Henry's head

[einar]

This I completely agree with. question is can't he be coached into improving his technique?

They are trying.

[Guest]

Then why arent we whipping the ball in quicker if we can take for granted that with Crouch's height he'll get on the end of it?

Said that a number of times but our full backs are very important as regards to that. It's easier for a winger when full backs are overlapping, therefore they can create space for a cross to be hit first time. But Finnan (as good and reliable as he is) isn't confident crossing it first time and neither is Riise on the left. That's why I stated that Aurelio and another attacking right back (ala Alves) would make a big difference for us in our attacking play.

Look at Arsenal's second goal today in which Eboué whipped that ball first time for Henry to place it with his head. That's an aspect of our game that is lacking. Riise overlaps but is not skillful enough to cross it with pace and precision the first time of asking, likewise for Finnan. Finnan does tend to control it and look up before crossing it, and most of the time (even if his cross is good), the ball is not hit with enough power.

That's my opinion anyway.

[Dhav]

They are trying.

and doing a poor job of it by the looks of things

[Ron_Mexico]

This I completely agree with. question is can't he be coached into improving his technique?

thats the problem, he has been coached and is still rubbish in the air. it could be a mental thing, who knows

the thing with crouch is he fancies himself as a ronaldinho type player, likes to get the ball down and play, but because hes 6'7" everyone assumes hes going to be this dominant force in the air. ive seen enough powder puff headers from him to see that he will never be the threat he should be on crosses in the box

[einar]

Said that a number of times but our full backs are very important as regards to that. It's easier for a winger when full backs are overlapping, therefore they can create space for a cross to be hit first time. But Finnan (as good and reliable as he is) isn't confident crossing it first time and neither is Riise on the left. That's why I stated that Aurelio and another attacking right back (ala Alves) would make a big difference for us in our attacking play.

Look at Arsenal's second goal today in which Eboué whipped that ball first time for Henry to place it with his head. That's an aspect of our game that is lacking. Riise overlaps but is not skillful enough to cross it with pace and precision the first time of asking, likewise for Finnan. Finnan does tend to control it and look up before crossing it, and most of the time (even if his cross is good), the ball is not hit with enough power.

That's my opinion anyway.

[lfc4ever]

It's all been done here:

http://www.est1892.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=12394

[einar]

Why cant we have a thread about heading with Crouch as an example?

[Guest]

thats the problem, he has been coached and is still rubbish in the air. it could be a mental thing, who knows

the thing with crouch is he fancies himself as a ronaldinho type player, likes to get the ball down and play, but because hes 6'7" everyone assumes hes going to be this dominant force in the air. ive seen enough powder puff headers from him to see that he will never be the threat he should be on crosses in the box

Henry is no natural header of the ball too and is far from brilliant at that. How many goals do you see him scoring with his head. I think today he was on the end of a magnificent run and cross from Eboué. That makes all the difference in my humble opinion.

[Redlife]

he positions his body all wrong most of the time

I think that's right. A lot of the time he seems to stand and wait for it to hit him when maybe he should be making a bit of space to attack the ball.


He's not nearly as bad as people would like to make out. It's just that with his height he wins more than most, and so should probably be scoring more.

[Redlife]

Henry is no natural header of the ball too and is far from brilliant at that. How many goals do you see him scoring with his head.

We've seen him miss quite a few, fluff them over the bar and whatnot.

[einar]

I think that's right. A lot of the time he seems to stand and wait for it to hit him when maybe he should be making a bit of space to attack the ball.


He's not nearly as bad as people would like to make out. It's just that with his height he wins more than most, and so should probably be scoring more.

That is what they are trying to teach him, to attack the ball.

We have to give Henry credit though. He was standing still when he jumped up for that ball.
If Crouch could do that half the time he would be a 20+ goals every season.

[Shaggy]

Most of the crosses aimed for Crouch are floated in towards him, as he's almost guaranteed to get on the end of a floated ball with much less pace on it. Why we don't whip them in with pace I'll never know.

[einar]

Most of the crosses aimed for Crouch are floated in towards him, as he's almost guaranteed to get on the end of a floated ball with much less pace on it. Why we don't whip them in with pace I'll never know.

One would have to have a look at that. I´m not sure most of them are floated.
By floated a presume you mean they have backspin.
Also, a top header of the ball can put plenty of pace of a floated pass.

[tomasjj]

I must say I am a bit confused by the inability to admit that Crouch is **** in the air. All this blame it on our floated crosses stuff is laughable imo.

[Shaggy]

I must say I am a bit confused by the inability to admit that Crouch is **** in the air. All this blame it on our floated crosses stuff is laughable imo.

He's not particularly good in the air, but the fact remains too many crosses are just looped in at him.

Still, he's our top goalscorer and around half of those have been headers. :shrug: