Changeable margins and bad coaching/management

[Trigger]

So frustrated, but I put this at the door of the management and coaching team.
Moore took the penalty tonight. Very weak and similar to the last penalty he took which he scored, but which he was very lucky to score.
Watch that penalty back.
Anyone with any sense would not let him take another.
These are not fine margins, these are things that even people like us, who have not played football at a professional level can see so easily.
Best player in the team by a country mile is Gus Hamer.
Best dead ball player in the team by a country mile, Gus Hamer.
Why is Moore taking penalties?
Hamer should take penalties. It isn’t even a debate.
1 - 0 up at that point?
We should then put the game to bed.
Sunderland aren’t good.
Burnley aren’t good.
WBA aren’t good.?
1 point from 9.
Moore’s a big lad, and I like him, and I’m not criticising him, but big lads aren’t generally good with their feet and if I wanted someone to head a ball in the net he’d be up there - absolutely, but horses for courses?
No. Not penalties.
Before Souttar was injured - attacking corners? We had Souttar, Moore, Robinson, Souza, Gilchrist and Ahmehodovic. Biggest, tallest, potentially the most bullying team I can ever remember in all the 55 years I’ve supported Utd.
And how many goals did we score from dead balls or corners?
Hardly any.
Should have been banging them in for fun.
Corners should be coached. All dead ball situations should be coached.
If they did coach it, and the goal aren’t raining in and we have players if that size?
Then the coaches should be sacked.
We’re pressing well, but when we get the ball back, everything going forward goes slow mo.
When we break, we get up the pitch we play it backwards and it goes slow mo.
We’re making space, stretching the opposition’s defence. Then playing it backwards.Then achieving nothing.
Then there’s this new tactic of having two centre halves in the box when taking a goal kick, which allows at least two opposing attackers in your box. Eventually the goalkeeper ends up hitting it long?
What has been achieved?
Other than putting all your backline under pressure?
That I’m afraid is bullshit.
Football is a very simple game.
You just need to stick the ball in your opponent’s net more times than they put it in yours.
I am so frustrated, but I don’t put it at the feet of the players.
The coaches and management are culpable.
Sheffield United are a good team, they could walk this league, but there are decisions that are being made by the management that very, very poor.
It’s very basic.
If we get promoted this year?
If these coaches and management don’t up their game?
We’re going to have a very, very miserable season again.
Pathetic that the coaches and management aren’t changing the little and predictable things that would get us over the line.
Make as many excuses as you like Chris, I’m afraid it ultimately lies at your door.
I read this back and I know it’s a frustrated rant, I apologise, it didn’t start as one, but I love my club and I know we can be better.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

There's no excuse for our very poor efforts from attacking set pieces this season

Especially the corners, but also the throw ins

And you're right about the penalty taker - that is an important matter that the manager should consider carefully. Not a fringe matter. Not something to shrug at and say "let big lad tek it". Are you telling me Moore is the best pen taker in training? Surely not. He has no method, and no technique whatsoever

Hamer or Burrows should take them. After seeing Moore's 'technique', he'd be my last name on the list

 

[Houston_Blade]

Just picking up the point on corners. I think the success rate for goals from corners is around 2%, there’s always a perception that we should score more from corners but the reality is that no one does.

The bit that does annoy me is that our corners seem to lead to a lot of attacks for the opposition, not sure if stats back this up but my eyes tell me we’re shit immediately following a corner.

 

[loyalblade95]

Has Hamer ever taken a penalty for us?

It is a poor penalty from Moore, but he scored his last one so it does make sense why he would take this one, Brewster was the only other player tonight who had taken a penalty for United, and he's missed his last few for us.

Other than those 2, no one else in the current squad (as far as I can work out) takes penalties for United, Mcburnie and Norwood were on penalties last season and they're both gone.

 

[robbiez666]

The internet tells me he's only taken one penalty in his career, so I expect he's not the solution.

I would think that Burrows might be.

I agree with corners and throws. We rarely look dangerous. We used to try different routines but don't seem to now.

 

[bornablade]

The set piece stuff is something I've referred to in the past two seasons.

Beginning of last season in the Premier league I made a point that we would struggle to score from open play and should play a game of gaining set pieces and have an arsenal (there's an irony there) of set play tactics that we had worked on during the week. I wanted McAtee to get in the opponent's penalty area and look for that 'trailing leg' - maybe cheating but somehow we had to survive in that tough environment.

This year I tried to point out that Arsenal under Arteta could score goals for fun in open play but they are so professional, so damned good that they practice over and over again how to make the most of their corners. We appear so arrogant with an attitude of 'we are Sheffield United and we don't have to do such basics'.

I wanted to see JLT play in the same team as Harry Souttar and have a 'practiced tactic' of scoring from a long throw. I think we've scored one goal using JLT and Souttar this season. For whatever reason each fan will have that's not going to happen now.

The use of the centre backs being the receiver of these short goal kicks is common practice across the game now. I blame Pep. If Pep does it then we've all got to do it. As a fan looking to be entertained it's boring particularly when we are not very good at it.

There's a robotic style from players nowadays. They do as they are told. As supporters we hang on to that individual skill like Callum showed on Sunday to lay off the ball to Brookesy to score against WBA. These bits of skill are few and far between.

(2016 - 2020 we created our own style where individuals were given responsibility. JOC and Bash made their own decisions when to make their overlaps beyond Enda and George. I look forward to Seriki's return - a player with individual skill, shows little fear. Please don't coach this out of him!)

I realise that Moore is not the most popular player at present but the number of times I've watched him waiting on the opponent's shoulder to make a run into the channels and yet our centre backs (almost in fear of breaking the rules laid down by our coaches) continue to play it back and sideways between themselves.

Think Liverpool. You could almost describe them as a long ball team in relation to the number of times one of their centre backs launches it forward and there's a Salah racing into that space. We did it a couple of weeks ago at Millwall - so it can be done.

This doesn't come naturally to Liverpool. Arsenal don't just turn up and those corner routines just happen. They practice and practice in midweek until they get it right. That's one of the major reasons why these two clubs are top of the Premier league.

So coaching staff. Ditch Pep. Embrace Liverpool and Arsenal.

 

[Nagima]

The OP is correct. There are aspects of our play that cause me to question what our coaching staff are doing. Our possession stats are indicating a level of dominance, yet we struggle in attack. One reason for this is individual players who take too many touches.

 

[SwissBlade]

Just picking up the point on corners. I think the success rate for goals from corners is around 2%, there’s always a perception that we should score more from corners but the reality is that no one does.

The bit that does annoy me is that our corners seem to lead to a lot of attacks for the opposition, not sure if stats back this up but my eyes tell me we’re shit immediately following a corner.

I don't know the percentage, but i know it's low. All teams work so hard in defending corners in training and drilled, so it's rarer than people think. I do think that the JLT isn't as effective in the Championship, but again i have no stats to back that, it just seems that we work the ball better with intricate play down the wings. Burrows deliveries are fantastic, but unfortunately JLT mostly uses his weapon (so to speak) down the left more.

I also think that we get punished more this season, particularly with Anel and Souttar, opposition defences seem to want to wrestle them more, resulting in corners flying in and the ref blowing for a defensive freekick. We need to be smarter on corners.

I think the Counter attacks from corners are less frequent now than they have been under Hecky and Slav, but we are vulnerable still if the ball breaks. We seemed to be susceptible on the counter last night.

Has Hamer ever taken a penalty for us?

It is a poor penalty from Moore, but he scored his last one so it does make sense why he would take this one, Brewster was the only other player tonight who had taken a penalty for United, and he's missed his last few for us.

Other than those 2, no one else in the current squad (as far as I can work out) takes penalties for United, Mcburnie and Norwood were on penalties last season and they're both gone.

Moore dispatched his previous pen before last night, so i don't buy that we should've had a different pen taker. It was just a shit pen. Would i want someone else to take teh next one? Absolutely. Burrows, Campbell, Souza, Peck or Davies for me. Peck seems to have balls of an elephant and nothing phases him, so he'd be my choice in a Billy Sharp way. Don't overthink it, don't dwell on a miss, just crack on.

 

[Big.Dane.w]

The tv camera panned to ‘The coaching staff’ at one point last night when they were stood side by side on the sideline, looked like 2 leading men from cocoon.

 

[Blademan89]

Moore record from the spot had been something like 9 in 9 (dont know how if he takes them like his last 3 for us), so stats and visable proof shows he should have been on them.. that's not the coaching staff fault. He should now be taken off them after the 3 he's had with us, if he continues then we lay the blame down at them.

Id argue that burrows is our best dead ball players, hamers corners are often poor same with his freekicks from out wide. Usually straight to keep or over hit, and not to mention burrows took them for Peterborough.

We do need to work on our set pieces as the amount we have scored or even look like scoring is beyond poor, looks like we have no idea what we doing with them just lump it in box and hope for best, which is strange as we always use to be pretty dangerous from them under wilder/knill in the past. We put blocks in and the movement was good, now it's totally opposite.

 

[Blademan89]

Regarding your comment about the tactic of goalkicks etc, it's to draw the team out rather than them sitting deep, and when they do this and push two on it gives us space and an extra man up top and that's why we lump it down to moore. Just not been executed very well at the moment.

 

[Wards]

I'm sure the OP knows much more than CW and the football professionals that have been in the industry for a combined total of about 100 years.

You should write to him.

 

[Working Class Hero]

It's quite clear that Moore isn't very good at penalties (or football), but to suggest that the decision hasn't been thought through by the management team is just daft. This is professional football where every part of the game is analysed and if something gains a 0.1% advantage, it'll be implemented.

Gus Hamer has never been a penalty taker, so he's obviously not brilliant at it. There's more to taking a penalty than being a good striker of the ball. I can only assume those suggesting that, have never actually taken a penalty.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

So frustrated, but I put this at the door of the management and coaching team.
Moore took the penalty tonight. Very weak and similar to the last penalty he took which he scored, but which he was very lucky to score.
Watch that penalty back.
Anyone with any sense would not let him take another.
These are not fine margins, these are things that even people like us, who have not played football at a professional level can see so easily.
Best player in the team by a country mile is Gus Hamer.
Best dead ball player in the team by a country mile, Gus Hamer.
Why is Moore taking penalties?
Hamer should take penalties. It isn’t even a debate.
1 - 0 up at that point?
We should then put the game to bed.
Sunderland aren’t good.
Burnley aren’t good.
WBA aren’t good.?
1 point from 9.
Moore’s a big lad, and I like him, and I’m not criticising him, but big lads aren’t generally good with their feet and if I wanted someone to head a ball in the net he’d be up there - absolutely, but horses for courses?
No. Not penalties.
Before Souttar was injured - attacking corners? We had Souttar, Moore, Robinson, Souza, Gilchrist and Ahmehodovic. Biggest, tallest, potentially the most bullying team I can ever remember in all the 55 years I’ve supported Utd.
And how many goals did we score from dead balls or corners?
Hardly any.
Should have been banging them in for fun.
Corners should be coached. All dead ball situations should be coached.
If they did coach it, and the goal aren’t raining in and we have players if that size?
Then the coaches should be sacked.
We’re pressing well, but when we get the ball back, everything going forward goes slow mo.
When we break, we get up the pitch we play it backwards and it goes slow mo.
We’re making space, stretching the opposition’s defence. Then playing it backwards.Then achieving nothing.
Then there’s this new tactic of having two centre halves in the box when taking a goal kick, which allows at least two opposing attackers in your box. Eventually the goalkeeper ends up hitting it long?
What has been achieved?
Other than putting all your backline under pressure?
That I’m afraid is bullshit.
Football is a very simple game.
You just need to stick the ball in your opponent’s net more times than they put it in yours.
I am so frustrated, but I don’t put it at the feet of the players.
The coaches and management are culpable.
Sheffield United are a good team, they could walk this league, but there are decisions that are being made by the management that very, very poor.
It’s very basic.
If we get promoted this year?
If these coaches and management don’t up their game?
We’re going to have a very, very miserable season again.
Pathetic that the coaches and management aren’t changing the little and predictable things that would get us over the line.
Make as many excuses as you like Chris, I’m afraid it ultimately lies at your door.
I read this back and I know it’s a frustrated rant, I apologise, it didn’t start as one, but I love my club and I know we can be better.

I understand the frustration about slow moving forward movement. But last night we poor all over, and lost due to the two defensive fuck ups.
Plus we were constantly under pressure and had no composure all over.

 

[djbaldken]

It's not the coaching staff fault Moore missed last night!
It's Moore's fault. A penalty taker needs a particular mind set. Maybe, I don't know this, but maybe Gus doesn't have that mind set. The best penalty taker we had was James Beatie. Whenever he took a pen he just went into the zone. His whole focus was on the ball and it going into the back of the net. He rarely missed. Billy had a similar approach.
Imho Moore for the penalties I've seen him take can't seem to focus himself correctly. There's an art to it.
As for coaching at corners, well, for as long back as I can remember( fifty years a blade) we've never been that good with corners.
The OP should bear in mind that it's this same coaching staff who with a two point deduction had us at the top of this division at Christmas three games ago.

 

[The Bear]

So frustrated, but I put this at the door of the management and coaching team.
Moore took the penalty tonight. Very weak and similar to the last penalty he took which he scored, but which he was very lucky to score.
Watch that penalty back.
Anyone with any sense would not let him take another.
These are not fine margins, these are things that even people like us, who have not played football at a professional level can see so easily.
Best player in the team by a country mile is Gus Hamer.
Best dead ball player in the team by a country mile, Gus Hamer.
Why is Moore taking penalties?
Hamer should take penalties. It isn’t even a debate.
1 - 0 up at that point?
We should then put the game to bed.
Sunderland aren’t good.
Burnley aren’t good.
WBA aren’t good.?
1 point from 9.
Moore’s a big lad, and I like him, and I’m not criticising him, but big lads aren’t generally good with their feet and if I wanted someone to head a ball in the net he’d be up there - absolutely, but horses for courses?
No. Not penalties.
Before Souttar was injured - attacking corners? We had Souttar, Moore, Robinson, Souza, Gilchrist and Ahmehodovic. Biggest, tallest, potentially the most bullying team I can ever remember in all the 55 years I’ve supported Utd.
And how many goals did we score from dead balls or corners?
Hardly any.
Should have been banging them in for fun.
Corners should be coached. All dead ball situations should be coached.
If they did coach it, and the goal aren’t raining in and we have players if that size?
Then the coaches should be sacked.
We’re pressing well, but when we get the ball back, everything going forward goes slow mo.
When we break, we get up the pitch we play it backwards and it goes slow mo.
We’re making space, stretching the opposition’s defence. Then playing it backwards.Then achieving nothing.
Then there’s this new tactic of having two centre halves in the box when taking a goal kick, which allows at least two opposing attackers in your box. Eventually the goalkeeper ends up hitting it long?
What has been achieved?
Other than putting all your backline under pressure?
That I’m afraid is bullshit.
Football is a very simple game.
You just need to stick the ball in your opponent’s net more times than they put it in yours.
I am so frustrated, but I don’t put it at the feet of the players.
The coaches and management are culpable.
Sheffield United are a good team, they could walk this league, but there are decisions that are being made by the management that very, very poor.
It’s very basic.
If we get promoted this year?
If these coaches and management don’t up their game?
We’re going to have a very, very miserable season again.
Pathetic that the coaches and management aren’t changing the little and predictable things that would get us over the line.
Make as many excuses as you like Chris, I’m afraid it ultimately lies at your door.
I read this back and I know it’s a frustrated rant, I apologise, it didn’t start as one, but I love my club and I know we can be better.

Burnley aren't good?? Wake up buddy and look at the stats. They are better so far than Sheffield bleeding United that's for sure.

Cant take your post seriously when you come out with shit like that.

 

[The Bear]

It's quite clear that Moore isn't very good at penalties (or football), but to suggest that the decision hasn't been thought through by the management team is just daft. This is professional football where every part of the game is analysed and if something gains a 0.1% advantage, it'll be implemented.

Gus Hamer has never been a penalty taker, so he's obviously not brilliant at it. There's more to taking a penalty than being a good striker of the ball. I can only assume those suggesting that, have never actually taken a penalty.

Burrows?

 

[DeanLearner'sCat]

Moore has a very good penalty record. Scored every one for Cardiff, as I recall. I suspect he won't be taking the next one.

 

[coolasanidiot]

Gosh reading that you're right we are so shit - I bet Plymouth hope they are not as shit as us.

It's so predictable the toxic crap when we have a blip, we have lost the spine of the team in the last couple of weeks but yet still joint second with 2 deducted- In any sane / rational way of looking at United this season - WE ARE DOING BEYOND WELL.

New blood in a few days Chris & Al will have us punching again, Watford too soon but Christ this rubbish is just plain 'entitled moaning'

 

[Nagima]

Gosh reading that you're right we are so shit - I bet Plymouth hope they are not as shit as us.

It's so predictable the toxic crap when we have a blip, we have lost the spine of the team in the last couple of weeks but yet still joint second with 2 deducted- In any sane / rational way of looking at United this season - WE ARE DOING BEYOND WELL.

New blood in a few days Chris & Al will have us punching again, Watford too soon but Christ this rubbish is just plain 'entitled moaning'

Yes some are moaning but it's a forum and as fans we pay the money to attend matches and buy merchandise so people are entitled to an opinion. Regarding Wilder, Yes it's great to see us in with a shout for going up.
That being said injuries have weakend us. But being analytical there have been signs of weaknesses for most of the season that have not been addressed. Some of that is due to players and some with Wilder and the coaches.

At home against Plymouth we won but didn't play well defensively. They created some good chances but didn't take them.
Sunderland, WBA and Burnley took them.

We have some very good players. Cooper Burrows Souttar Souza and Hamer would be candidates for the championship team of the season if it was decided on the first half of the season. Souttar is a big loss but Souza is a bigger loss when not playing as he cuts out alot of danger. Hopefully we strengthen the team this window.

On the players, tactics and formations we need to be more direct and more cohesive as a team. We have too many players that take too much out of the ball for no benefit.
O'Hare Brooks Hamer Rak Sayki McCallum Davies Moore. How many times do we see players not reading the intentions of the passer of the ball.

Now that injuries have mounted we are seeing issues that were masked by the exceptional performances of those out injured.

 

[Slim Man]

Just picking up the point on corners. I think the success rate for goals from corners is around 2%, there’s always a perception that we should score more from corners but the reality is that no one does.

The bit that does annoy me is that our corners seem to lead to a lot of attacks for the opposition, not sure if stats back this up but my eyes tell me we’re shit immediately following a corner.

We don’t have to score directly from them, but like you say when the opposition are a bigger threat from our corners than we are something is amiss.

 

[coolasanidiot]

Yes some are moaning but it's a forum and as fans we pay the money to attend matches and buy merchandise so people are entitled to an opinion. Regarding Wilder, Yes it's great to see us in with a shout for going up.
That being said injuries have weakend us. But being analytical there have been signs of weaknesses for most of the season that have not been addressed. Some of that is due to players and some with Wilder and the coaches.

At home against Plymouth we won but didn't play well defensively. They created some good chances but didn't take them.
Sunderland, WBA and Burnley took them.

We have some very good players. Cooper Burrows Souttar Souza and Hamer would be candidates for the championship team of the season if it was decided on the first half of the season. Souttar is a big loss but Souza is a bigger loss when not playing as he cuts out alot of danger. Hopefully we strengthen the team this window.

On the players, tactics and formations we need to be more direct and more cohesive as a team. We have too many players that take too much out of the ball for no benefit.
O'Hare Brooks Hamer Rak Sayki McCallum Davies Moore. How many times do we see players not reading the intentions of the passer of the ball.

Now that injuries have mounted we are seeing issues that were masked by the exceptional performances of those out injured.

Understand it's a forum for debate Naggy - but the hyperbole of how shit we are is nonsense- and too many folks weigh in as soon as we have a blip.

Moore was shocking last night, Robbo and Peck had slip ups - but that being said we gave it a go and looked the better of the 2 teams. The critique needs to be sensible and considered if creditable.

This season has been nothing short of miraculous and 100% of fans would have snatched your hands off for this position right now-

Slagging off the management team and virtually all the players is plain wrong - they have done a great job.

 

[1987]

Sunderland aren’t good.
Burnley aren’t good.
WBA aren’t good.?

Sheffield United are a good team, they could walk this league

In a nutshell, this is a big part of what's wrong with our fans.

We have a patched up team, being asked to play too many games against 3 top championship teams. To be basically the best team in 2 of them, is testament to the staff and players. That you're so frustrated you need to rant is, IMO, because you overvalue our squad, and undervalue the others.

Personally think we played well 2 out of those 3 games, and what could have easily been 6 points, is 1. Those are the breaks. Lets not forget Moore missed a penalty, JLT handed it to them and Peck mixed his feet up inexplicably. Not sure we can totally absolve players, as much as the management should of course have us scoring 2/3 set piece goals a game.

 

[Nagima]

They have done well

Understand it's a forum for debate Naggy - but the hyperbole of how shit we are is nonsense- and too many folks weigh in as soon as we have a blip.

Moore was shocking last night, Robbo and Peck had slip ups - but that being said we gave it a go and looked the better of the 2 teams. The critique needs to be sensible and considered if creditable.

This season has been nothing short of miraculous and 100% of fans would have snatched your hands off for this position right now-

Slagging off the management team and virtually all the players is plain wrong - they have done a great job.

Hyperbole comes from the other side of the debate too. Being where we are as a team does not mean that any aspect of performance is immune from criticism. We have assembled a squad of players with real quality and it's not toxic to point out that something could be done better. What we do in the transfer window will have influence in how well we do. But so will refining how we play and how we synchronise the players with the system.

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

We look like Southgate's England when we're attacking. So slow. No movement. Just safe passes that do nothing, hence the high percentage possession stats.

I lost count how many times last night O'Hare received the ball facing our half and immediately passed it back to the player who just passed to him. He had no intention or desire of doing anything positive with it.

McCallum was the same. Everytime he had the ball high up the pitch in advanced positions, he turned and faced back our half and sent the ball backwards. He did this near the end of the first half where he was practically in the corner and in a prime position to cross the ball, but instead he sent a long pass backwards to Peck/Davies. Peck is another culprit of this. Constant unnecessary back passes to Anel/Robinson/Cooper.

Another thing I noticed is how much our players get in each others way. As soon as a player receives the ball a team mate runs over to them and stands about two metres away asking for the ball. As soon as they receive it the defender is all over them, as is the player who was marking the initial passer and we end up trying to run through walls. Spread out.

I've said it for years and I stand by it now. We play too much Subbuteo. There isn't enough off ball movement. We pass to static players in space and not ahead of players who are already running off the ball. It's slow, ineffective and gives teams time to drop back quickly and flood the midfield and box with bodies. It's predictable and easy to defend.

As I posted yesterday. I can't figure out what our style of play is supposed to be with the ball as we resemble a confused mess. Maybe we need to play an outright 5 man midfield instead of this current 2-3 as it's not working, or maybe swap Hamer and Davies as Davies is one of the only players who keeps the ball and runs with it before passing. He lures players out of position and creates spaces to exploit. He has a great footballing brain but sadly his team mates don't.

 

[idleurchin]

We look like Southgate's England when we're attacking. So slow. No movement. Just safe passes that do nothing, hence the high percentage possession stats.

I lost count how many times last night O'Hare received the ball facing our half and immediately passed it back to the player who just passed to him. He had no intention or desire of doing anything positive with it.

McCallum was the same. Everytime he had the ball high up the pitch in advanced positions, he turned and faced back put half and sent the ball backwards. He did this near the end of the first half where he was practically in the corner and in a prime position to cross the ball, but instead he sent a long pass backwards to Peck/Davies. Peck is another culprit of this.

Another thing I noticed is how much our players get in each others way. As soon as a player receives the ball a team mate runs over to them and stands about two metres away asking for the ball. As soon as they receive itthe defender is all over them, as is the player who was marking the initial passer and we end up trying to run through walls.

I've said it for years and I stand by it now. We play Subbuteo. There is no off ball movement. We pass to static players in space and not ahead of players who are already running off the ball. It's slow, ineffective and gives teams time to drop back quickly and flood the midfield and box with bodies.

As I posted yesterday. I can't figure out what our style of play is supposed to be with the ball as we resemble a confused mess. Maybe we need to play an outright 5 man midfield instead of this current 2-3 as it's not working, or maybe swap Hamer and Davies.

Sums up my thoughts.

We’re competing at the top of the league, in spite of how we play, not because of it.

I caveat that with an acknowledgement of how hard we work and how determined this squad are. If we can “click” up front, we’ll be almost unstoppable.

 

[thehet]

Best dead ball player in the team by a country mile, Gus Hamer.

You must have missed the free kick in which he played a through ball to their keeper after we sent everybody up, which he's done a couple of times this season.
His deliveries from corners are inconsistent, many do not get past the first man. Burrows' are better from the other side.

If anyone remembers the free kick away at Charlton we scored in Lg1, with Duffy Couttsy et al, we need more invention like that. Even the one at the sty.

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

You must have missed the free kick in which he played a through ball to their keeper after we sent everybody up, which he's done a couple of times this season.
His deliveries from corners are inconsistent, many do not get past the first man. Burrows' are better from the other side.

If anyone remembers the free kick away at Charlton we scored in Lg1, with Duffy Couttsy et al, we need more invention like that. Even the one at the sty.

We also need to stop putting everyone two yards from the goal line in a mass of bodies. It's too easy for the defence and all we're doing is hoping for a rebound to tap in. On top of that it makes it impossible for the referee to spot any pushes or shirt pulls as there are too many bodies in a confined space.

Start with some on the edge of the 6 yard box and some on the edge of the 18 yard box. Then we might actually see some chances. There is little to no movement in our deadball routines. It's as static as our attacks in open play.

 

[GymClassHero]

Understand it's a forum for debate Naggy - but the hyperbole of how shit we are is nonsense- and too many folks weigh in as soon as we have a blip.

Moore was shocking last night, Robbo and Peck had slip ups - but that being said we gave it a go and looked the better of the 2 teams. The critique needs to be sensible and considered if creditable.

This season has been nothing short of miraculous and 100% of fans would have snatched your hands off for this position right now-

Slagging off the management team and virtually all the players is plain wrong - they have done a great job.

Couldn't have put it better myself

 

[Nagima]

We look like Southgate's England when we're attacking. So slow. No movement. Just safe passes that do nothing, hence the high percentage possession stats.

I lost count how many times last night O'Hare received the ball facing our half and immediately passed it back to the player who just passed to him. He had no intention or desire of doing anything positive with it.

McCallum was the same. Everytime he had the ball high up the pitch in advanced positions, he turned and faced back our half and sent the ball backwards. He did this near the end of the first half where he was practically in the corner and in a prime position to cross the ball, but instead he sent a long pass backwards to Peck/Davies. Peck is another culprit of this. Constant unnecessary back passes to Anel/Robinson/Cooper.

Another thing I noticed is how much our players get in each others way. As soon as a player receives the ball a team mate runs over to them and stands about two metres away asking for the ball. As soon as they receive it the defender is all over them, as is the player who was marking the initial passer and we end up trying to run through walls. Spread out.

I've said it for years and I stand by it now. We play too much Subbuteo. There isn't enough off ball movement. We pass to static players in space and not ahead of players who are already running off the ball. It's slow, ineffective and gives teams time to drop back quickly and flood the midfield and box with bodies. It's predictable and easy to defend.

As I posted yesterday. I can't figure out what our style of play is supposed to be with the ball as we resemble a confused mess. Maybe we need to play an outright 5 man midfield instead of this current 2-3 as it's not working, or maybe swap Hamer and Davies as Davies is one of the only players who keeps the ball and runs with it before passing. He lures players out of position and creates spaces to exploit. He has a great footballing brain but sadly his team mates don't.

Great post Tony. Especially regarding style of play and getting in each other's way. We are inconsistent in possession and this is a team that isn't better than the sum of its parts.