OffertonBlue
Well-Known Member
We're not getting outplayed by anyone, but we're getting outthought. Opposition are quite happy for us to have the vast majority of possession as we seldom do much with it. We've been playing teams who park the bus for a few seasons now, hence one of the reasons we let Sterling go (as defences sat deep and there was no space to run into) and bought Grealish (who holds the ball against packed defences well and wins lots of free kicks around the box).
We're not coping well with time wasting tactics, niggly and hard fouls and gullable officiating. We let opponents and officials disrupt our composure, when we should rise above it and it should increase our determination. Time wasting never gets fully added on (like it did at the world cup) so if we go behind then we'll struggle (apart from Spurs at home).
We're starting too slow in an early attempt to control the game. Apart from against the rags at home when we went for it in the first half, we're quite content to control first halves instead of winning the game in the first half. We've scored more goals in the second halves than any other club in the country. We've also wasted more first halves than any other club in the country.
We've become too risk averse. Always the safe pass, usually sideways or backwards. We've become too ponderous and predictable. If I'm the opposition I'd love our back 4 to be passing to each other and our midfield passing back to them and our forwards isolated and frustrated. Thats's about 90% of the our possession. Possession outside the box is great when we're ahead, so lets do it when we're ahead....not when we're level or losing. This also applies to passes around the edge of the box. Why not have a few shots from there occasionally eh?
We don't mix it up enough. Same old, same old, rinse and repeat. Lets try a few long balls when we can (Eddie is capable but has been instructed not to) and whilst mentioning Eddie (love the guy), can you please try to save a shot now and then please. His career is starting to mimmick Bravo's if he's not careful and is in danger of being benched for Ortega. And whilst we're at it, if Kev ain't playing a through ball, then who is? No through balls to Haaland when he starts his run is a complete waste of his main strength. Any young talented player would rightly be frustrated in that situation.
We have the players, the experience and the manager to yet make this season a successful one (again thankfully). Sorting most of the above out would go a long way towards achieving it.
We're not coping well with time wasting tactics, niggly and hard fouls and gullable officiating. We let opponents and officials disrupt our composure, when we should rise above it and it should increase our determination. Time wasting never gets fully added on (like it did at the world cup) so if we go behind then we'll struggle (apart from Spurs at home).
We're starting too slow in an early attempt to control the game. Apart from against the rags at home when we went for it in the first half, we're quite content to control first halves instead of winning the game in the first half. We've scored more goals in the second halves than any other club in the country. We've also wasted more first halves than any other club in the country.
We've become too risk averse. Always the safe pass, usually sideways or backwards. We've become too ponderous and predictable. If I'm the opposition I'd love our back 4 to be passing to each other and our midfield passing back to them and our forwards isolated and frustrated. Thats's about 90% of the our possession. Possession outside the box is great when we're ahead, so lets do it when we're ahead....not when we're level or losing. This also applies to passes around the edge of the box. Why not have a few shots from there occasionally eh?
We don't mix it up enough. Same old, same old, rinse and repeat. Lets try a few long balls when we can (Eddie is capable but has been instructed not to) and whilst mentioning Eddie (love the guy), can you please try to save a shot now and then please. His career is starting to mimmick Bravo's if he's not careful and is in danger of being benched for Ortega. And whilst we're at it, if Kev ain't playing a through ball, then who is? No through balls to Haaland when he starts his run is a complete waste of his main strength. Any young talented player would rightly be frustrated in that situation.
We have the players, the experience and the manager to yet make this season a successful one (again thankfully). Sorting most of the above out would go a long way towards achieving it.