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fbm

Blue tinted optimist⭐🦐
I think yes.

When I hear the term "hoofball" I am reminded of the very old Wimbledon tactics of lumping it up to Alan Cork, Fashanu or any of the other professional big blokes that the Dons utilised. This style often cut out the midfield and the ball was played long in straight(ish) lines down the pitch.

Our style on the other hand employs direct passing out of our half and to wide areas, where Hall, Clohessy, Gilbert, Harrid, Mohsni or anyone else in the right position can get a cross in.

There is a difference... although I do have to say that neither are the most exciting styles to watch.

But I really don't think we can be classed as a "hoofball" team.
 
We have argued this before. There is a difference between hoofball ( hit and hope) and the style Sturrock deploys. Target the striker, hold the ball, lay off to the wings etc...good style of play
 
Yes I do think there is a difference. Where the problem lies for me is that ours is such a particular style of football that when we play below our best (which I honestly believe is most of the time at the moment), it all too easily and quickly turns into hoofball (hit and hope).

I don't know what to put that down to, a mental thing or is it a little too much to expect Division 4 players to be consistently accurate with this type of football? Either way, our style, direct into the channels, stretching the oppo, midfield running forward into the space created by the forwards pulling into channels, is and can be effective if the players are on form with it and all on the same page, but that hasn't been often enough this season and it does all too often turn into aimless hoofball unfortunately, despite that not being how they set out to play.
 
Sturrock wants to play direct ball not 'hoofball'. Problem is when some players are not good enough or off form playing direct badly becomes 'hoofball'. As others have slated previous managers before about not having a plan 'b' im starting to wonder whether Sturrock has or whether the players do not have ability to keep the ball on the floor?

Although its not the most enjoyable to watch Sturrock has proved it to be very effective against most side but it will not work against all sides. Bradford was a prime example......is playing direct balls to a centre forward with a defender who is 6''8 marking him a good move?

You also need to have the correct type of players to play this way especially in the striker department which is why i think Harris has struggled all season especially now he is older so not as good physically (strength & pace wise) as he used to be. I wouldnt expect Harris to be holding off or winning headers against big league 2 defenders. It has worked well with Dicko this & Corr last year, he also got the very best out of Mickey Evans at Plymouth as another example. All big guys pretty good at holding the ball up. On that note im pretty certain another bid for Benson will be made in tranfer window.
 
A nice well rounded point southchurch, well done!

Yes there is a clear difference, because we don't always play direct, sometimes we do play small passes, sometimes we play the direct ball and play in their half!

If you do not like the style of play and don't like winning I suggest that you either;
a. don't go anymore
b. go, but close your eyes.
 
The real qustions should be are either good to watch ? No

Can a team go through divisions playing this way? Yes , but not often.

Do the fans want more entertainment for there £21? Absoloutely . We are playing £10 football at best
 
I see what you are saying, but in this league once a team goes off form or a couple of players loose confidence, it can often be easily defended against.

There needs to be a plan B for when this doesn't work. Against Northampton we showed that we could play with the ball on the floor quite effectively (although we did need two wonder goals to get the point).

If it carries on this way I will probably start to miss the odd game here and there as I have more important things to be doing, like a lot of other fans might and seem to be doing.

We just need to mix it up a bit...then everyone will be happy.
 
The real qustions should be are either good to watch ? No

Can a team go through divisions playing this way? Yes , but not often.

Do the fans want more entertainment for there £21? Absoloutely . We are playing £10 football at best

What sitting in a promotion spot? You are joking.

The last couple of games have been quite poor, but, you can't win them all. We want to win them all, but we wont.

In our 17 game unbeaten run everyone was wetting their knickers over our 'die hard' performances. Everybody needs to calm down a little bit. Because we will probably go on a 5 - 10 game winning run again, and then lose a couple, it's the way it works!

UTB!
 
What sitting in a promotion spot? You are joking.

The last couple of games have been quite poor, but, you can't win them all. We want to win them all, but we wont.

In our 17 game unbeaten run everyone was wetting their knickers over our 'die hard' performances. Everybody needs to calm down a little bit. Because we will probably go on a 5 - 10 game winning run again, and then lose a couple, it's the way it works!

UTB!

Sitting in a promotion spot is great in may, not december as you win nothing for that.

Even when we have been winning i have been bored ****less and marvelling at how on earth we are up the top especially having seen the way swindon and cheltenham play there football or more worryingly how bradford play theres.

We have rode all the luck we are gonna get and quite simply we are dull and prectable. It needs an overhaul to push us on again
 
I think our problem is not the football we are trying to play, its the football we end up playing (if you get my drift)

We set out to play the ball from the back into the midfield and let them do the passing, it worked for a while, hence the unbeaten run , but managers have sussed it and have started to reduce the options for the defence, by not getting the strikers to close the defenders , but dropping to cover the midfeild and by getting their own midfield to close in on ours.

This means that the defence have to either try and play football, which they cant , or to try and hit the forwards and hope that the midfield runners can pick up the knock down, which of late has not been happening either.

The CB's are not comfortable on the ball , so one of the CM's is dropping to take the responsibility on , which leaves him one player less in front of him as an option. Halls good early form also means that he his closed down a lot more and basically the opposition are letting the lesser ball players have time on the ball and closing the rest down.

The problem for me is the lack of plan B , which is probably down to the lack of mobility, we do not have one player, imho, who seems to be able to make space without the ball, Hall , and Timlin/Sawyer to an extent can do it with the ball, but there are few intelligent runs and I doubt that they would be spotted most of the time anyway as the , particular the back four, seem too busy watching the ball making sure its still at their feet to lift thier heads and pick out a runner.
 
I'm sorry, but it is more hoofball at the moment. Just watch Gilbert for an example. The midfield is being passed by. The sad thing against Bradford was that they had Two giant central defenders that obviously won everything in the air, but looked beatable on the ground. What did we do? we kept lumping it up to the strikers. Predictable and very easy for giants.
We clearly need to pass the ball more through the midfield, and bring in a creative midfielder, as the only assists seem to be coming from the wing. When the wingers are off form, we hardly have a shot on target.
 
I'm sorry, but it is more hoofball at the moment. Just watch Gilbert for an example. The midfield is being passed by. The sad thing against Bradford was that they had Two giant central defenders that obviously won everything in the air, but looked beatable on the ground. What did we do? we kept lumping it up to the strikers. Predictable and very easy for giants.
We clearly need to pass the ball more through the midfield, and bring in a creative midfielder, as the only assists seem to be coming from the wing. When the wingers are off form, we hardly have a shot on target.

Couldn't agree more!
 
What sitting in a promotion spot? You are joking.

The last couple of games have been quite poor, but, you can't win them all. We want to win them all, but we wont.

In our 17 game unbeaten run everyone was wetting their knickers over our 'die hard' performances. Everybody needs to calm down a little bit. Because we will probably go on a 5 - 10 game winning run again, and then lose a couple, it's the way it works!

UTB!

Not me. I was Tena Lady dry actually.

The only time I have been slightly "moist" about any of our play this season, was Accrington away (first 25mins) Where we got the ball down, knocked it around superbly and were cutting them open at will. And perhaps the first goal at Dagenham, which was again a well worked passing move. The rest have left me feeling completely meh, but for the most part it has been effective at least. Well, until Hall was doubled up on and our direct style went to pot. In other words, until we got "found out"

Back to the drawing board methinks. And several additions are needed.
 
Not me. I was Tena Lady dry actually.

The only time I have been slightly "moist" about any of our play this season, was Accrington away (first 25mins) Where we got the ball down, knocked it around superbly and were cutting them open at will. And perhaps the first goal at Dagenham, which was again a well worked passing move. The rest have left me feeling completely meh, but for the most part it has been effective at least. Well, until Hall was doubled up on and our direct style went to pot. In other words, until we got "found out"

Back to the drawing board methinks. And several additions are needed.

Being where we are is enough to get my juices flowing.

17 game unbeaten run. It's just a recent bad run of results!!!!!!

UTB!
 
Being where we are is enough to get my juices flowing.

17 game unbeaten run. It's just a recent bad run of results!!!!!!

UTB!

Let's be honest here Old Barn Door...you never have a bad word to say against any player or how bad we are at times. I am with Smiffy on this.The results may have been affective and of course I am pleased that somehow we are still second but the style of football we have mostly watched this season has been beyond dire at times.It is mostly "Hoofball" however you wish to dress it with other wording.
 
Let's be honest here Old Barn Door...you never have a bad word to say against any player or how bad we are at times. I am with Smiffy on this.The results may have been affective and of course I am pleased that somehow we are still second but the style of football we have mostly watched this season has been beyond dire at times.It is mostly "Hoofball" however you wish to dress it with other wording.

Which will not change unless the manager does.......
 
Let's be honest here Old Barn Door...you never have a bad word to say against any player or how bad we are at times. I am with Smiffy on this.The results may have been affective and of course I am pleased that somehow we are still second but the style of football we have mostly watched this season has been beyond dire at times.It is mostly "Hoofball" however you wish to dress it with other wording.

Well actually I think you are pretty rubbish! :smile:

I see what you are saying, I'm just happy to be winning. I see us play some good stuff, I always see the good amongst the bad it's a talent I'm blessed with!
 
Well actually I think you are pretty rubbish! :smile:

I see what you are saying, I'm just happy to be winning. I see us play some good stuff, I always see the good amongst the bad it's a talent I'm blessed with!

I'd be happy to be winning too, except we've not actually been doing that most recently have we .. whilst i admire your enthusiasm Dave once you've racked up 30+ years of watching you too WILL develop into an old misery guts like most of us oldies :smile:
 

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