Long ball football

[Red_Polo]

It's not the way Rafa is trying to get us playign at all but sometimes when inspiration is lacking and the opposition concentrates on shutting us out we do resort to a very crude, ineffective long ball game. That can't go on, we need to be more creative than that, I mean we're not Macclesfield town ffs.

[Guest]

It seems it's too tempting to lump the ball forward at Crouch. Carra is one of the main culprit at that, and Sami also. I hate long ball football, with a passion.

[Parm]

We're definitely a better 2nd half side. I don't have actual stats to hand, but the number of times it's been 0-0 at HT and blitzed 'em in the 2nd half has been amazing.

Agreed that the desperation long ball stuff needs to stop - or rather used more sparingly. It was disconcerting and depressing to see how quickly we resorted to it against the Bitters. There's no need for us to do it, and besides, Crouch is better receiving the ball into his feet than he is trying to deal with long balls aimed in his general direction.

bolon at home was a ood example, 0-0 at ht but second half the paitence paid off.
But then again we were off the blocks first against the Chvs and stunned them. At the end of the as long as we win and can play a bit of decent football, which we are more than capable of doing, then it's all good.

I do share Speedy's view about the long ball stuff, it should be cut down, Crouch isnt even that good in the air! Ok now and again it will happen, but it should not be the norm. What the **** is the point of having Gonzo and Pennant on the wings if we are not going to use them? or having passers like Stevie and Xabi if Carra and Sami just hoof it?

[red g]

We need that creative link that aimar type of player. We miss luis as well

[Parm]

Luis is the link guy, the derby match was made for him!

[red g]

Luis is the link guy, the derby match was made for him!

as is barca thats my point .....we need another one!!

[marcus50bucks]

Luis is the link guy, the derby match was made for him!

So is the Barca match.

[dww]

as is barca thats my point .....we need another one!!

[Speedy]

Worst post I have read on here, FACT.
If you knew anything about Rafa, you would know that long ball is just one of the avenues we explore, Rafa will not tactically limit himself to one approach, he will use many, including long ball when he needs.
Long ball, short passing, wing play, dribbling, long shooting all part of Rafa's phylosophy, ask him not to play one of those, you are asking him to go against what he believes.
Educate yourslef a bit more before you start attacking Rafa or our approach to games.

Get off your high horse spiderman. We are employing the tactic too much when in search of a goal IMO. Don't patronise me by spouting all that jumped-up garbage. Of course we have various tactics, how would Rafa be a manager if we didn't? My point is we use it far too much late on in a game when we're chasing.

[MrMichael]

HAS TO STOP.

When we play well, we really do play well (The second against West Ham), but i am fed up of shambolic long ball football. Does rafa tell the players that if we dont score in the first 50 minutes or so, we have to start launching it up top (to Bellamy & Crouch FFS!)? Patience is the key to good teams. We had it in the 70's/80's, seemingly Chelsea & United have it now. They don't panic if they don't score early, we need to learn this. Long ball football is not only ineffective, it is quite frankly embarrassing.

Against the bitters it was a joke. For the last 30 minutes we were just pumping the ball up top, hoping for...you tell me...?

Here's hoping for more against Newcastle.

How're The Silkmen doing at the moment mate?

[bazza76]

Get off your high horse spiderman. We are employing the tactic too much when in search of a goal IMO. Don't patronise me by spouting all that jumped-up garbage. Of course we have various tactics, how would Rafa be a manager if we didn't? My point is we use it far too much late on in a game when we're chasing.

ITs not jumped up garbage, it is fact, face it, we are going to play long balls during most games, if you just want us to play quick passing along the deck more, say so. Dont just say, Long ball has to stop.
Variety is a tactic Rafa likes to use, long ball is part of the variety.

[Guest]

But we did play short quick passing today. Loved the way we played against Newcastle ... but we lost. Better resort to long ball tactics then.

[Kopite_Colin]

HAS TO STOP.

When we play well, we really do play well (The second against West Ham), but i am fed up of shambolic long ball football. Does rafa tell the players that if we dont score in the first 50 minutes or so, we have to start launching it up top (to Bellamy & Crouch FFS!)? Patience is the key to good teams. We had it in the 70's/80's, seemingly Chelsea & United have it now. They don't panic if they don't score early, we need to learn this. Long ball football is not only ineffective, it is quite frankly embarrassing.

Against the bitters it was a joke. For the last 30 minutes we were just pumping the ball up top, hoping for...you tell me...?

Here's hoping for more against Newcastle.

To do that mate you need players with creativity and to be able to create something out of nothing. Sadly, apart from SG we don't have this in abundance. Our wingers rarely take on and beat a man and play a telling ball, and our forwards can't beat a man and create a scoring chance on their own (A la a young Owen or Fowler). This is why we're struggling. Until we address this we won't win the league.

[Speedy]

Why ****ing why do we play long ball football and they play it on the deck?

:Angry:

[fowlen]

I think we have mixed it up brilliantly today - some long ball stuff, and lots on the deck. We are playing really well in my opinion!