price to pay for the way we play?