Quality Goals

[KiwiBlabe]

Hamer's first touch was great, I didn't realise until seeing the angle from behind the goal how good his second touch was followed by a great ball in o Brewster. there are not many who would have made that goal from that ball the way he did. I love watching him try (often does) to make things happen.

 

[Bladezz]

Many things have changed this season, and one that I am finding hard to fathom is the number of high-quality team goals we are scoring. We have gone from worst defence to one of the best defences in the country, and that is clearly down to being in a lower league, and several excellent signings, both permanent and loans. We have become more resilient, and that may be largely down to recruitment and management. And we seem to be able to play unconvincingly for long spells, defending, playing easy passes without creating chances, when suddenly there is a superb goal scored: Millwall last night is a case in point. Jack Robinson plays a 50-yard volleyed pass that TC would have been proud of, Hamer controls superbly, times his run with the ball to perfection, and picks out Brewster’s perfect run with a pass that is begging to be put into the net. And after that, relatively little. Is this deliberate? Draw opponents into complacency, and then suddenly switch tactics? Is it that we have players who try difficult things, which often don’t come off, but when they do, are unstoppable? It has been a big feature of points won this season, and it surely cannot be a fluke?

Answer is Chris Wilder.

 

[Carlton Blade]

From quality players?

 

[Original United]

We are also playing 4 at the back which has made a huge difference (and shows Wilder can adapt and change)

 

[Fitzpatrick’s head cover]

Many things have changed this season, and one that I am finding hard to fathom is the number of high-quality team goals we are scoring. We have gone from worst defence to one of the best defences in the country, and that is clearly down to being in a lower league, and several excellent signings, both permanent and loans. We have become more resilient, and that may be largely down to recruitment and management. And we seem to be able to play unconvincingly for long spells, defending, playing easy passes without creating chances, when suddenly there is a superb goal scored: Millwall last night is a case in point. Jack Robinson plays a 50-yard volleyed pass that TC would have been proud of, Hamer controls superbly, times his run with the ball to perfection, and picks out Brewster’s perfect run with a pass that is begging to be put into the net. And after that, relatively little. Is this deliberate? Draw opponents into complacency, and then suddenly switch tactics? Is it that we have players who try difficult things, which often don’t come off, but when they do, are unstoppable? It has been a big feature of points won this season, and it surely cannot be a fluke?

I was thinking there has been a big step up in the quality of our movement and passing in the final third for the last month or so. Some of the goals against Coventry/Oxford/West Brom/Millwall have been such high quality; it’s felt like Hamer/O’Hare/Campbell/Burrows in particular have really clicked. JRS also for the Oxford/Coventry goals.

I put some of this down to Moore getting injured (and I say this as a fan of Moore). It’s forced us to be patient and refrain from the long ball too often. We’ve got to play differently with Campbell up top. As a result, we’ve kept the ball and given Hamer (and others) the chance to create some magic with the ball at his feet. It’s been great to watch!

 

[Blackheath Blade]

I was thinking there has been a big step up in the quality of our movement and passing in the final third for the last month or so. Some of the goals against Coventry/Oxford/West Brom/Millwall have been such high quality; it’s felt like Hamer/O’Hare/Campbell/Burrows in particular have really clicked. JRS also for the Oxford/Coventry goals.

I put some of this down to Moore getting injured (and I say this as a fan of Moore). It’s forced us to be patient and refrain from the long ball too often. We’ve got to play differently with Campbell up top. As a result, we’ve kept the ball and given Hamer (and others) the chance to create some magic with the ball at his feet. It’s been great to watch!

Most comments understandably praise the goal last night but for my money, the first goal we scored at Coventry last month showed what this team are capable of. It was an absolute joy to see the ball moved from the edge of our area and within a matter of twenty or so seconds, and three or four passes later, their keeper is picking the ball out of his goal. A superb team goal.

 

[MoscowBlade]

You have set me going asking a question like that First, I don’t think the problems started with the goalkeepers last season, and by the time Grbic arrived, the defence had lost it, and he was the unfortunate icing on the cake. And the poor guy never showed us what his strengths as a keeper were. As a lifelong member of the goalkeepers union, I prefer to leave it at that.
The question of Hodgy v Cooper is a much more pleasant debate, as their presence in the goal has been enough in itself to justify watching United from behind that goal. I am very much prejudiced in favour of Hodgy, as he was my childhood hero, had a brilliant connection with the kids behind the goal (whichever team they supported), and was one of the reasons I have spent so much of my life watching and playing football. Cooper has already become the keeper I have most enjoyed watching since Hodgy retired, but it is very early days yet. He is very different (and of course the game is very different); he is calm, yet an organiser, but is not yet a big personality. Ever since keepers have had to use their feet more, I have been a nervous wreck behind the goal, but I am now calm when he has the ball at his feet. I relax when we do short goal kicks, or when he has to kick the ball with his left foot. Even if occasionally he is not accurate, he has not yet (touch wood) created a disastrous situation. Like Hodgy he is below average height for a keeper of his era, but unlike Hodgy who relied on agility and bravery, Cooper uses judgment, anticipation and positional sense to minimise the number of spectacular saves he has to make. Like Hodgy, he might not get the recognition he deserves because of his height. I am really looking forward to seeing how his career develops.

It is also worth mentioning that Hodgy was 18 when he made his debut against Newcastle and 20 (maybe 21) when he was first capped by England, whereas Michael Cooper has really just started his playing journey, earning plaudits and recognition aged 25. I think his on-field calm demeanour is a huge asset and will play a big part in his development.

 

[Ned the Donkey]

Many things have changed this season, and one that I am finding hard to fathom is the number of high-quality team goals we are scoring.

After 3 or 4 games in at least one of the press conferences Chris 'Mystic Meg' Wilder said something along the lines of, "We've done alright so far, but fuck me we obviously haven't got a clue in and around their box, we know that, it's fucking embarrassing at times. We'll be working on it, and it should pay off in a few matches."

He had seen into the future - and the future included Jack Robinson doing Glenn Hoddle impersonations.