How many crosses did we make?

[Silent Blade]

We made so many crosses (some were poor) tonight and none of them fell nicely for us, they were always headed away by a Donny defender

 

[Bladesman]

How come not one of our players can beat the first man when crossing from a corner?

We were rather poor at them last season as well.

Willo flat crosses and Quinn was hardly a master of corner kicks.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

We made so many crosses (some were poor) tonight and none of them fell nicely for us, they were always headed away by a Donny defender

"some" ?! I've never seen so many poor crosses in a game. No excuse - particularly from corners. Do we do any work on set plays?

 

[Bladesman]

"some" ?! I've never seen so many poor crosses in a game. No excuse - particularly from corners. Do we do any work on set plays?

That's the worrying thing I am not sure we do.

The likes of Cressy and Kitson can actually score if you deliver a good corner from time to time.

 

[stannyblade]

We were poor but credit also has to go to the donny defence in particular the number x78 that they parked infront of their goal second half

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

We made so many crosses (some were poor) tonight and none of them fell nicely for us, they were always headed away by a Donny defender

From my position at the top of gangway B in the South Stand I had the perfect position second half to see McMahon, without fail, get to half way inside the Donny half then launch it in the box for their giant centre halfs to lap it up.

On the other wing, from half way inside our half Hill more often than not would lunch it diagonal for their giant centre halfs or left back to lap it up.

 

[CG Blade]

From my position at the top of gangway B in the South Stand I had the perfect position second half to see McMahon, without fail, get to half way inside the Donny half then launch it in the box for their giant centre halfs to lap it up.

On the other wing, from half way inside our half Hill more often than not would lunch it diagonal for their giant centre halfs or left back to lap it up.

But that was the problem it was obvious after 15 mins, that Donny's two 9 foot 10 centre halfs were dominating anything that was crossed in, however we did not have the guile to change tatics, or even have the players to change it. Wilson said last night it was difficult to play against them because they defended deep. If we had a decent winger we could have got round them, or a creative midfield we could have passed through them, but no every time the ball was lobbed forwarded and headed straight back out. It was pathetic to watch and shows we have a squad that does not have the ability to think.

 

[Wards]

I think a more useful question would be how many crosses did we get in from good positions?

I can only recall one to be quite honest - McMahon in the first half.

All well and good getting the ball in the box but pointless if it's not from the right areas i.e. 30 or 40 yards from the touchline. Not once did we get behind the full back. Compare this to last season when we had Lowton and Willo getting to the touchline 6 or 7 times a game then it's plain to see why we aren't creating much.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I think a more useful question would be how many crosses did we get in from good positions? I can only recall one to be quite honest - McMahon in the first half.

All well and good getting the ball in the box but pointless if it's not from the right areas i.e. 30 or 40 yards from the touchline. Not once did we get behind the full back. Compare this to last season when we had Lowton and Willo getting to the touchline 6 or 7 times a game then it's plain to see why we aren't creating much.

This is the crux of the problem this season. Even Dean Saunders said so in his post-match interview.
McMahon simply doesn't have the attacking ability that Lowton had. Or if he does, he's not showing it.
I'm not sure what the solution is or if we have the players in the current squad to solve the problem?
If we don't find a solution, we will continue to struggle to score goals against defensive teams.

 

[Kenilworth]

We all need to make a bloody sight more crosses and keep on praying if we are going to challenge for anything other than the mediocrity award this season.

The quality of the crossing is near on embarrassing - especially from set pieces.

I think Flynn is the only one at the club capable of putting in a quality cross.

 

[Fiery Blade]

But that was the problem it was obvious after 15 mins, that Donny's two 9 foot 10 centre halfs were dominating anything that was crossed in, however we did not have the guile to change tatics, or even have the players to change it. Wilson said last night it was difficult to play against them because they defended deep. If we had a decent winger we could have got round them, or a creative midfield we could have passed through them, but no every time the ball was lobbed forwarded and headed straight back out. It was pathetic to watch and shows we have a squad that does not have the ability to think.

Or perhaps a manager that is out of his depth?

 

[stannyblade]

McMahon simply doesn't have the attacking ability that Lowton had. Or if he does, he's not showing it.
quote]

If he did then he wouldnt have signed for us Villa would have signed him instead of Lowton

 

[SwissBlade]

The thing that I don’t get is that for the last few years, we’ve persisted in games when certain things down work. The crosses issue isn’t new. Ironically it was my biggest bugbear with Cotterill, who sounded like he had another shite game last night.

Here are the things that are constantly cropping up under several managers.

Lumping the ball through the middle to a striker that has no chance of winning the ball cleanly
Crossing to no one.
Crap corners slung in anywhere
Ineffective tippy tappy passing when we fail to break down the opposition

The key for me, I said it last season too, is that we have to adapt to games and try different methods.

Many teams will park the bus in front of their goal when we play at home. So we have to try other methods.

It sounded last night like we kept pushing on against a defence which was camped on its 18yard line. Surely then we play possession and WE drop deeper creating space. It sounds like it was the ideal scenario to bring some pace in... Cofie.

We needed to get them defending higher up the pitch and create the space in behind them. Last season we worked well at hitting teams fast on the break. We have the players like MacDonald who can not only see, but also pick a pass.

I don't think the manager is out of his depth, but he needs to have a plan B and he needs to use his limited resources better.

 

[raul]

His resources are diminished, hence the results will be. You can plan all the way down to Z, but if the players at your disposal lack the ability to carry them out........

I fear this season is the one we thought we'd be having last year. Cupboards now bare.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

His resources are diminished, hence the results will be. You can plan all the way down to Z, but if the players at your disposal lack the ability to carry them out........

I fear this season is the one we thought we'd be having last year. Cupboards now bare.

.....and there (if we're honest) is the nutshell explanation.

 

[SwissBlade]

His resources are diminished, hence the results will be. You can plan all the way down to Z, but if the players at your disposal lack the ability to carry them out........

I fear this season is the one we thought we'd be having last year. Cupboards now bare.

Undoubtedly last season was our best chance to get promoted. We had the players to do it. But we didn't do it.

This season we've ripped out the majority of the talent that we had ( because they earned the big cash too) and were starting again.

But it's not just about quality of the players, in fact i think the issues were talking about here are more simple - tactics, shape, positioning etc... It's the coach-able issues. Sure there are issues of delivery too but you make space by getting in the right positions.

We're putting the balls in the box, but are we linking up?

 

[raul]

Undoubtedly last season was our best chance to get promoted. We had the players to do it. But we didn't do it.

This season we've ripped out the majority of the talent that we had ( because they earned the big cash too) and were starting again.

But it's not just about quality of the players, in fact i think the issues were talking about here are more simple - tactics, shape, positioning etc... It's the coach-able issues. Sure there are issues of delivery too but you make space by getting in the right positions.

We're putting the balls in the box, but are we linking up?

All absolutely fair that Swiss, but do you really think the Management and Coaching Staff would'nt be picking up on such things too? I suspect that all those may well improve once we get a settled side and everyone has a better understanding of each others roles, responsibilities, abilites etc as happened last year, but the bottom line is the better the players the better the results.

 

[Fiery Blade]

These guys are professional footballers - Coaches are professional coaches - it shouldn't need settled side, undersanding responsibilities and roles to perform ie: deiver a measured cross, make corners count by beating the first man, shooting a goal and not kicking into touch for a throw in, passing to the same colour shirt, going to meet a throw in - all simple tasks for a paid footballer - you see a lot of it in the parks on a sunday morning where the players pay to play and the coaches/managers do it for fun!
Yes, agreed better players=better results but you would think that our players could do basic things!

 

[Bladesman]

These guys are professional footballers - Coaches are professional coaches - it shouldn't need settled side, undersanding responsibilities and roles to perform ie: deiver a measured cross, make corners count by beating the first man, shooting a goal and not kicking into touch for a throw in, passing to the same colour shirt, going to meet a throw in - all simple tasks for a paid footballer - you see a lot of it in the parks on a sunday morning where the players pay to play and the coaches/managers do it for fun!
Yes, agreed better players=better results but you would think that our players could do basic things!

Like Edwards always says we need to get the basics right in every match. As you say it is standard practice throughout each level of football.

I said last night we have not had a decent corner taker since Keef left and we have not had a decent free kick taker since Brown went!

 

[raul]

These guys are professional footballers - Coaches are professional coaches - it shouldn't need settled side, undersanding responsibilities and roles to perform ie: deiver a measured cross, make corners count by beating the first man, shooting a goal and not kicking into touch for a throw in, passing to the same colour shirt, going to meet a throw in - all simple tasks for a paid footballer - you see a lot of it in the parks on a sunday morning where the players pay to play and the coaches/managers do it for fun!
Yes, agreed better players=better results but you would think that our players could do basic things!

Maybe sometimes the 11 men who's job it is to stop all the above happening have an effect?

 

[Grecian2000]

Maybe sometimes the 11 men who's job it is to stop all the above happening have an effect?

Isn't that a Duncanism?

 

[yorkshirecoast]

Maybe sometimes the 11 men who's job it is to stop all the above happening have an effect?

So last night it was Donny's fault? And there was me thinking it was just that our crosses & corners were, once again, shite.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Maybe sometimes the 11 men who's job it is to stop all the above happening have an effect?

What Like? Taking a proper corner or an effective free kick
All they had to do last night was to hang about in the penalty area - we would soon pump balls in for them to head clear!
The 11 against us last night didn't have to put themselves out much at all
Stop making excuses - the performance last night was dire much like the rest of this season!!!

 

[SwissBlade]

All absolutely fair that Swiss, but do you really think the Management and Coaching Staff would'nt be picking up on such things too? I suspect that all those may well improve once we get a settled side and everyone has a better understanding of each others roles, responsibilities, abilites etc as happened last year, but the bottom line is the better the players the better the results.

Absolutely, your first point is why i'm not panicking at the moment. The team needs time to settle into system A but I think we also need system B, C and D at least partly ready when plan A doesn't work.

I assume plan A this season is "don't lose"

My only concern is that some of these things were highlighted last season and we're still talking about the same issues only this year they are magnified by inferior quality players who don't even know each other.

Putting this back to you though, last season we had better players from a better division. We scored a hell of a lot of goals and perhaps it could be argued that Ched, Willo, Quinn, Lowton and Macca were all playing in a division below their talents.

We don't need to be the best team in the world, just the best in the divison, the likes of Macca, Cofie, Blackman, Doyle are certainly good enough to do well at this level... I think time will tell if we have the onions to win the league, but on present form we're a way off closing games out like we did last season.

 

[Fiery Blade]

To be fair Swiss last season Willo, Quinn, Lowton were in and out, MacDonald missed many key games - it was Evans that propelled us to our lofty positions with bit parts from the others!
I saw enough last night that Kitson, given reasonable service can be very effective this season and if Blackman can work with him they could produce results
However we need some discipline from Doyle, MacDonald to stay fit, better deliveries from set peices and a solid defence - McGuire and Collins should provide the middle bit, McMahon looks ok defensively and although LJF is not my cup of tea should provide better left back cover than existing encumbants.
As you say, it's not a good division but we're not a good team
Let our coaches start earning their money and coach some good habits!

 

[SwissBlade]

Fiery Blade True Ched bagged a hell of a lot of goals, but he still needed supply (as your post alludes to regarding Kitson)

But I think half decent supply to a fantastic striker like Ched gets you goals. The difference that we have now is that we don't have the championship supply or the championship strikers...

So for me we need to polish the system, polish the various Plans A/B/C etc to give ourselves a better chance to create perhaps simpler chances.

Lets get the coaches earning their money.

 

[raul]

Isn't that a Duncanism?

I'm off for a walk in the park with the little Raul's, feck off.

Tap in for anyone who wants it.

 

[Grecian2000]

I'll take that as a yes then.

 

[beightonblade]

near mind how many fookin crosses.........its goals i'm interested in.

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

were about as much use at making decent looking crosses, as a blind atheist with a stanley knife.