Who was our last great crosser of a ball?

[Dellas Cowboys]

Sharp is great at crossing. Probably comes from knowing where he'd like everyone else to put the ball . I always thought Jamie Murphy was good as seemed to often pick out a player.

 

[corner_flag]

One of the frustrations with United are the number of poor crosses - usually not getting beyond the first man - often ending a good move. So much has improved in the game in general in recent years, but I can't think of when we last had a player who consistently put good balls in (credit to Bogle yesterday for his ball to Mcatee for the second goal though). The last really good crosser I can think of was David Cotterill over ten years ago? Bring back Colin Morris is all I can say!

Crossing is overrated. Even teams with excellent crossers barely convert 1 in 50 crosses into goals. We must be down at about 1 in 500. Surely the stattos know this?

So why do we keep playing aerial crosses into the box, expecting them to get through a forest of tall defenders to our players who ard all tiny or and crap headers-of-the-ball like Berge.

 

[LJBlade]

What do we all class as a good crosser of the ball?

 

[corner_flag]

I'm not sure we are even that good at corners, which are just a particular type of cross. I think we have conceded almost as many goals from cleared corners as we have scored from them ourselves

 

[Sithblade]

Did Matt Lowton supply a few decent crosses and assists in the "Ched" season? Wasn't bad in the PL for Burnley either, forgot he played for Villa as well.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Which is weird because he’s actually quite good at it, as his assists record demonstrates.

noticed one attack against Boro 2nd half, he got free down the left, then without really looking, just swung a boot at it, hoping it might find someone in a red & white shirt (it didn't). There again he's not alone in doing it.

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

The first that sprung to my mind was Cotterill then Liddell.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Sharp is great at crossing. Probably comes from knowing where he'd like everyone else to put the ball . I always thought Jamie Murphy was good as seemed to often pick out a player.

Yes, he always had an end product.

 

[HermitageBlade]

Came on here to say that.
Lovely delivery.

I thought more would agree to be honest, I thought that was the correct answer

 

[ton-up]

Paul Devlin when converted to a winger by Colin.

After that, Colin Morris & Bryson?

 

[Eddie odd legs]

Len Allchurch brother of Ivor (Wales international centre half)

 

[Chezzy Blades]

He wasn’t here long as most of the other parts of his game were awful but I actually thought Chris Hussey was a lovely crosser of the ball. He put one in at Fleetwood for EEL’s last minute equaliser that any lefty would have been proud of.

 

[bonobo]

This was my main bugbear before the season started, sign a player with good quality delivery, ideally on the left side. I think McAtee looks decent when he gets out on the left, but only really Sharp delivers consistently, when he can cut the ball back. As to the last best. Gillespie, but, I seem to remember that nearly half the Basset era side, could be considered to be good quality crossers, one of the main criteria for getting into the side.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Crosses have gone out of fashion in football. Cut backs is the new version. That said we have a fair amount of goals from corners this year so we must be half decent at lumping the ball into the box from wide.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

When laid back to him at the apex of the box, Norwood can hit a first time cross as good as anyone I’ve seen. Borbokis was a technically excellent crosser of a ball.

 

[Bladesince59]

Woody

 

[pommpey]

Woodward was obviously a supreme crosser of the ball both deadball and moving. He'd hit it with pace as well and rarely looped it. Once it was heading for a 'zone' (usually the area marked from posts to penalty spot which is how I used to coach crossing back in the day) it's up to the attackers to challenge and win. If you don't get the ball in at a challengable height and speed, you've fucked up.

Jack O'Connell and Chris Basham were also decent crossers from right and left once the overload had put them into a position to get it over. It's something we try badly and fail at these days. We endlessly make ventures to get a crossing opportunity yet back when Wilderball worked, the opportunity was there early and the ball went over for either Leon or Billy to get to or Stevens, Freeman, Baldock or the far side wingback to sweep in. These days we don't have the players to make that work and oppositions are quick to close us down to prevent the cross. Eventually we end up going backwards and up the other side or just coughing up possession.

pommpey

 

[71Blade]

A comment which demonstrates Osborn’s credentials as the latest scapegoat.

Touched a nerve ... I apologise to the soon to be Mrs Osborn ... Lighten up it's a forum ...UTB

 

[JJ Sefton]

David Cotterill.

 

[LJBlade]

Touched a nerve ... I apologise to the soon to be Mrs Osborn ... Lighten up it's a forum ...UTB

Why...would this...have...touched a nerve?

I agree, it's a forum and I was making an observation. If you disagree with it then feel free to tell me why.

 

[Snowflake]

One of the frustrations with United are the number of poor crosses - usually not getting beyond the first man - often ending a good move. So much has improved in the game in general in recent years, but I can't think of when we last had a player who consistently put good balls in (credit to Bogle yesterday for his ball to Mcatee for the second goal though). The last really good crosser I can think of was David Cotterill over ten years ago? Bring back Colin Morris is all I can say!

Weirdly I think it was a strength that Burke had.

 

[Snowflake]

One of the frustrations with United are the number of poor crosses - usually not getting beyond the first man - often ending a good move. So much has improved in the game in general in recent years, but I can't think of when we last had a player who consistently put good balls in (credit to Bogle yesterday for his ball to Mcatee for the second goal though). The last really good crosser I can think of was David Cotterill over ten years ago? Bring back Colin Morris is all I can say!

Simpson aiming at Pace.

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

Simpson aiming at Pace.

Also, when Brian Deane was playing for us he was the best crosser of the ball with either foot.

 

[mattbianco1]

Duffy
S.Quinn
Williamson
Ifill

 

[joe casey]

Sharp, MGW, Ben Davies, Cotterill, Lee Williamson (say it quitely but Osborn is one of the best in the squad for crosses). One of the main problems though is the cross is only as good as the striker willing to take a gamble and get on the end of it. Even Khadra in his short time seemed to have a lovely whipped cross that we never utilised properly.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

Matt Phillips - although on loan, used to absolutely leather crosses in.

 

[Langley Blade]

For those with a good memory...Alan Roberts. Third division season under Bassett when Deane and Agana scored 30 goals each. A lot of those were assists from Roberts and Bryson. He was a cracking little winger but didn't play for us for long, seem to recall he fell out with Bassett because he didn't like the style of play. Can't remember where he went to and never heard of him again!

 

[ChuntyMalone]

Glen Little

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

He wasn’t here long as most of the other parts of his game were awful but I actually thought Chris Hussey was a lovely crosser of the ball. He put one in at Fleetwood for EEL’s last minute equaliser that any lefty would have been proud of.

Hussey was still here then? I thought he only played like first 5 games.

 

[Chezzy Blades]

Hussey was still here then? I thought he only played like first 5 games.

Believe it or not he was here until the following July we just barely ever picked him.