Composure at breaks

[Bergen Blade]

Teams who come to the Lane will always be trying to prevent us finding space

• behind their defence
• between their midfield and defence

This means they often drop deep, get men behind the ball and keep a compact shape. But sometimes, when we have the right aggression to win the ball, coupled with the determination to hit them on the break with the required movement, we have the chance and it's vital that we make the most of them.

Three occasions on Saturday where we managed to do find space between their midfield and defence AND had good movement, but where the player on the ball chose to shoot, rather than find a teammate in a good position:


* Basham goes for the long shot, rather than playing Flynn (and Woolford, who's just outside the picture) through on goal. Flynn was disgusted he didn't get the ball.


* Reed goes for the shot, despite having a few options for a through ball against a panicking defence. Again Flynn has made a great off the ball run from midfield.


* 3 against 4 situation, Sharp shoots. A pass out to Brayford followed by good movement from Sharp and Done in the box would have been difficult for the defenders to handle.


It not as easy as it looks. With a bit of space in front of them, the crowd shouting "shoot" and being tired after their run, it's very tempting to shoot, even if it's a bit far out and fairly central. We should also keep in mind that neither of the players that were running on the ball, Basham, Reed and Sharp, are very used to being in that situation.

Reed has usually had a holding playmaker role. Basham isn't really known for great vision. Sharp is usually spearheading such attacks.

It's not the technical execution that's the hard part, it's the composure and experience from being in such situations before that make the likes of Özil play great looking through balls as they approach the box. When we're countering and have the movement, players should be urged to keep this in mind.



Something completely different, what is Edgar trying to do after his tackling attempt here?

 

[loyalblade95]

not saying this is true but getting 2 offside goals and a few offside chances from playing it to people in box instead of shooting could have made some players shoot from distance instead of passing in fear of being offside again

 

[Worksop II]

Something completely different, what is Edgar trying to do after his tackling attempt here?

He is gonna go down with his leg (or legs) underneath him, pretty impressive saving himself from injury .... i fink

 

[Jonboy60]

That's how I saw it Worksop, could have been nasty.

 

[Ricky]

I always think we fail to realise just how much and how easily opposition defences panic. It doesn't take much in this league.

 

[sitwell]

I think his heel studs got caught , he was in quite a lot of pain for a while

 

[Worksop II]

Two out three times there, Flynn is making the run into the box, no one picks him out ............

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Always love your analyses Bergen, but no criticism from me about the three players shooting in each of these cases.

One of the major problems this season has been players terrified of pulling the trigger. Even though each of the shots were way off, it was welcome seeing three players finally willing to have a go.

 

[wizadry]

Always love your analyses Bergen, but no criticism from me about the three players shooting in each of these cases.

One of the major problems this season has been players terrified of pulling the trigger. Even though each of the shots were way off, it was welcome seeing three players finally willing to have a go.

Agree in a way. It's a fine line between which option they take, you'll find the best players make the right choice and it's this along with excellent fitness levels that takes them to the top of the tree.

 

[TJB.]

Always love your analyses Bergen, but no criticism from me about the three players shooting in each of these cases.

One of the major problems this season has been players terrified of pulling the trigger. Even though each of the shots were way off, it was welcome seeing three players finally willing to have a go.

Having a pop from distance is all well and good every so often, but it's about maximising the opportunity of the attack. The odds of scoring a goal from far out are slimmer than those of scoring if the ball had been passed in each of those three instances. It's the difference between a slim 1-0 and putting 3 or 4 past them, because they offered nothing and were there for the taking.

Judging by the points tally of those around us, goal difference could well be crucial if we're to make the play-offs (I say if...I'm doubtful we will). If teams show up to Bramall Lane and play as poorly as Vale did, we absolutely must put more past them.

 

[JasonEllis]

We could do with a player like Vale's no. 9 from Saturday, Kennedy I think his name was. Always wanted the ball, always positive with it and seemed to pop up everywhere on the pitch. All Port Vale's play seemed to be channeled through him. We struggle for creativity in the main because we don't have a player like this having not replaced MacDonald in my opinion.

Only negatives were his hair-cut and his Rui Costa-esque socks rolled down.

 

[TonyAgana]

We could do with a player like Vale's no. 9 from Saturday, Kennedy I think his name was. Always wanted the ball, always positive with it and seemed to pop up everywhere on the pitch. All Port Vale's play seemed to be channeled through him. We struggle for creativity in the main because we don't have a player like this having not replaced MacDonald in my opinion.

Only negatives were his hair-cut and his Rui Costa-esque socks rolled down.

He was fantastic - the type of player Scougall should have become.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I thought Sharp was right to shoot. He's a good finisher and the numbers weren't really in his favour. In the other 2 situations, the pass to Flynn looks a better option on both. Flynn is quite clever in the way he moves off the ball. At times he linked very well with Murphy over the last two seasons.

Another thing that is encouraging is the positioning and body shape of Sharp and Adams in the 2nd image. Both get themselves on the correct side of the defender and open their bodies up to receive a pass. Reed really missed a trick by going for goal here as all three (Sharp Adams and Flynn) look like good options to get someone in on goal. That being said, the kid is probably desperate to get his first goal for the club and gets criticised for not offering a goal threat so can see why the temptation to shoot was too great. I suspect Adkins had also told them to they needed to get more shots off as that seemed to be the team mentality throughout.

 

[Woodwardfan]

IMO only two players on our books can make serious,chance creating through balls in such situations:

One's suspended and the other is Sharp. Reed will undoubtedly develop it in his game and can do it already from deeper situations e.g. QPR away last season.

IMO none of the others have in their locker an incisive through ball into a colleague's path in the box . Study the "assists" stats relative to appearances each season.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

We could do with a player like Vale's no. 9 from Saturday, Kennedy I think his name was.

Well there's a nice saving for McC - we already got the shirt and number - just got to move the bloke wearing it along

Not a massive fan of him but Flynn was consistently making forward runs - refreshing compared with MF performances this season. If he doesn't get the pass he creates a space and confusion in the defence.

 

[Barney]

If you look at the 2nd to last picture with the three options, the one you hint he should have gone for on the far left is actually at an angle that when, and this is assuming an accurate pass, he receives it he'd have a job on to get into a scoring position because not only is it not the greatest of angles, the player to his right would already be closing him down by the time he would have been able to control it.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Well there's a nice saving for McC - we already got the shirt and number - just got to move the bloke wearing it along

Not a massive fan of him but Flynn was consistently making forward runs - refreshing compared with MF performances this season. If he doesn't get the pass he creates a space and confusion in the defence.

I'm a bit surprised at some of the flak that Flynny has got after Saturday from quite a few. It wasn't a stellar performance, but his cleverness shone through at times (like you say), & he didn't half put in a defensive shift in the second half. Played his part in an overall proper team performance.

Suppose that, in some cases, the residual pissed-offness tends to get deflected onto certain players (Flynn & Woolford on this occasion). They don't deserve it at all IMO for Saturday's showing. It was a satisfying win within the context of an underwhelming season. Every player put in a 6/10 performance or above, translating into a very solid team performance.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

I'm a bit surprised at some of the flak that Flynny has got after Saturday from quite a few. It wasn't a stellar performance, but his cleverness shone through at times (like you say), & he didn't half put in a defensive shift in the second half. Played his part in an overall proper team performance.

Suppose that, in some cases, the residual pissed-offness tends to get deflected onto certain players (Flynn & Woolford on this occasion). They don't deserve it at all IMO for Saturday's showing. It was a satisfying win within the context of an underwhelming season. Every player put in a 6/10 performance or above, translating into a very solid team performance.

Flynn would be my scapegoat.

All I ever do is look for what he does wrong. And I can never figure out why Adkins picks him, but I think it's clear he likes him.

Good to see some analysis in this thread of what he brings.

I won't boo him off next time ;-)

 

[blade too long]

the oldest ploy in football is the dummy run , taking defenders out of the equation , often the hardest work being a decoy for the least appreciation , Flynn runs his socks off doing this and gets very little credit

 

[blade.i.am]

"Basham isn't really known for great vision" . Wonderfully understated comment. Great fan of your work Bergen; keep em coming.

 

[The Bohemian]

Always love your analyses Bergen, but no criticism from me about the three players shooting in each of these cases.

One of the major problems this season has been players terrified of pulling the trigger. Even though each of the shots were way off, it was welcome seeing three players finally willing to have a go.

Agreed, though the message still hasn't got through to Hammond who will choose any option rather than shoot.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Agreed, though the message still hasn't got through to Hammond who will choose any option rather than shoot.

Mentioned this before...

Last week. Donny I think it was. We were our usual shot-shy selves. Ball pinging about around the edge of their area.
"Shoot!"
"Shoot!"
"Shoot!"
Ball comes to Hammond who shapes to shoot.
"Not *you*!"
He shot.
It didn't go in.

The despair in the, "Not *you*!" made me laugh at the time.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Agreed, though the message still hasn't got through to Hammond who will choose any option rather than shoot.

Hammond, Edgar, McEveley, Long! Basham, ( not Collins!, he does score goals) are not in the team for their goalscoring feats or their creativity.

So many others are, never do it though and yet never get any criticism, I will not name them/ Hammond is what he is, the manager loves his contribution.

Scapegoats? We're a team FGS.

Hammond has never scored goals, never will. He's had a more successful career than the rest of our players would only dream about.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Always love your analyses Bergen, but no criticism from me about the three players shooting in each of these cases.

One of the major problems this season has been players terrified of pulling the trigger. Even though each of the shots were way off, it was welcome seeing three players finally willing to have a go.

There are definitely situations where we should be looking to shoot more around the box, but I'm not sure these were the right ones. Generally a long shot isn't the ideal way to end a counter attack. In the three situations, we need to remember that we have actually done the hard bit. They have no midfielders, their defenders are panicking, our man on the ball is free to choose what to do and he's got runners to pass to. This is great! This is modern football!

If hammered into these players - stay calm, see if you've got a runner to pick out, I don't think it takes world class ability to actually do it.

 

[The Bohemian]

Hammond, Edgar, McEveley, Long! Basham, ( not Collins!, he does score goals) are not in the team for their goalscoring feats or their creativity.

So many others are, never do it though and yet never get any criticism, I will not name them/ Hammond is what he is, the manager loves his contribution.

Scapegoats? We're a team FGS.

Hammond has never scored goals, never will. He's had a more successful career than the rest of our players would only dream about.

As the great Wayne Gretzky said, "you miss 100% of the shots you never take."

 

[sheffielder]

We don't have composure when it matters. Not sure what they do I training but if it's the same as basham reed and Flynn then stop the game and send them on a run. Play like a kid, treat like a kid.

when basham shot I said bet he was remembering the last time he scored from there! That was in his head too!

 

[Benny and the Blades]

What really gets me now when teams are all in our half attacking, is how much we miss some one like Murphy for the breakout..
How many goals did that lad score like that, but now we don't seem to have anyone fast enough to do it.....

As for shooting from out side the box it would help if someone could get it on target because it can work, look how many we've let in.......

 

[Silent Blade]

View attachment 16168
* Reed goes for the shot, despite having a few options for a through ball against a panicking defence. Again Flynn has made a great off the ball run from midfield.

]

Reed's shooting

 

[NorwayBladeKarl]

I have to agree with you. In so many situations we lack composure and vision. Going to be interesting to see if Adkins will continue with this 3-5-2 formation. It`s all about to find the good balance of players. Right now our midfield is too poor. Woolford is not doing anything, Flynn worked hard but thats all. It was a slightly better game by Hammond and Reed was average. We need a STAND OUT midfield man like McDonald and a more creative type of WB than Woolford is. Cuveilier may be an option if he keep himself injury free. Sharp and Che will be a good partnership! Basham was class above everyone IMO. Roll on saturday!!