Long ball stats?

[dww]

I would agree with the assessment that we are not in general a long ball team, however we lack midfield creativity and don't move from defence to attack quickly enough to be a particularly attractive team to watch. I think it is imperative that we buy two creative midfielders (I'll accept genuine wingers or Arsenal style wide midfielders) in the summer.

We do tend to revert to playing balls in from deep areas to the box when faced with a packed defence when Garcia isn't in the team. I think this is what people are refering to when they say we are a long ball team.

[Harv]

We need 2 world class centre forwards to complement what we already have, possible a wide right player to provide competition for Pennant on the right. But most important of all, we need players of the right mentality. Those who will play through brick walls and won't settle for second best no matter what.

Am not sure Eto'o or Villa are these type of players though. They will need time adapting to the English league. Can we tempt Rooney here with a cheeky bid ?

Eto'o would slot straight in. He wouldnt need much time to adapt...if any.

He is pure class mate.

we need one creative player. Pennant has done well recently. I would be happy if we just got an upgrade on the left.

Quaresma is the stand out for me...he can dribble, he can shoot, and he can beat a player and deliver a quality cross. He is Cronaldo, with a better cross.

I really hope we are in for him.

[Abro100]

http://www.eurosport.com/football/premiership/2006-2007/teams/liverpool/statsplayer_prs12497.shtml

Try this for each player and see where they pass, use the bottom right.

As for football id say


Man U
Arsenal
Chelsea
Tottenham

Then alot of teams on a par, we are hot and cold.
But everton are bad for the long ball, they play it over and over again right in the corner for johnson to chase.

[Neil Young]

I don't like watching Arsenal. I know I should but I don't. As well as being surly, bad-tempered and arrogant, they are too one-dimensional.

[SB]

[QUOTE=James;417821]Some of the football Arsenal play is superb,
QUOTE]

Granted but they are also direct quite often to use the pace of Henry!

[MrMichael]

A Hyypia hoof up the field, see so many times during the French man's regime (something Rafa has tried to stamp out) is what most people refer to as a long ball.

An Alonso, or Gerrard 40-60 yard PASS to change the direction of attack is not what I would consider a long ball….. 1. because it is going to a player in space who is unmarked….. 2. because it isn’t aimed at the penalty box.

Yes we play lots of passes, but we are not the typical long ball team…. Is it the definition that needs addressing…. This is why you will sometimes see stats that indicate we play a lot of long balls.


Why do we play long PASSES……


Rafa believes in the philosophy that when you don’t have the ball you should make the pitch as small as possible, making the retention of possession that much more difficult. That why we often see him pressing his hands together, reminding the players to squeeze position, make the pitch small.

When we have possession we want to make the pitch as big as possible…… generating space…. Unfortunately the other team is trying the make the pitch small… so to counter this, he employs a tactic of long lateral and diagonal passes. Played at speed to try and stretch the opposition and in turn generate space.

This tactic explains the purchase of Kuyt…… and the value of his running….. he runs to close space when defending…. And when we attack you will see him running all over the place… trying to find space to stretch out the defending team… looking to receive a long pass….

Simple really…..

I’ve only seen one journalist pick up on this before… he said something along the lines of “to really appreciate Kuyt, you need to see him movement in the flesh, something the TV cameras cannot pick up”

That's a quality post that is

[Ben_Itez]

That's a quality post that is

Indeed it is. Someone speaking sense at last. Although Kuyt's lack of a first touch recently is really starting to annoy me!