In my opinion not at all, we do not keep the ball, even when our players are not harrassed like in the Everton game, why? Well easy, no movement in to space, when there was movement, maxi scored. We will never be top four unless we play the Liverpool way!
Some of you will say, “well we do keep the ball and that’s why Lucas is always passing back to Riena”, well I say “rubbish”. The reason we end up passing back then giving it away with a Riena Hoof, is because there is no movement. I hoped Cole, Mirelies and Gerrard would be giving this movement as well as Torres, but it’s just not happening!
Yesterday I saw the ball played down right, 3 players standing on the spot, then ball gets played back. If one had moved we may have penetrated, maybe even switch to the over wing via midfield. Keeping the ball moving side to side is the best way to open up defences, keep the ball in center of the pitch not in your own 18 yard box, backed off but not much, or you just end up playing a long 50/50 ball, instead short interchanges which open up space and support.
I would still like to see us try a 4-3-3, maybe the people here could suggest players for the formation, but remember Cole is out for 3 games!
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Have a good day, YNWA
James Barlow,
St Ives,
Cambridgeshire,
England,
Planet Earth.
I’ve been voicing this for the last 2 seasons, when we play well it’s because the player on the ball has plenty of options, too many times have we seen midfield players looking to pick out a runner or a man who has found space, only to give up and in order to keep the ball return it to the back four or the keeper. The more adventurous try the ‘killer’ ball with very little hope of success. Even when I played (a few years ago now) it was always stressed ‘pass and move’ with the ability of the players in our team we could be pulling opposing sides all over the park making gaps appear for the likes of Nando to hurt them,instead as is too often the case giving them the easy task of holding their position until in frustration we give them the ball.
We need worldclass manager ASAP.We are playing boring football. We were lucky yesterday. Two penalties for bolyon not given.Please NESV sack him