Goals on the counter-attack

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Boxing Day v Coventry, we defend a corner, Ndiaye carries the ball one end of the pitch to the other, pass to McAtee who has bust a gut (along with Lowe) to support him, scores with calm finish.
3 days later, v Blackpool, we defend a free kick, Ndiaye immediately passes to McAtee, who sprints the length of the pitch with Utd players in support, but he again places the ball with calmness into the net.
How many goals have we scored like that in the last 10 years? We have seemed vulnerable to opponents’ counter-attacks, but rarely threatened the opposition in this way. McAtee and Ndiaye are now giving us a whole new dimension. Long may it continue.

 

[Yewsman]

Opposite to first game of season where they did it to us! We've come a long way since then!

 

[billyblademan]

Off the top of my head, there’s also Khadra V Swansea and NDiaye V Blackburn

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Off the top of my head, there’s also Khadra V Swansea and NDiaye V Blackburn

Pity if Khadra doesn’t make it with us - there is a player in there. And there was also Ndiaye’s goal at Fulham last season. What is also encouraging is the number of players busting a gut to get up in support-I think Berge was one of them last night.

 

[billyblademan]

Pity if Khadra doesn’t make it with us - there is a player in there. And there was also Ndiaye’s goal at Fulham last season. What is also encouraging is the number of players busting a gut to get up in support-I think Berge was one of them last night.

Yep he was, and it was Max Lowe of all people who could have had an easy tap in for McAtee’s goal against Coventry

 

[Katzenjammer]

Pity if Khadra doesn’t make it with us - there is a player in there. And there was also Ndiaye’s goal at Fulham last season. What is also encouraging is the number of players busting a gut to get up in support-I think Berge was one of them last night.

I've been saying the same about Khadra. There's incredible potential there if he could just stop making his feet move too fast for his brain to catch up.

 

[bornablade]

Ndiaye at Fulham last season. (There's a pattern developing here).

 

[A_Bladesman]

Ndiaye at Fulham last season. (There's a pattern developing here).

Shouldnt have missed Norwood in S2. Give us a lift xoxo

 

[Ned the Donkey]

Boxing Day v Coventry, we defend a corner, Ndiaye carries the ball one end of the pitch to the other, pass to McAtee who has bust a gut (along with Lowe) to support him, scores with calm finish.
3 days later, v Blackpool, we defend a free kick, Ndiaye immediately passes to McAtee, who sprints the length of the pitch with Utd players in support, but he again places the ball with calmness into the net.
How many goals have we scored like that in the last 10 years? We have seemed vulnerable to opponents’ counter-attacks, but rarely threatened the opposition in this way. McAtee and Ndiaye are now giving us a whole new dimension. Long may it continue.

Exactly!

Watching McAtee, Berge(!), Ndiaye, Sharp(!!), and Bogle motoring down the other end was a sight to behold. With McAtee leaving his man behind we almost had a 5 on 3. I was wondering how we were going to make the most of it, when McAtee decided to use everyone else as a decoy and stick it in at the near post. Great goal.

 

[Silent Blade]

Yep he was, and it was Max Lowe of all people who could have had an easy tap in for McAtee’s goal against Coventry

Lowe would have been offside if McAtee passed the ball to him

 

[CPB]

Thing is it will make opposition teams have to think about it. Meaning they might be less inclined if leading or level to commit as many players for set pieces.

It also encourages our players to get forward for a break. Essentially all bodes well.

 

[BladesOnToast]

Boxing Day v Coventry, we defend a corner, Ndiaye carries the ball one end of the pitch to the other, pass to McAtee who has bust a gut (along with Lowe) to support him, scores with calm finish.
3 days later, v Blackpool, we defend a free kick, Ndiaye immediately passes to McAtee, who sprints the length of the pitch with Utd players in support, but he again places the ball with calmness into the net.
How many goals have we scored like that in the last 10 years? We have seemed vulnerable to opponents’ counter-attacks, but rarely threatened the opposition in this way. McAtee and Ndiaye are now giving us a whole new dimension. Long may it continue.

A similar question - in only just over a year (starting v Fulham 20/12/21) we have seen 3 goals where a player has won or been passed the ball in his own half, made a solo run to the other end and stuck it in the onion bag™.

Perhaps it's my poor memory but I'm struggling to think of a single other goal we've scored like this in recent years even during the Wilder Glory Years (Brooks perhaps? Probably going to kick myself).

 

[Bladesman]

A similar question - in only just over a year (starting v Fulham 20/12/21) we have seen 3 goals where a player has won or been passed the ball in his own half, made a solo run to the other end and stuck it in the onion bag™.

Perhaps it's my poor memory but I'm struggling to think of a single other goal we've scored like this in recent years even during the Wilder Glory Years (Brooks perhaps? Probably going to kick myself).

Wasn’t Basham’s arriving a counter? Can’t remember if it was from a Leeds set play or not.

 

[tomtheblade]

If we manage to get promoted it will be a great asset as we may be relying on these types of goals vs Premier League sides.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Wasn’t Basham’s arriving a counter? Can’t remember if it was from a Leeds set play or not.

Good shout. Slightly different in that it started with a long ball to players on the halfway line, and Sharp held it up before passing to Basham, who had run the length of the pitch on the counter attack. What has been distinctive recently is the counter-attack when all our players were defending.
Always good to have an excuse to look at Basham’s goal again!

 

[bonobo]

This is a change from Chsmpionship Wilderball as I see it. Willing to concede moren possession, to draw opponents out, let our forwards run at them and use their individual qualities and skills one on one, rather than the elaborate structured build ups and overloads.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

This is a change from Chsmpionship Wilderball as I see it. Willing to concede moren possession, to draw opponents out, let our forwards run at them and use their individual qualities and skills one on one, rather than the elaborate structured build ups and overloads.

It perhaps also influences defending set-pieces. There are frequent grumbles when all 11 players are back to defend corners/free-kicks; I have often agreed with the grumbles - leave someone on the halfway line to occupy a couple of defenders. But perhaps with our present squad it makes sense to encourage as many opponents as possible into our penalty area, win the ball, and unleash Ndiaye/ McAtee and willing runners, rather than aim a long ball to the centre circle at a lone attacker.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

We all know what is best, and then get shown up when events show otherwise. Loved it tonight at QPR when Warnock said NDiaye should stay up when we defend corners and set pieces. 5 minutes later, everyone back, NDiaye picks the ball up and runs the length of the pitch, and almost produces the perfect counter-attacking goal. What do managers know?