Play the simple ball...

[mattbianco1]

One of the first things you're taught as a youngster. Morgan Gibbs-White is easily one of the most gifted players we've got, who clearly lacks this basic level of footballing knowledge

 

[Varkanoid]

That makes perfectly no sense.

 

[jono_t2000]

One of the first things you're taught as a youngster. Morgan Gibbs-White is easily one of the most gifted players we've got, who clearly lacks this basic level of footballing knowledge

You take away his flair and unpredictability and you don't have that gifted player anymore. Simple as that.

 

[robbiez666]

On the one hand, Gibbs-White loses the ball when he tries something fancy.
On the other hand, Gibbs-White creates chances when he tries something fancy

He's far from the finished product (hence not playing in the EPL, I'd guess) but the unpredictability of him and Ndiaye add something we didn't have going forward last season.

 

[Gimli]

There’s too many at the moment who are only playing a simple ball, it’s too safe, Gibbs-White and Ndiaye at least try to make something happen. Does it always come off? Hell no but it’s the best chance we have of breaking a side down.

 

[GreenhillBladeinToronto]

As an ex coach I see him as a talented but frustrating player. For me, the bigger issue is that when he is taking all his touches he draws in 2-3 oppo players creating spaces out wide which… we rarely utilized today. Slav went back to a 3-4-1-2 (the only problem was that MGW really didn't play a 10 as, particularly first half he was rarely a focal point) but didn't seem to give Bash/Davies any licence to go forward which was criminal first 70 mins when Cov only had one up top. Bash finally seemed to say “F**k this” and took things into his own hands. Davies didn’t.

 

[Houston_Blade]

One of the first things you're taught as a youngster. Morgan Gibbs-White is easily one of the most gifted players we've got, who clearly lacks this basic level of footballing knowledge

As opposed to our other midfielders who neglect to play the ball to their teammates at all.

 

[AdamSufc1997]

You're calling him another Ravel Morrison then

 

[Champagneblade]

On the one hand, Gibbs-White loses the ball when he tries something fancy.
On the other hand, Gibbs-White creates chances when he tries something fancy

He's far from the finished product (hence not playing in the EPL, I'd guess) but the unpredictability of him and Ndiaye add something we didn't have going forward last season.

Think the point is he tries something fancy and runs the ball out of play when there is absolutely no requirement to do that. Sometimes just do the basics. Yes, something clever can create a chance but I know exactly what the OP is talking about.

Didzy did something similar on the left. Instead of controlling the ball and laying it off, he tried some flash turn through his legs which just ran the ball out of play. Why? We're not auditioning to be the Harlem Globetrotters, we're aiming to be an effective team. If you want to do that at 3-0 then go for it, but at 0-0 at home and struggling, every attack needs to count. It could just peter out because your party piece that looked good in training in the week didn't come off. It's all far too blasé at the moment.

Maybe they're shitting themselves that if they did achieve something this season they'd all be without a job next season?

 

[mattbianco1]

You take away his flair and unpredictability and you don't have that gifted player anymore. Simple as that.

There's having the unpredictability to your game and then there's knowing when to try it.
Even the best players in the world don't try backheels and a pirouette each and every time. Sometimes the simple pass is the best pass.

What was that scissor kick clearance all about?

 

[Fulwood Blade]

One of the first things you're taught as a youngster. Morgan Gibbs-White is easily one of the most gifted players we've got, who clearly lacks this basic level of footballing knowledge

Agreed - he appears to NEED to have at least one fancy touch every time he's on the ball - We don't need to see it every time, that he's got more skill than everyone else.

He needs to use the skill wisely and not think he's a show pony all the time.

UTB

 

[Fulwood Blade]

As opposed to our other midfielders who neglect to play the ball to their teammates at all.

yes they have issues too - but MGW has the issues that mattbianco1 alludes to - it's a shame.

Your comment is right too - our other players in and around midfield are looking clueless at times.

UTB

 

[mattbianco1]

As opposed to our other midfielders who neglect to play the ball to their teammates at all.

Like Mr Hourihane ?

 

[Eza Blade]

One of the first things you're taught as a youngster. Morgan Gibbs-White is easily one of the most gifted players we've got, who clearly lacks this basic level of footballing knowledge

Some people still think their feet move faster than the ball. But we are so pedestrian moving the football or restarting the game we never give him chance to beat a man one on one. He’s always got a few more for attention.

I think it maybe a trust issue with MGW. He passes the ball and it ends up with the goal keeper rather than receiving it back in a more attacking position.

 

[raimond]

There's having the unpredictability to your game and then there's knowing when to try it.
Even the best players in the world don't try backheels and a pirouette each and every time. Sometimes the simple pass is the best pass.

What was that scissor kick clearance all about?

Yep, that pissed me off too.

I think everything you've said is spot on and folk saying 'you'll take away his flair' etc are missing the point- you're not saying he should play like Michael Doyle.

When he plays a pass and is incisive he looks great. When he tries that little flick round the corner which gives his teammate no fucking chance then looks gutted when he doesn't get it back, it's nowt. It looks good, but it's never going to come off.

And that bleedin pirouette (often when there's no bastard defender near him!!) will quickly become predictable. I like him but rather than 'reigning it in' it's that he needs to be more incisive and direct rather than just pretty shit which does nowt. He's all foreplay no fuck.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Like Mr Hourihane ?

Yep, I’d much rather a player like MGW who actually tries something than players like Fleck, Norwood and Hourihane who do very little positive over the course of a game.

If MGW did his tricks and then played the simple ball he’d play for Wolves in the PL, not us at the bottom of the Championship.

 

[Snowflake]

You take away his flair and unpredictability and you don't have that gifted player anymore. Simple as that.

Not so. Leave his flair but get him to pass when he is faced with too many defenders.
I don’t mind him losing the ball attacking their penalty area, but not back in our half.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

Yep, that pissed me off too.

I think everything you've said is spot on and folk saying 'you'll take away his flair' etc are missing the point- you're not saying he should play like Michael Doyle.

When he plays a pass and is incisive he looks great. When he tries that little flick round the corner which gives his teammate no fucking chance then looks gutted when he doesn't get it back, it's nowt. It looks good, but it's never going to come off.

And that bleedin pirouette (often when there's no bastard defender near him!!) will quickly become predictable. I like him but rather than 'reigning it in' it's that he needs to be more incisive and direct rather than just pretty shit which does nowt. He's all foreplay no fuck.

Second only to Billy in goals.

 

[mattbianco1]

Yep, I’d much rather a player like MGW who actually tries something than players like Fleck, Norwood and Hourihane who do very little positive over the course of a game.

If MGW did his tricks and then played the simple ball he’d play for Wolves in the PL, not us at the bottom of the Championship.

I thought Fkeck played well today. Him, Basham and League 1 Wes were best on pitch for us.

You've nailed MGW in your second paragraph. He wouldn't be playing for us if he did the simple stuff. That actually backs up my OP that he 'should' be doing that

 

[BettingBlade]

MGW was fucking shit today, largely because he appears to be obsessed with having to do something fancy every time he has the ball.

If he just did the simple things today, he’d probably have been MOTM.

 

[Houston_Blade]

I thought Fkeck played well today. Him, Basham and League 1 Wes were best on pitch for us.

You've nailed MGW in your second paragraph. He wouldn't be playing for us if he did the simple stuff. That actually backs up my OP that he 'should' be doing that

Respect your opinion but I thought Fleck was shocking. He finds 2 of their players to hide behind when our defenders need an outlet. Fleck just waddles around and then occasionally decides to make a burst with the ball before he disappears again for another 20 mins. Rinse and repeat.

The number of channel balls Davies played today because Fleck wasn’t available was awful.

 

[stringer]

What was that scissor kick clearance all about?

Clearing the ball I think, and it did the job perfectly

 

[CarlMcBlade]

It quite simple really....Teams press us, whereas we don’t press teams at all.

 

[Houston_Blade]

It quite simple really....Teams press us, whereas we don’t press teams at all.

We try, but then they play 3 passes and they beat our ineffective press. On the other hand, we shit the bed and pass them the ball as soon as they run vaguely in our direction.

 

[William Large]

There’s too many at the moment who are only playing a simple ball, it’s too safe, Gibbs-White and Ndiaye at least try to make something happen. Does it always come off? Hell no but it’s the best chance we have of breaking a side down.

And how many times recently has this worked please?

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Like Mr Hourihane ?

Sadly he acts like a player who is looking for contracts at the end of his career.

villa fans told us he hides.

He does and he also play silly 2 or 3 yard passes just to move the ball on.

Personally I think he is being asked to do a difficult job that he is incapable of doing - we may well help to ruin and hasten the demise of yet another player.

UTB

 

[jono_t2000]

We try, but then they play 3 passes and they beat our ineffective press. On the other hand, we shit the bed and pass them the ball as soon as they run vaguely in our direction.

How come we can play 1 touch first time passes backwards, but when going forward when a player receives the ball they need 100 touches before making a pass??

 

[Luke1993]

In fairness to MGW, if I was him and looked up and saw the simple pass was to, fleck, hourihane, Stevens etc I'd think nah fuck that I'll try something else.

 

[Nagima]

MGW has skill and he shows that he is committed and wants to play. Is he as effective as he could be??..No. He needs to get his head up more and vary his play. Often with MGW Ndiaye and Bogle they tend to hold on to the ball or try something complicated in tight spaces.

For me its about balance and cohesion of our team. Without a proper 2 in CM and a lack of leadership on the pitch, there is too much expected of the flair players to create something when a more industrious midfield supporting them would provide more options variety and effective attacking play overall.

Coventry's players worked hard in the middle and tried to move with pace. They are a limited side but effective and well drilled. We are lacking leadership and also effort from some in our team. Hourihane practically all the time and at times Fleck do not, transition the ball quickly enough nor try to get on the ball or support enough.

The first half had Billy and Nydie under pressure receiving the ball due to the lack of quality of our passing and the lack of support from midfield runners.

Is not the flair players who are the problem its our lack of ability in CM.

 

[Nagima]

In fairness to MGW, if I was him and looked up and saw the simple pass was to, fleck, hourihane, Stevens etc I'd think nah fuck that I'll try something else.

Interesting point. At one stage today in the second half. Fleck knocked a ball back to Stevens. When Stevens looked up there were 2 Coventry players bearing down on him and Hourihane and Fleck both 10 yards away did not demand the ball or look to move into space give him an option. They stood looking at him.