Better crossing this season

[Agreasychipbutty]

For a long time I've felt crossing was one of our biggest weaknesses, be it poor crosses or dithering too long so players in the box don't know when to run and defenders are set to easily clear. Hecky and the coaching staff seem to have done a fantastic job of getting players putting in good quality crosses and much earlier, in particular RND, Baldock and Norwood.

I've always liked Baldock but under wilder I felt too often he made good runs with the ball down the wing but then looked lost and ended up passing round in triangles in the corner until we lost the ball, he looks much more confident in taking on the first time cross now, much the same with RND.

Norwoods crossing has always been good but it seems even better now and even more targeted to specific players at the far/near post. I can't remember if it was on MOTD or elsewhere but some analyist pointed out a "built in set-play" where norwood gets in a bit of space behind whoever is running down the right wing with the ball, if they're blocked off they pass it back and he can swing in a first time cross, since having it pointed out I always notice when we do it and especially this season we do it a lot more and it always looks dangerous. Not sure who in the coaching staff is responsible but whoever it is is doing a fantastic job.

 

[ReeceofBDTBL]

Berge is our most consistent crosser of the ball imo and we’re benefitting from him starting every game, even last night (in one of his poorest games) he produced a peach for RND that should’ve been headed back where it came from, was a great chance.

But I particularly love Khadras crosses where he thumps it in with this flat delivery at the perfect height. He did it plenty for Blackburn last season and that cross for Brewster last night was as good as anything you’d see in the prem.

Excellent technique, if we can get Billy fit (even as a super sub) he’d be lethal on the end of that kind of delivery.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

That Khadra cross for Brewster shows what a multi faceted threat he is - quality crosses from deep as well as the pace and dribbling. We haven't seen his set pieces yet either

 

[Dkc]

Khadra and Billy could be a handy partnership

 

[Houston_Blade]

Baldock put a few poor crosses in last night and Norwood was crossing from to narrow and too deep at times.

It’s a far cry from the Rob Kozluk halfway line hit and hope crosses though.

RND puts some cracking balls in the box, Max Lowe has as well. Sander’s also are more good than bad.

 

[Slugger]

Agree with all of that.
It seems that the coaching staff this year have encouraged players to cross first time where possible which of course is only effective if others are prepared to take risks and make early runs into the box.
I think it leaves us slightly more vulnerable to a counterattack but it's much easier on the eye.

 

[Keen Blade]

And Doyle's corners are very good - he seems to run straight at the bye-line then put as twist on just as he makes powerful contact , which whips the ball in at speed with a vicious curve which is almost undefendable.

 

[Bergen Blade]

For a long time I've felt crossing was one of our biggest weaknesses, be it poor crosses or dithering too long so players in the box don't know when to run and defenders are set to easily clear. Hecky and the coaching staff seem to have done a fantastic job of getting players putting in good quality crosses and much earlier, in particular RND, Baldock and Norwood.

I've always liked Baldock but under wilder I felt too often he made good runs with the ball down the wing but then looked lost and ended up passing round in triangles in the corner until we lost the ball, he looks much more confident in taking on the first time cross now, much the same with RND.

Norwoods crossing has always been good but it seems even better now and even more targeted to specific players at the far/near post. I can't remember if it was on MOTD or elsewhere but some analyist pointed out a "built in set-play" where norwood gets in a bit of space behind whoever is running down the right wing with the ball, if they're blocked off they pass it back and he can swing in a first time cross, since having it pointed out I always notice when we do it and especially this season we do it a lot more and it always looks dangerous. Not sure who in the coaching staff is responsible but whoever it is is doing a fantastic job.

When we were at our best under Wilder the stuff down the sides was a good weapon. We had a good team that had gelled and were capable of dominating possession. Inferior teams'd default tactics can then be to pack the midfield, have tenacious midfielders in front of the centre halves and deny the superior team central space. But with the overlapping centre halves we created unusual overlaps down the sides, which often meant we had too many threats for teams to handle.

But gradually it became ineffective, especially as defenders were prepared for it and all set to clear when the crosses eventually came in. Wilder and Knill were obviously and rightly proud of their achievements, but you can't stop developing in football. Now we're not as focused on the slow passing moves down the sides, although centre halves are still encouraged to make attacking contributions - it is just a little faster and we're more determined to get the crosses in a bit earlier. When we were promoted in 2018/19 we were mid table in terms of shots on target. This season we are third so far, which may suggest we're looking to do things a little quicker.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Bogle, if he returns in a similar vein to Brewster & McBurnie, would be a huge bonus to this side.
I really rate Baldock but there are games where those silky runs are missed. He's just another big problem teams would have to deal with and he's really tricky to pick up.

I just really hope we get to see him, Berge and Anel for half a season attacking down that right hand side. It would be such a shame if one of them were to leave in January or pick up an injury.

 

[SuperSonicBlade89]

The Puma ball this season helps a lot too. It's light. Me and my son were lucky enough to receive a few earlier on in the year, FIFA quality ones for trying out. Not the £20 cheap replica versions, but think they were around £120, I've seen them in Sports Direct for £70 recently.

But they are very easy to get flight, power and curve. My son shows off doing knuckleball free kicks with them.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

 

[Rufus Smalls]

Not only better crossing today, but our corners from both sides of the pitch were excellent.

Burnley hadn't got a clue how to defend them.