Another thing about last minute of half (or game) management?

[Chessie dave]

I also find it incomprehensible when, with only a minute or so to play at the end of either half, our players tippy tap it sideways and backwards ….. and the whistle ends to half or the game! For goodness sake, there is less than a minute to play! Why oh why not send the ball into the opponents area and hope for a deflection, mis kick, rebound or something to give a chance of a goal. It’s hardly believable that our defenders and midfield tippy tap sideways and backwards again and again …. until ref halts the game…….. Coaches, players, use your brains please! It’s not difficult!!

 

[SwissBlade]

I also find it incomprehensible when, with only a minute or so to play at the end of either half, our players tippy tap it sideways and backwards ….. and the whistle ends to half or the game! For goodness sake, there is less than a minute to play! Why oh why not send the ball into the opponents area and hope for a deflection, mis kick, rebound or something to give a chance of a goal. It’s hardly believable that our defenders and midfield tippy tap sideways and backwards again and again …. until ref halts the game…….. Coaches, players, use your brains please! It’s not difficult!!

The simple answer is that would be too easy.

 

[Bladesman]

Gerrit in the box!!!

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

I also find it incomprehensible when, with only a minute or so to play at the end of either half, our players tippy tap it sideways and backwards ….. and the whistle ends to half or the game! For goodness sake, there is less than a minute to play! Why oh why not send the ball into the opponents area and hope for a deflection, mis kick, rebound or something to give a chance of a goal. It’s hardly believable that our defenders and midfield tippy tap sideways and backwards again and again …. until ref halts the game…….. Coaches, players, use your brains please! It’s not difficult!!

It's easier to pass the ball safely and avoid criticism by "keeping possession" than take a risk with it in trying to do something. Hamer gets criticised for giving the ball away but most of the time he is trying exactly this. He's the only one who's willing to lose possession by actually trying to do something positive with the ball. I can bet his passing completion was lower than O'Hare last night, who spent the whole game making short, safe back passes all night. The lone striker doesn't help as we're trying to get the ball through to an immobile striker who has no off ball movement and is double marked as a result. You need Paul Scholes level passing skills to pull that off.

 

[Grey Blade]

I also find it incomprehensible when, with only a minute or so to play at the end of either half, our players tippy tap it sideways and backwards ….. and the whistle ends to half or the game! For goodness sake, there is less than a minute to play! Why oh why not send the ball into the opponents area and hope for a deflection, mis kick, rebound or something to give a chance of a goal. It’s hardly believable that our defenders and midfield tippy tap sideways and backwards again and again …. until ref halts the game…….. Coaches, players, use your brains please! It’s not difficult!!

I was very frustrated with that last night as well. There's a time for tippy tappy and a time for Gerrit forrud - it's a matter of making the right choice at the right time.

 

[Argentinemanager]

What gets my goat is why gilchrist wont put a cross in just plays the safety backwards ball, by not putting a cross in defences have time to get set . If he puts a first time cross in every now and again this leads to the defence being unsure , really think he needs to mix his game up

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Wilder since 2016 has never been an advocate of "gerrit int box" by and large it's worked. Although the S2 neanderthals would more than likely see a return to Dinosaur Daves hoofwaffe. Pinchy

 

[Birdwell Blade]

What gets my goat is why gilchrist wont put a cross in just plays the safety backwards ball, by not putting a cross in defences have time to get set . If he puts a first time cross in every now and again this leads to the defence being unsure , really think he needs to mix his game up

He’s a centre back, all his instincts seem to be defensive rather than going forward.

 

[Large Mendonca]

What gets my goat is why gilchrist wont put a cross in just plays the safety backwards ball, by not putting a cross in defences have time to get set . If he puts a first time cross in every now and again this leads to the defence being unsure , really think he needs to mix his game up

Not excusing him as I agree, he does go backwards a lot, but a lot of the time there's only Moore in the area, along with 3-4 opposition defenders.

 

[jt64]

I also find it incomprehensible when, with only a minute or so to play at the end of either half, our players tippy tap it sideways and backwards ….. and the whistle ends to half or the game! For goodness sake, there is less than a minute to play!

Never mind that. Go watch the last seconds of each half against WBA a few days ago. First half - United corner, seconds remaining in stoppage time, everyone knows the ref is blowing his whistle the instant Albion get a touch on the ball and clear the area, which is exactly what happens. Second half - a carbon copy. If everyone in the world can see that there is only enough time for us to score from the set piece but not enough time for the opposition to break and do the same, then given there is zero risk of conceding, why do we not have all ten players (yes, including Cooper) in the box to try to get on the end of it?