| Have we become a long ball side? 11:03 - Aug 11 with 1796 views | ThatMuhrenCross |
Not a criticism, but I did notice last season we were more direct than the last time we were in the Championship. Understandable, given that we were a little out of our depth.
But on Friday, I couldn't help but notice that was the case again against Birmingham.
I was expecting this season we'd be more possession based, given we have superior players to the majority of the league now, but still seemed to be a case of playing it around between the centre backs and keepers, then getting it to the full-backs who pump it long to Hirst.
Will be a little disappointing if that is now our tactic, given the quality we've got. |  |
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| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:05 - Aug 11 with 1662 views | Herbivore |
They were pressing high and condensing the space. With Hladky and Woolf we could be a bit braver and try to play through that, but Palmer and O'Shea don't have the composure and quality on the ball for us to play through a very high and very relentless press, hence going longer more often. |  |
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| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:07 - Aug 11 with 1626 views | SE1blue |
If you watched the pre-season games you’d have seen we’re very much a passing team still.
The Brum match was pretty much anti football, so didn’t allow it. |  |
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| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:11 - Aug 11 with 1578 views | SamWhiteUK |
There were a couple of moves in the Brum game that showed what our style is and where we want it to be. The first half in particular, however, when they were buzzing around like crazy and everyone was just smashing into each other, wasn't the time to show it. If we'd tried to pass it around and they'd just smothered us and won the ball and scored, the fans wouldn't have been impressed. |  | | |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:13 - Aug 11 with 1555 views | cressi |
Need different ways to win a match. Results are all important. |  | | |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:14 - Aug 11 with 1542 views | bluefunk |
We were closed down very effectively by Birmingham, especially in the first half. That meant we often had no option npbut to go longer, partly to avoid losing possession in our own defensive third but also to try and exploit their press and pin them back a little. It was noticeable that once they tired a little and brought on their subs we were able to play out from the back, albeit that we still weren’t at our best.
I think also we had a bit of a makeshift team out, with players not fully match fit, so McKenna played more of a containing game. Once we’ve had time to integrate new players and get the squad back to full strength we will see more of the possession based play. Worth noting you don’t get points for possession though!! |  | | |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:14 - Aug 11 with 1542 views | SomethingBlue |
Wimbledon in the late 80s and Norway in the mid-90s were long ball sides. So let's not be too dramatic. We've certainly mixed it up a bit more recently and I think that's largely due to being hamstrung by Palmer in goal; as well as an out from the very sophisticated & aggressive presses we saw in the PL (and on Friday tbf). [Post edited 11 Aug 11:27]
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| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:21 - Aug 11 with 1432 views | cressi |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:14 - Aug 11 by SomethingBlue |
Wimbledon in the late 80s and Norway in the mid-90s were long ball sides. So let's not be too dramatic. We've certainly mixed it up a bit more recently and I think that's largely due to being hamstrung by Palmer in goal; as well as an out from the very sophisticated & aggressive presses we saw in the PL (and on Friday tbf). [Post edited 11 Aug 11:27]
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A goalie is there to stop the ball going in the net far safer than the Birmingham keeper. He does not need to be like Zidane it's a total myth people need to get away from. | | | |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:21 - Aug 11 with 1419 views | longtimefan |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:14 - Aug 11 by bluefunk |
We were closed down very effectively by Birmingham, especially in the first half. That meant we often had no option npbut to go longer, partly to avoid losing possession in our own defensive third but also to try and exploit their press and pin them back a little. It was noticeable that once they tired a little and brought on their subs we were able to play out from the back, albeit that we still weren’t at our best.
I think also we had a bit of a makeshift team out, with players not fully match fit, so McKenna played more of a containing game. Once we’ve had time to integrate new players and get the squad back to full strength we will see more of the possession based play. Worth noting you don’t get points for possession though!! |
Last time we played away at Birmingham in the Championship we were totally over run by their press in the first half and went into halftime 2-0 down. Fortunately that year they totally over exerted themselves in the first half and we were able to get back in the game as they tired second half. This year they pressed very well but not to the extent they blew themselves out. | | | |
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| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:22 - Aug 11 with 1411 views | TractorJack |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:21 - Aug 11 by cressi |
A goalie is there to stop the ball going in the net far safer than the Birmingham keeper. He does not need to be like Zidane it's a total myth people need to get away from. |
I'm guessing you haven't watched any top level football for the last 10 years. |  | | |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:25 - Aug 11 with 1385 views | Herbivore |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:21 - Aug 11 by cressi |
A goalie is there to stop the ball going in the net far safer than the Birmingham keeper. He does not need to be like Zidane it's a total myth people need to get away from. |
Is this an echo in time from 1972? | |
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| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:29 - Aug 11 with 1324 views | Vic |
It's a massive credit to Brum that they managed to press us so effectively for so long. As other have said this is similar to what teams in the Prem did last season and after a while we changed style to play long more often.
In a way it's what we did so successfully in our two promotion seasons. We came unstuck in the Prem because the players there were consistency bigger, stronger and fitter than the teams we'd been playing. It was a real eye opener! |  |
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| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:29 - Aug 11 with 1328 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
Would've been very different if Cajuste/Morsy was in the side.
With the press Brum were using a ball in to the feet of Jack Taylor who does not have the ability to turn on the ball under pressure or manoeuvrer out of tight spaces would have been very dangerous. Had that have been Morsy in the team I also think their goal wouldn't have happened as Palmer would've played short in to Morsy to play first time out to Dara or Johnson, instead of an aimless chip in to Jack Clarke. Not sure he trusted Taylor in that situation. It was still a horrible clearance from Palmer mind, id rather him smash it out of play.
Cajuste will make a world of difference, as will the other midfielder we sign hopefully. [Post edited 11 Aug 11:30]
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| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:30 - Aug 11 with 1334 views | bsw72 |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:14 - Aug 11 by SomethingBlue |
Wimbledon in the late 80s and Norway in the mid-90s were long ball sides. So let's not be too dramatic. We've certainly mixed it up a bit more recently and I think that's largely due to being hamstrung by Palmer in goal; as well as an out from the very sophisticated & aggressive presses we saw in the PL (and on Friday tbf). [Post edited 11 Aug 11:27]
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I was coached at U18 level by one of the Wimbledon coaches (don't ask his name, it is 30+ years ago).
Rather than watch footage of Wimbledon, we were made to watch the Everton team of the mid 80s, who he considered to be the best exponent of a long / direct all game.
The idea was that the centre backs would draw in one of the oppo CMs, and then the full backs would pump a ball up to Graeme Sharp, who would be backing into (pinning) the oppo Centre Backs to prevent them getting a clear header, so the ball would fall into the space between oppo defence and midfield.
The aim was for the ball to drop to the feet of the advancing midfielders, get played out wider to Kevin Sheedy or Trevor Steven to whip the ball in for Andy Gray to get on the end of.
Was surprisingly effective as well. |  | | |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:34 - Aug 11 with 1275 views | Vic |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:30 - Aug 11 by bsw72 |
I was coached at U18 level by one of the Wimbledon coaches (don't ask his name, it is 30+ years ago).
Rather than watch footage of Wimbledon, we were made to watch the Everton team of the mid 80s, who he considered to be the best exponent of a long / direct all game.
The idea was that the centre backs would draw in one of the oppo CMs, and then the full backs would pump a ball up to Graeme Sharp, who would be backing into (pinning) the oppo Centre Backs to prevent them getting a clear header, so the ball would fall into the space between oppo defence and midfield.
The aim was for the ball to drop to the feet of the advancing midfielders, get played out wider to Kevin Sheedy or Trevor Steven to whip the ball in for Andy Gray to get on the end of.
Was surprisingly effective as well. |
A very interesting ITK bit of intel. | |
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| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:35 - Aug 11 with 1259 views | lurcher |
No just a consequence of Birmingham pressing and man marking us. |  | | |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:43 - Aug 11 with 1194 views | SitfcB |
No.
We can’t play our usual game against the same style of play, Friday night you had two teams with the same hard press and playing out from the back. We had a couple of nice passing routines that was about it. We couldn’t play goal kicks short like usual.
Was always going to make for a poor match IMO.
Not sure why it was so hard for people to see that but just moaned we were rubbish.
As KM says, we have to be adaptable.
There will be more games than not that we can play are usual way. [Post edited 11 Aug 11:44]
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| Have we become a long ball side? on 13:11 - Aug 11 with 837 views | ElderGrizzly |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:43 - Aug 11 by SitfcB |
No.
We can’t play our usual game against the same style of play, Friday night you had two teams with the same hard press and playing out from the back. We had a couple of nice passing routines that was about it. We couldn’t play goal kicks short like usual.
Was always going to make for a poor match IMO.
Not sure why it was so hard for people to see that but just moaned we were rubbish.
As KM says, we have to be adaptable.
There will be more games than not that we can play are usual way. [Post edited 11 Aug 11:44]
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Also an element of us no longer being the 'plucky underdog' just up from L1, so teams were giving us more time last time round. Initially anyway.
This time, we are there to be shot at and a significant scalp for some teams, so teams are going to be doing what Birmingham did a lot more. |  | | |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 13:40 - Aug 11 with 750 views | BseaBlue |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:21 - Aug 11 by cressi |
A goalie is there to stop the ball going in the net far safer than the Birmingham keeper. He does not need to be like Zidane it's a total myth people need to get away from. |
Were you hiding when we got promoted? Hladky's contributions to goals and starting moves was enormous! Hence we now have a problem in the same system as Palmer cannot do it.
(Plus Morsy was the master of receiving the ball and pivoting which I also think we will struggle to replace) |  | | |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 13:45 - Aug 11 with 718 views | southnorfolkblue |
The 8 second rule will make it far harder for keepers to play out from the back tbh | |
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| Have we become a long ball side? on 13:49 - Aug 11 with 687 views | Herbivore |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 13:45 - Aug 11 by southnorfolkblue |
The 8 second rule will make it far harder for keepers to play out from the back tbh |
Why? They usually play out from the back with the ball on the deck, not holding on to it with their hands. | |
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| Have we become a long ball side? on 14:38 - Aug 11 with 575 views | gsoly |
Don't think we'll ever be that under McKenna, but does feel like we're at an interesting juncture with our tactical approach. Not been clear what it is since perhaps Christmas. While understandable with the injuries we had in the Prem, you'd hope we'd start to see something clearer emerge over the coming weeks. |  | | |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 15:29 - Aug 11 with 485 views | southnorfolkblue |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 13:49 - Aug 11 by Herbivore |
Why? They usually play out from the back with the ball on the deck, not holding on to it with their hands. |
Palmer holds on to it until he sees the pass. He’s not confident with the ball at his feet | |
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| Have we become a long ball side? on 16:40 - Aug 11 with 383 views | Radlett_blue |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 13:11 - Aug 11 by ElderGrizzly |
Also an element of us no longer being the 'plucky underdog' just up from L1, so teams were giving us more time last time round. Initially anyway.
This time, we are there to be shot at and a significant scalp for some teams, so teams are going to be doing what Birmingham did a lot more. |
yes, Birmingham's tactics were expected but well executed. It turned the match into a game of head tennis & pin-ball, which was a great leveller. I reckon some other teams will try the same thing so will be interesting if our new look midfield is up to playing through the press, especially with Palmer in goal. |  |
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| Have we become a long ball side? on 16:46 - Aug 11 with 351 views | Dubtractor |
I posted this after Friday. We've played different tactics home and away for a while now.
Home performances vs away performances by Dubtractor 9 Aug 9:16Whilst last night was pretty clearly a poor performance from us, I think it's worth noting that we have mostly approached away games in a similar manner for the last 2 seasons. From a tactical perspective, not performance.
For all of the free flowing, expansive front foot football we see at PR, we've been playing very cagey football away for a whole. You rarely see our full backs bombing on away from home, we make sure we don't leave space to get in behind us, and we look to play pretty direct counter attacking football. Dare I say it, we're a bit like Mccarthy's Ipswich away from home.
We got the first part of that largely right last night, but the attacking part of it was clearly no where near good enough. Getting Cajuste back in will make a huge difference, and a functioning AM 3 is essential to that counter attacking threat.
I'm very confident we'll see a much improved performance against Southampton next week.
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| Have we become a long ball side? on 16:56 - Aug 11 with 301 views | Blue_In_Boston |
| Have we become a long ball side? on 11:22 - Aug 11 by TractorJack |
I'm guessing you haven't watched any top level football for the last 10 years. |
Top level is the likes of Manchester City, PSG, Madrid. I hate to break it to you, but we don't quite have the same quality of players as them.
I'm not saying boot it long by any means, but there is times when we have overplayed and been bit on the ar$e for it.
I agree with who you responded to, the first and most important job of the keeper is to keep the ball out of the net and being a safe pair of hands. If it's all about passing then Glenn Hoddle would have made a superb goalkeeper. | | | |
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