Goals from open play

[Bergen Blade]

We've had lots of possession in most of our matches so far, but after six games we've only scored one goal from open play, which must be one of the lowest numbers in the country?

How can we become more effective?

 

[metalblade]

Get a new team perhaps ?

 

[OllyBlade]

Take our easy chances. Have wide players that want to be the major influence on a game, not players like Murphy who are happy to be on the fringes. Full backs who can deliver an accurate cross. A central midfield who offer movement and dynamism. So yes, new team it is!

 

[Revolution]

Stop buying rubbish players.

 

[Harry's Game]

Four or five new quality players would be a start

 

[Reedy1889]

Other than the game vs. the 10 men of Notts. C how many shot on target have we had? 4? 5 at a push?

 

[SwissBlade]

We've had lots of possession in most of our matches so far, but after six games we've only scored one goal from open play, which must be one of the lowest numbers in the country?

How can we become more effective?

Assuming that we don't get any new players in by close of the window... its the Blades way...

I think we need to look at where we've had possession. I can only speak about the game I saw, but the majority of our possession against Bradford came in first two thirds of the pitch. When the ball was played into the final third we wasted it.

Set pieces aren't exactly our friend either, now that McMahon is back we are now slow to take them and they are also wasted. We need fresh ideas on set pieces as its clearly not working. I think it was Yeates and Quinn that used to take them and they, for some reason seemed to think that they were good at them.... Until they were finally removed from the task.

Now that we have the likes of Flynn, Murphy, Taylor and Baxter we should be able to get some movement amongst these boys and play the ball around. Add the full backs into this and we should be getting in behind teams.

If the intent of Weir is to try and play nice pretty stuff for 60 mins then haul Taylor off (after giving him nothing) only to replace with Ironside (seems a headless and clueless chicken) then it won't work. Either play them together or give Taylor the full 90

The key for me is forcing the ball in behind the back four. Make them play a high back line (like Bradfords) and we can get in behind teams

Oh and get the strikers working on hitting a barn door with a banjo

 

[SwissBlade]

Other than the game vs. the 10 men of Notts. C how many shot on target have we had? 4? 5 at a push?

Murphy hit the target against bradford... albeit with the power of a two year old

 

[Reedy1889]

Murphy hit the target against bradford... albeit with the power of a two year old

Correct me if i'm wrong but i cant remember an opposition goalie having to make a 'good' save. No keeper we've come against has got his kit dirty!

 

[UnitedBlade]

We are unbelievably poor and ponderous in the the last third in tandem with poor strikers and poor dead ball kicks.

McMahon will surely be replaced by Baxter on set pieces.

New strikers and wide men still required are key building blocks.

I don't know why but I have a feeling we have at last hit bottom.

The only way is up ?

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

For me the root of the problem is our personnel. People can bang on about the system not working all they like but at the end of the day it's the way to go if you want to be successful now and all the teams that are successful are using the same approach or similar. What Weir needs is better players in several positions. 2 or 3 would be a start and enough to get us through to January in reasonably good shape.

 

[Ashtonsmashton]

We've had lots of possession in most of our matches so far, but after six games we've only scored one goal from open play, which must be one of the lowest numbers in the country?

How can we become more effective?

2 actually but one was down to bad goalkeeping, so 1

 

[Ashtonsmashton]

We've had lots of possession in most of our matches so far, but after six games we've only scored one goal from open play, which must be one of the lowest numbers in the country?

How can we become more effective?

Sign a playmaker

 

[Bergen Blade]

2 actually but one was down to bad goalkeeping, so 1

Both Maguire's long shot against Colchester and Doyle's against Burton came after we took quick, short free kicks.

 

[shorehamview]

Sign a playmaker

Andrew Lloyd Webber?

 

[Ashtonsmashton]

Both Maguire's long shot against Colchester and Doyle's against Burton came after we took quick, short free kicks.

But isn't that basically open play

 

[Bergen Blade]

But isn't that basically open play

There's no clear definition when a goal following a set piece is no longer a set piece goal. For me, a quickly taken free kick, and then a quick shot is a set piece goal. It doesn't have to be a pre-planned routine.

 

[Rudders]

Other than the game vs. the 10 men of Notts. C how many shot on target have we had? 4? 5 at a push?

Yes, good point - most of the players from last year don't have enough confidence to shoot and don't like to take responsibility - instead when in a good position to make the keeper work they try ever more intricate through balls which are inevitably cut out by the last man.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I've now seen the game.

I think our build up and general tempo is too slow.

Regarding our formation and team selection we're back to holding full backs who contribute very little to our attacking play in the final third. Neither do our goalkeeper, our centre halves or our two holding midfielders.

This leaves the front four. Baxter was decent for spells, but he also had long periods where he didn't see much of the ball. Flynn didn't do anything of note, as usual. Murphy saw more of the ball and has more potential in my opinion, but his opponent Hobson had the better of him (looked very solid, he was also the one who forced Taylor wide after his long run and the one who got Brandy sent off). Taylor had a poor game and his touch was off. If he can develop an understanding with Baxter I think he'll get a few through balls to run onto, maybe more in away games. He's not suited to playing as a back to goal target man.

We can't expect to create anywhere enough if we leave it up to those four to create enough chances and score enough goals. I see a lot of posters want new players, and obviously we will improve with better players among the front four.

But we are underestimating the opposition teams if we think four players can do it by themselves. We need higher tempo, more enthusiasm, more movement, and bigger contributions from full back and central midfield if we're going to score enough goals.

It's disappointing to miss sitters, but we should really be looking at ways to create more from open play.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

I've now seen the game.

I think our build up and general tempo is too slow.

Regarding our formation and team selection we're back to holding full backs who contribute very little to our attacking play in the final third. Neither do our goalkeeper, our centre halves or our two holding midfielders.

This leaves the front four. Baxter was decent for spells, but he also had long periods where he didn't see much of the ball. Flynn didn't do anything of note, as usual. Murphy saw more of the ball and has more potential in my opinion, but his opponent Hobson had the better of him (looked very solid, he was also the one who forced Taylor wide after his long run and the one who got Brandy sent off). Taylor had a poor game and his touch was off. If he can develop an understanding with Baxter I think he'll get a few through balls to run onto, maybe more in away games. He's not suited to playing as a back to goal target man.

We can't expect to create anywhere enough if we leave it up to those four to create enough chances and score enough goals. I see a lot of posters want new players, and obviously we will improve with better players among the front four.

But we are underestimating the opposition teams if we think four players can do it by themselves. We need higher tempo, more enthusiasm, more movement, and bigger contributions from full back and central midfield if we're going to score enough goals.

It's disappointing to miss sitters, but we should really be looking at ways to create more from open play.

Just about spot on!! If we stick with this formation we need better up top to aide Baxter, but it needs to get there quicker. Better players should give us better movement but they need finding and central midfield is key to that.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Still only one goal from open play after seven games.

 

[broomhillblade]

How much longer before Weir will have to concede that this system just isn't going to work?

 

[Wards]

I think it can/will work if we are slighty less risk averse and a touch more direct. That doesn't mean hoofing it by the way ;-)

 

[OllyBlade]

I honestly think Porter is a better bet than Taylor in this system yet he seems to have been ostracised so that's that.

 

[Sharpestblade]

My thoughts on getting more goals from open play:

1. Move the ball faster - especially side to side, forward would be good too! It's so slow that many times the opposition are getting across the field before the ball - that is just unbelievably slow.

2. Need far more options for the passer. Need to get much more movement and get players in between the banks of four.

3. The ball needs to be played forward much, much faster (and more often!). Often, Taylor makes the runs but the ball takes another sideways pass.

4. Set pieces need to improve massively. MK match saw 9 free kicks / corners from McMahon, the results of which were 1 shot on target, 1 free kick cross in the right place and 7 (yes SEVEN) set pieces which never went anywhere near a blade and weren't even aimed in the right places.

5. Take the Arsenal philosophy which is that you always have to pass the ball forwards ie not backwards and not sideways.

6. Use the channels more and then use throw ins in the last third to work balls on the ground in the box pulling the ball back from the goal line from inside the 18 yard area.

7. Full backs to get forward as often as possible and want the ball.

 

[Balham]

My thoughts on getting more goals from open play:

7. Full backs to get forward as often as possible and want the ball.

I agree with everything you've written there but this point is absolutely #1 in my book.

At the moment, the lack of willingness/ability of our fullbacks to get forward means that 6 outfield players in United shirts have to try and find a way through 8 or 9 opposition players (depending on whether they have one or two up front).

The full backs pushing on not only forces some of the opposition players to make a choice - stay with the man or close the ball? - but also, crucially, gives whoever's on the ball more options.

The second biggest issue at the moment is the chronic lack of pace at centre half - that's part of the reason why we don't commit the full backs forward. Get a pacey central defender in and we can hold the defensive line 10-15 yards further up the pitch.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I agree with everything you've written there but this point is absolutely #1 in my book.

At the moment, the lack of willingness/ability of our fullbacks to get forward means that 6 outfield players in United shirts have to try and find a way through 8 or 9 opposition players (depending on whether they have one or two up front).

The full backs pushing on not only forces some of the opposition players to make a choice - stay with the man or close the ball? - but also, crucially, gives whoever's on the ball more options.

The second biggest issue at the moment is the chronic lack of pace at centre half - that's part of the reason why we don't commit the full backs forward. Get a pacey central defender in and we can hold the defensive line 10-15 yards further up the pitch.

I agree that creative, attacking full backs are key to the system Weir is currently playing (so does he!)
But he's signed NINE players and not one of them is a full back.
Nor is it likely that we will sign a pair of brand new full backs on loan as Weir said he only wants two loan players.

I know we're not allowed to criticise Weir but surely we have to question why only three of the nine new players he's signed are likely to start on Saturday. Has he used the limited resources he was initially given wisely?

He's signed four new central midfielders to compete with his captain for only 3 places but no new full backs, no pacy central defender and no goal-scoring lone striker when these seem to be obvious requirements to most.

So what is the solution to the full back problem until January?
McMahon and Hill aren't suddenly going to become brilliant at attacking and creating.
Westlake and Williams aren't suddenly going to become solid defenders who can attack and create also.

The best solution therefore would be to play a system that suits the best defenders he already has.
That's either 4-4-2 or his current system but with only one holding midfielder not two.
No wonder we can't score when we have only four attack-minded players on the pitch!

 

[SotonBlade]

Still only one goal from open play after seven games.

Scored by a player who now plays for our rivals..

 

[Balham]

Sothall_Blade I would imagine that Weir has raised the possibility of signing better full backs (or full backs better suited to his tactics) but my guess would be that McMahon and Hill are among the higher earners in the squad and the edict was likely to be sell first then buy.

You mention Weir's signings. I'd split them into two groups: those expected to have an impact this season (McGinn, Coady, Brandy, Taylor, Cuvelier, Baxter) and those for the future (Johns, McGinty, Bunn). Come December, I would have thought that all of the first group would be in the team bar Coady, with Johns and McGinty on the bench.

 

[DazBlade88]

He's signed four new central midfielders to compete with his captain for only 3 places but no new full backs, no pacy central defender and no goal-scoring lone striker when these seem to be obvious requirements to most.

That's either 4-4-2 or his current system but with only one holding midfielder not two.
No wonder we can't score when we have only four attack-minded players on the pitch!

He signed Lyle Taylor for the lone striker role. I know he's been poor so far but Weir, the scouts and Stephenson must have thought he could do it based on what they saw. I'm not convinced they got the right man personally but time will tell.

McMahon has pushed forward quite alot this season but his delivery has let him down so many times. I do agree that we need another centre half. Even if it's just to provide competition for places because Collins and Maguire know they're going to be picked every week.

Out of interest, who would you play out wide in a 4-4-2? Brandy and Murphy aren't suited to being played in a 4-4-2. Unless we go for a 4-2-2-2/4-2-4 (with who in centre midfield?) or a very adventurous 4-1-3-2 with Doyle, Coady or McGinn holding I don't see how it would get the most out of our best attacking minded players.