| Moving the ball quicker 15:43 - Sep 22 with 1585 views | cbower |
For the last two seasons we've been at our best when we moved the ball quickly and with purpose. We struggled sometimes when teams put bodies behind the ball and could look a little lost for ideas with seeminhly endless recycling of the ball around 25 yards out. There are not too many teams in thexPremier League, if any at all, that are going to set up defensivly against us. Yesterday, however, I felt we moved the ball really slowly at times and got bogged down in a scrappy midfield. Both Delap and Hutchinson were guilty of hanging on to the ball at times, turning into the opposition and into trouble. Delap needs to hold it up better and bring his team mates into the game. If we move the ball quicker, I hope we will see a bit more attacking threat from Davis. I know the step up in oppsition but Leif seems to be lacking a bit of confidence going forward right now. |  |
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| Moving the ball quicker on 16:06 - Sep 22 with 1499 views | BloomBlue |
KM has us playing a more defensive style this season, especially in the last two (and especially v Brighton), that's resulting in midfield being closer to defence. Which means when we get the play to a forward player, we're slower giving support to the atrack and Hutch/Delap have to hold on to it for longer than they like.
Davis has obviously been told to stick rather than constantly bomb forward, the Liverpool 2nd half destruction when they targeted the gap left by Leif bombing forward probably forced that.
We'll see more of an attacking force after a few more games. |  | | |
| Moving the ball quicker on 16:11 - Sep 22 with 1461 views | LankHenners |
Think one big difference on that side of things is that the recovery speed of Prem defenders (individually and as a unit) is much higher than the level below so you've got to be absolutely rapid and make the perfect decisions to create something from a counter otherwise the chance goes. McKenna's touched on it a few times already about having situations where we should create a good chance but because we go too slowly or make the wrong pass we end up just knocking the ball back and the opportunity goes.
As with everything else once we get new players integrated and everyone gets more up to speed with what it takes to play at this level we'll get better at it. |  |
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| Moving the ball quicker on 16:31 - Sep 22 with 1387 views | Illinoisblue |
We seemed very hesitant and ponderous at times yesterday; partly because Saints were aggressively pressing us all over the pitch. Those quick and seamless connections we were used to seeing the last couple of years are, understandably, not quite there yet. Might be November before we’re fully clicking. Hopefully we’ve won a game by then! |  |
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| Moving the ball quicker on 16:43 - Sep 22 with 1331 views | billlm |
I see this to,
If you watch highlights of our goals over the last two seasons we cut through teams so quickly was fun to watch,
This league the pace is far quicker so makes us look slower, as a poster said prem teams get back so quickly to re group it stops this element of our play,
We don't have a goal scoring number nine, which is ok with our style, but we need our tens to start scoring sooner rather than later, or we will struggle, |  | | |
| Moving the ball quicker on 20:07 - Sep 22 with 1136 views | Vic |
Yep, totally agree.
I’m sure the Leif thing is tactical - he was very caught out the first couple of games so it had to change. And to KM’s credit he’s done that - but it does affect our forward play. I think Clarke on the left could be the answer to that one.
I’ve pondered whether the slowness of passing is a lack of confidence having stepped up, the sheer speed of the opposition we’re now facing (so much quicker than the champ!) or just players not quite knowing each other yet.
I think it’s a bit of all of these - especially with the younger players like Hutch and Delap. They are good/excellent players but would really benefit from having an experienced pro on the pitch to talk them through it. It’s a massive responsibility they care carrying on such young shoulders. I think Philips will be crucial when he’s fit.
One thing is for sure, if the players have the ability (and I think they have) they will sort the speed thing out fairly quickly. I’d like to see incremental improvement each game - with yesterday being an off day. |  |
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| Moving the ball quicker on 23:00 - Sep 22 with 936 views | charlie1 |
| Moving the ball quicker on 16:06 - Sep 22 by BloomBlue |
KM has us playing a more defensive style this season, especially in the last two (and especially v Brighton), that's resulting in midfield being closer to defence. Which means when we get the play to a forward player, we're slower giving support to the atrack and Hutch/Delap have to hold on to it for longer than they like.
Davis has obviously been told to stick rather than constantly bomb forward, the Liverpool 2nd half destruction when they targeted the gap left by Leif bombing forward probably forced that.
We'll see more of an attacking force after a few more games. |
Completely agree. The gap between the two CM’s and the front four means that balls played into them travel a few yards further into players being more tightly marked by higher quality defenders so a higher likelihood of being picked off.
Very little seemed to stick on Saturday. |  | | |
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