Have we become a Long Ball Team ?

[MJ_WFC]

I would be scared if your becoming a long ball team. I have to watch the long ball every week and it isnt pretty.

 

[Pubey]

i didn't go to the bristol game but was at donny.. the way i see it is that the defence against donny in general did their job in open play... and at times looked to provide the ball for the midfield to create something with. however time and time again our midfield and strikers gave the ball away and it quickly found it's way back to the defence. they were shocking from corners but having been under a fair amount of pressure it seems barrett and p.clarke took it upon themselves to try and create to at least relieve some pressure. i actually think clarke is a decent passer and for some that sail over our strikers heads he actually gets quite a few to their feet... he also knows how to gain some ground and with better play on the wings we could be effective at boxing the ball back in their half. i think what we need is a balance between the midfield creating and the defence creating so we don't become one-dimensional and predictable... also the midfield need to take responsibility when they play badly and people like maher, gower and macca need to do their best to get the foot on the ball and make sure it doesn't find it doesn't break down

 

[Jam_Man]

The problem as I see it is we have good midfielders but no real creativity.

Never liked 3 central midfielders as it always leaves us lacking on the right however it does allow McCormack or Bailey to get forward more which is why they have scored so many.

However that system relies heavily on Gower to be creative and on games like against Bristol where he was clearly not performing it meant we had no creative outlet whatsoever.

If we had two wingers the other possibly may have been doing better.

Maher can pull off outstanding creative passes, however as we know doesnt do them very often.

Baileys passing is pretty good, rarely gives the ball away, but again not really defense splittin.

Mccormacks passing is the weakest part of his game, he does the simple stuff ok but as soon as he tries something more adventurous it all goes a little wrong, although against Oldham he produced a couple of outstanding long passes.

As a team we criticise our forwards a lot but I really struggle to think of many times they actually are given the ball in a position where they can actually score.

Unless we find another Eastwood who creates his own goals we really need to start creating more chances.

 

[Reg Martin]

well, have we?

 

[bigmolt]

Yes, we have since PS has been here. IMHO we will be till he goes. Even tho we dont have the forwards to play hoof ball now.

 

[Blue_Shrimper1959]

Yes, we have since PS has been here. IMHO we will be till he goes. Even tho we dont have the forwards to play hoof ball now.

Were you at the game last night? Definitely tried to play with the ball on the deck in some areas of the field, with the players and formations I think Sturrock is trying to change things, much like he did at the end of last season. Main issues we face now are:

a) Do we have players across the field good enough to play a passing game- my gut feeling is the majority can, but not that well
b) when we're under pressure do we have players who are good enough to play their way out of trouble- simply put no we don't, back 4 in particular (excluding Clohessy tbf to him) will rather hoof it up the field than risk making a mistake (not necessarily a bad thing- just an observation)
c) because of the past two seasons, every time the ball now leaves the deck fans will accuse us of playing long ball, even if (as in the situation above) it is needed at that point in time- same thing happens at nearly every football club "if in doubt ****ing kick it OUT"

 

[marlow17101032]

What is the best way out of this division then

 

[Norwichshrimper]

What is the best way out of this division then

Definitely upwards

 

[silentshrimper]

It is clearly all about recycling old threads today isn't it?

I really hate this long ball argument.

 

[Angell Delight]

Definitely upwards

:smile::smile::smile:

 

[Jam_Man]

Yes, we have since PS has been here. IMHO we will be till he goes. Even tho we dont have the forwards to play hoof ball now.

What about the last 4 or 5 home games of the season last year ? No hoof ball at all in those games (although we did get more direct in the crewe games out of desperation).

Sturrock has already suggested we are looking at playing differently at home.