Blades deserve better claims Hammond

[William Henry Foulkes]

By maintaining the correct shape, discipline and defensive organisation...the clever teams can win by surrendering the bulk of possession to their opponents and defend the right areas and then pick them off on the counter attack or as they inevitably get frustrated and try playing a more risky percentage pass and give it away and boom, theyre the ones caught out of shape with a hole that can be exploited.

I would say its more important the work you do when you havent got control of the ball because its the basis for efficiency and teamwork/ethic.

Great post.

Tbh I always thought having possession was psychologically wearing on the opposition but if you set out to let them have the ball and they can't do anything with it then *with the right mindset* the psychology works in your favour.

Pretty sure Mourinho (at Inter) once famously asked his players to give the ball to Barcelona. His team won the tie.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Still don't understand this hatred of Hammond.

Typical defensive midfielder that fans just can't grasp.

If Claude Makelele played for us we'd say he was shit too.

It is no coincidence that 3 of the most hated players - Doyle, Montgomery and Hammond are all defensive mids. Even before that John Gannon had to endure stick. I honestly think because he has midfielder next to his name, fans think he should score loads and assist loads. That's not what he is there for.

Stuart McCall played the position but was a fans favourite. Probably due to the fact when he won the ball, he had Tonge and Brown immediately showing for it so he could make the simple pass. Job done. Hammond doesn't have that luxury, Doyle didn't after McDonald and Quinn left (which coincided with everybody hating him)

Yeh I agreed. It's the lack of good midfielders around him that make look so shit. But this is football. . . .understatement has never been an option.