|
|
Post by Robo10 on Jan 18, 2021 14:18:13 GMT
I think one of the most frustrating things with 'modern'/possession obsessed football is the art of the free kick, especially those in the opposition half
Watching the 23s now, we had a perfectly good free kick 10 yards inside their half, loaded up the box, only to run up, pass it backwards, and within 3 passes we had lost the ball in our own half!
Not picking on them, its obviously a thing, as our first team do it all the time, from kicks anywhere from the halfway line to the edge of the oppo box, the first thought is to pass (or throw it) it backwards - Collins (who is ace) does it all the time, as does Smith, and Fox would often try but give the ball straight away.
Why??
We have a 6ft 7, 6ft 5 set of defenders with Harry, Collins, Batth, Shawcross when on, Chester is decent enough in the air, alongside Vokes/Fletcher when playing, Powell is ace in the air, but we generally go back and it ends up at Bursiks feet, who will only have the option of twatting it long, or as per Saturday start to get too clever recycling the ball
Can remember Bruno being at Knype Club for a meet the players night and somebody asked him why we played sideways and back all the time (slowly), and he couldn't understand why you would just chuck a cross into a packed are - his outlook was that they cant score while you have the ball
While I appreciate the concept (am sure Pep loves that...), that's only great if when you unleash the attack you can transition with 2-3 passes quickly and counter attack (see Foden, De Bruyne, Sterling, Gundogan) - literally draw the oppo in, bish bash bosh and its a goal - whereas bog standard players cant do that, so why use the tactic?
I would much rather pack the box out with big lads, fire it in, win headers, second balls, get shots on goal than a 57 pass move that started with our keeper and ended up back with him 5 minutes later having not left our half...
The majority of our recent goals have come from crosses - Thompsons on Sat was a peach (as were most of his set pieces), Clucas also has a wand of a left.
|
|
|
|
Post by spitthedog on Jan 18, 2021 14:30:49 GMT
Do not start me on free kicks in opposition half that get knocked back to the goalie.
I think we did it a couple of times in the first 10 minutes on Saturday
We do it in EVERY single game sometimes 3 or 4 times a game. Same with throw-ins
Doesn't seem to occur to test their defence and goalie in the first few mins of a game!!!
Drives me absolutely nuts
There is this obsession to take free kicks quickly when there is absolutely no advantage to do so, if you are only knocking it back to the CBs who pass it sideways and then eventually launch up field when their defence is all nice and organised anyway!!!!
We have done this all season!!!!
Forward players work hard to get freekicks and throw ins...for nothing most of the time.
|
|
|
|
Post by boskampsflaps on Jan 18, 2021 14:34:07 GMT
Keep ball nonsense from free kicks and scared of the counter attack seems to be the new thing, it seems managers would rather not risk it, I find it ridiculous.
|
|
|
|
Post by stokiematt1992 on Jan 18, 2021 14:53:43 GMT
Agreed. It’s a waste of a positive opportunity. Any time to get the ball in the box, especially at this level where lack of concentration is the primary reason for goal scoring opportunities, is a opportunity worth taking.
Best part is, we don’t create from open play now anyways, so why bother aiming to simply keep possession?
|
|
|
|
Post by lordb on Jan 18, 2021 16:00:20 GMT
The very top sides,and this isn't new, take quick set pieces short and keep the play moving
That works best for them however that doesn't mean everyone has to ape that or at least not all the time.
As above, an early launch into the box can be an unsettler.
|
|
|
|
Post by PotterLog on Jan 18, 2021 16:01:14 GMT
Keep ball nonsense from free kicks and scared of the counter attack seems to be the new thing, it seems managers would rather not risk it, I find it ridiculous. Yeah, at the risk of stating the obvious, to play keep-ball you have to be able to.. keep the ball..... |
|
|
|
Post by somersetstokie on Jan 18, 2021 16:59:58 GMT
Do not start me on free kicks in opposition half that get knocked back to the goalie. I think we did it a couple of times in the first 10 minutes on Saturday We do it in EVERY single game sometimes 3 or 4 times a game. Same with throw-ins Doesn't seem to occur to test their defence and goalie in the first few mins of a game!!!
Drives me absolutely nuts There is this obsession to take free kicks quickly when there is absolutely no advantage to do so, if you are only knocking it back to the CBs who pass it sideways and then eventually launch up field when their defence is all nice and organised anyway!!!! We have done this all season!!!! Forward players work hard to get freekicks and throw ins...for nothing most of the time. In past times there was a marked tendancy for home teams, even Stoke, to try to gain an early advantage in the match with a high tempo assault on the opposition goal, straight from the kick off. In games at the Vic Stoke would always try to kick towards the Boothen End in the first half, and for the first ten minutes of the game there would be determined forward movement from the whole team, using all resources available, to try for a quick goal. It might not usually produce results, but at least it got the fans wound up early and behind the team. |
|
|
|
Post by tachyon on Jan 18, 2021 18:30:57 GMT
I think one of the most frustrating things with 'modern'/possession obsessed football is the art of the free kick, especially those in the opposition half We create 12% of our expected goals from set pieces (excludes direct free kicks). That's the 4th best in the league. We also create 30% of our total xG from headers, that's comfortably the best in the division. We aren't neglecting our height advantage or set piece delivery as a means to attack. Just over 40% of the free kicks taken inside the opposition half reach the opposition penalty area and we're only getting caught on quick counters for 2% of the expected goals we concede (league's 5th best). Decent mix of risk/reward without becoming one dimensional. |
|
|
|
Post by onlyonesirstan on Jan 18, 2021 18:36:42 GMT
Why are these questions not put to the manager during pre or post interviews? Would love to hear his response
|
|
