Leon Clarke

[Revolution]

A viable option?? It's how the game should be played! Whether the pass is short, long or medium, the idea is to keep the ball, not turn the game into a series of 50/50 challenges! Ask the teams who win things....at any level of the game, including division three. Bournemouth and Norwich, to name but two, footballed their way out with some ease. As recently as last season, passing Barnsley outclassed Hoofwall in the play-off final.

For those of you who haven't seen the goals scored by "passing Barnsley" against Millwall, they were scored like this:

- A big hoof down the middle by the keeper to the edge of the area. The centre forward turns well and scores. In other words, what Tony Agana did sometimes under Bassett. Pinchy would not know this as he wasn't supporting United at the time.
- A dribble from the left winger followed by a 20 yard strike. A super goal, with no passing involved.
- A header from a corner.

I'm only surprise Pinchy didn't break down and cry after the first one went in.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Clarke is, without s shadow of doubt, contributing massively to our offensive "issues".

He isn't that good.

Our tactics are toss.

Pretty potent combination !!!!

UTB

 

[Pinchy]

For those of you who haven't seen the goals scored by "passing Barnsley" against Millwall, they were scored like this:

- A big hoof down the middle by the keeper to the edge of the area. The centre forward turns well and scores. In other words, what Tony Agana did sometimes under Bassett. Pinchy would not know this as he wasn't supporting United at the time.
- A dribble from the left winger followed by a 20 yard strike. A super goal, with no passing involved.
- A header from a corner.

I'm only surprise Pinchy didn't break down and cry after the first one went in.

S2 Hoofers really die hard. Their devotion to grotesque anti-football is almost admirable....no it isn't...it really isn't.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Clarke is, without s shadow of doubt, contributing massively to our offensive "issues".

He isn't that good.

Our tactics are toss.

Pretty potent combination !!!!

UTB

Okay Billy.

 

[Revolution]

S2 Hoofers really die hard. Their devotion to grotesque anti-football is almost admirable....no it isn't...it really isn't.

View attachment 19206

Don't tar me with that brush. I enjoy football played lots of different ways.

I just enjoy pointing out that, as ever, it's not as black and white as you like to portray it.

 

[Pinchy]

There is a 'right way' to play the game. It's a phrase in common usage amongst players and managers and, trust me, they ain't talking about Hoofball! Only the S2 Bassett Generation, who've never seen proper football, think otherwise.

Think you meant "Only the S2 Bassett generation,who are the only one to see meaningful excitement and sustained top flight football"

The right way as you put it was John Harris preserve and sadly a very distant memory.

I've always said, Sean, despite being misrepresented to the contrary, that Bassett was the right man at the right time. A necessary evil. My issue is with those who don't realise that that time has long gone when Hoof was found out and consigned to the football bin. Only in S2 do the natives think it has the slightest relevance or utility in modern football.

Once old Diplodocus lost Deane and Agana, through no fault of his own, like all dinosaurs he couldn't adapt. His time thereafter was not exciting; it was excruciating. Hands up for Jostein Flo and Paul Williams. No? I thought not.

Bassett's legacy is, I'm afraid, plain to see, day in day out, on here. The dinosaurs are not extinct after all and four years in the Premier League, however exhilarating at the time, was bought at too high a price.

Have a look at the 'Crazy Gang' documentary where young Bassett makes no bones about his "football" philosophy. He brought Sunday League football to the professional game and, amusingly and quite romantically in an odd way I suppose, it worked for a while, until proper football learned how to deal with it. Once it did, Bassett hadn't a clue. The thought that he has an ongoing influence at our club is deeply depressing.

 

[Pinchy]

Don't tar me with that brush. I enjoy football played lots of different ways.

I just enjoy pointing out that, as ever, it's not as black and white as you like to portray it.

Why do you think top players and managers refer to the "right way"? Are they mistaken?

 

[him behind you]

Every chance of that happening. But when he flicks right and the runner goes right you're in behind. Its a very crude system, which is why plenty of bad teams employ it, often effectively

Agreed - but what if the strike partner thinks there might be a 3rd option - not right or left but holding it up or knocking it down backwords? I suppose that could be picked up by the marauding midfielders so he wouldn't need to worry about that one....oh, hang on a minute!

 

[Revolution]

Why do you think top players and managers refer to the "right way"? Are they mistaken?

Oh, it's the right way if you have the players to do it. If you're Barcelona. Or if you have good coaching and players willing to listen and adapt.

When you don't have those things, if you're not careful you can end up with 80% possession and no shots on target at home to Hartlepool, or a team of Leon Britton/Louis Reed clones who can pass ten yards and do nothing else whatsoever, which can get you relegated.

It's all shades of grey, not black and white.

Bassett had a plan, brought in players to fit the plan, was successful, and played exciting football. It was exciting because when it worked we won lots and scored lots. I'd give anything for that today.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Let's be fair to both.

It's not Clarke's fault we've literally decided to lump it 70 yards without thinking because we don't have the balls to take responsibility on the pitch - and I doubt that's how wilder wants us to play either.

Thy are both capable strikers (we'd have been much closer to relegation without sharps goals) we need to do better at serving them. Midfield had been none existent and done and Duffy poor. I'd go 4-3-3 as something needs to change and fast

 

[him behind you]

A viable option?? It's how the game should be played! Whether the pass is short, long or medium, the idea is to keep the ball, not turn the game into a series of 50/50 challenges! Ask the teams who win things....at any level of the game, including division three. Bournemouth and Norwich, to name but two, footballed their way out with some ease. As recently as last season, passing Barnsley outclassed Hoofwall in the play-off final.

There is a 'right way' to play the game. It's a phrase in common usage amongst players and managers and, trust me, they ain't talking about Hoofball! Only the S2 Bassett Generation, who've never seen proper football, think otherwise.

Not disagreeing with you Stafford, just a convenient post to hang mine on...

You've hit the nail on the head there Pinchy. It's not a case of tippy tappy, short, medium or long balls. It's about passing to a colleague rather than hitting it in the hope that a colleague might get there. I've no problem with long passes. There's no finer site than seeing a 40-50 yard pass from a player that goes straight to the feet of a team mate which turns defence into attack - but it needs to be played with purpose and accuracy so that the recipient can control and use the ball rather than just getting a touch on it.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Okay Billy.

4 down.

6 to go.

Tell me I'm wrong.

UTB

 

[Sean Thornton]

4 down.

6 to go.

Tell me I'm wrong.

UTB

You're wrong

 

[DronnieBlade]

You're wrong

Time will tell Leon

UTB

 

[northsomersetblade]

Jesus fucking Christ.

Did I miss the secret meeting where everyone got together and decided that our only consistant goalscorer in 4 years was now shit and shouldn't be on the pitch?

All the others decided to give him the black spot for making them look shit by comparison

 

[Pinchy]

You've hit the nail on the head there Pinchy. It's not a case of tippy tappy, short, medium or long balls. It's about passing to a colleague rather than hitting it in the hope that a colleague might get there. I've no problem with long passes. There's no finer site than seeing a 40-50 yard pass from a player that goes straight to the feet of a team mate which turns defence into attack - but it needs to be played with purpose and accuracy so that the recipient can control and use the ball rather than just getting a touch on it.

Exactly what I've always said, mate. The Hoofwaffe (that's one of raul's, credit to him) don't like the incontrovertible truth. They cling onto grotesque anti-football like barnacles on a rusty old tanker. In order to do that they have to denigrate the proper football that wins points, matches, leagues and the odd European and World Cup now and then. They struggle hopelessly and in vain to comprehend the deep mystery of better footballers beating their inferiors. I suspect it's "Blackwell syndrome". I couldn't play football myself so I'll make sure nobody else does.

It's amusing, but only if you like your comédie noire...

 

[DronnieBlade]

Hoofwaffe

 

[Tyler Durden]

Left-and-right-and-back-and-right-and-left and-back-again.

Give-the-goalie-a-kick-he-looks-like-a-prick-and-left-and-right-and-back-again.

But never forth.

Better to lose and look pretty than win in a way that hurts ones delicate sensibilities.

Proper football for proper eunuchs.

 

[Bladesince59]

Do you really think that Sharp is capable of doing that?

No. It's a failed tactic

 

[DronnieBlade]

Left-and-right-and-back-and-right-and-left and-back-again.

Give-the-goalie-a-kick-he-looks-like-a-prick-and-left-and-right-and-back-again.

But never forth.

Better to lose and look pretty than win in a way that hurts ones delicate sensibilities.

Proper football for proper eunuchs.

Banter to match your views on the game.

Archaic.

UTB

 

[Tyler Durden]

Banter to match your views on the game.

Archaic.

UTB

I don't do "banter". It's not The Lad Bible.

I think you mean pragmatic. Not playing football devoid of genitalia for the benefit of the delicate souls on here.

 

[DronnieBlade]

I don't do "banter". It's not The Lad Bible.

I think you mean pragmatic. Not playing football devoid of genitalia for the benefit of the delicate souls on here.

Archaic pragmatism ????

UTB

 

[HoodedClaw]

The concerning thing for me is that what we're seeing on the pitch is symptomatic of CW not having a clue.

Lets play with wingers, but make the pitch narrower??

Lets play 2 in midfield, but we don't have the players to play 2 in midfield (How many years has this been the case?)

Lets play direct up to Clarke and Sharp, because they've both shown previously that they are capable of playing the big man little man compbo up top.

Slightly concerned, but trying hard not to be as I try not to conclude too much before 10 games are played.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Archaic pragmatism ????

UTB

Yeah, that old fashioned notion that you tend to put the ball in the net if you head towards its general direction.....

 

[DronnieBlade]

Yeah, that old fashioned notion that you tend to put the ball in the net if you head towards its general direction.....

Gerritforrard pragmatism then.
My mistake

UTB

 

[him behind you]

Left-and-right-and-back-and-right-and-left and-back-again.

Give-the-goalie-a-kick-he-looks-like-a-prick-and-left-and-right-and-back-again.

But never forth.

Better to lose and look pretty than win in a way that hurts ones delicate sensibilities.

Proper football for proper eunuchs.

But I don't think anyone is saying that are they? All we are saying is pass if forward with purpose, not lump it forward in hope. We're more likely to win passing it into the box to someone in a good goalscoring position than if we kick it over that same person's head in the same position.

 

[Tyler Durden]

But I don't think anyone is saying that are they? All we are saying is pass if forward with purpose, not lump it forward in hope. We're more likely to win passing it into the box to someone in a good goalscoring position than if we kick it over that same person's head in the same position.

One individual thinks that the ball leaving the ground at any point is a cardinal sin. And almost every post he's ever made says as much.
You adopt the style required to win the game in that given situation. My view is actually the moderate and practical one, not clouded by dogma and bullshit agendas.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Flitcroft 1 (Clarke OG)
Wilder 0

"I know, I know....
Leon....
£100,000
We only wanted £25,000...."

Nobody pisstakes Big Harv better than "Flicker" ...

 

[DronnieBlade]

One individual thinks that the ball leaving the ground at any point is a cardinal sin. And almost every post he's ever made says as much.
You adopt the style required to win the game in that given situation. My view is actually the moderate and practical one, not clouded by dogma and bullshit agendas.

Right.

Explain why the best teams in the world do it my way rather than yours ?

So it must be down to L1 then. You must have to do it differently ??

Bollocks.

Pinchy has this spot on. As do I.

The 1980s Scandinavian method worked for a while. It doesn't any more.

If it did, Messi, Iniiesta et al would be pinging long balls to the "big un" up top and feeding off whatever comes their way.

They don't.

And the ridiculous notion that tippy tappy, as is your preferred label, only ever goes sideways or backwards is, well, backwards !!

UTB

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Explain why the best teams in the world do it my way

Three part Q? Chiefy...

1. What is "your way?"

2. Who do you manage and why are you posting on a SUFC forum at 1245 instead of discussing football/tactics/transfers with Guardiola, Conte & Warnock via Skype?

No diatribe, just a simple one line answer will suffice.