So ive waited to calm down before posting after yesterdays game which was a truly awful performance.
The number of players who were happy to stand still with a man marking them was a joke. Whoever had the ball was normally restricted to passing sideways or backward. Once the ball was released we'd have another player in an ineffective area of the pitch. Players dont seem to work hard enough for each other (cept dirk) I get the distinct impression players are under strict instructions on how to play. We try to play possession football and keep the ball from the opposition which i agree with but without sharp, one touch football (with some movement off the ball) we cant break down a team who sit back (like we do ourselves in europe). Our players do not have the skill to play one touch football. Kuyt and babel have the worst control ive ever seen.
Players have strict areas of the pitch which they marshall but cannot go beyond that. This is fine for a holding player and centre backs but not two holding players and most of the defence. In Rafas defence i think he wants the full backs to bomb on (sorta wing backs) hence the two holding midfielders to cover unfortunately the dossena and degen signings have not worked out and aurellio and arbeloa are not wings backs (good players though arbeloas had a good season for me)
Are players allowed to take on a man? its rare to see our players take on a man. Rieras debut i thought we'd got a capable player, he took the piss out wes brown that day, now he rarely tries. El Zhar looks capable of beating a man. babel has pace but cant dribble where he wants to.
Corners, take gerrard off them he should be in the box goin for headers a la ronaldo, im sure he used to be a threat years a go.
sorry guys this turned into a rant
The number of players who were happy to stand still with a man marking them was a joke. Whoever had the ball was normally restricted to passing sideways or backward. Once the ball was released we'd have another player in an ineffective area of the pitch. Players dont seem to work hard enough for each other (cept dirk) I get the distinct impression players are under strict instructions on how to play. We try to play possession football and keep the ball from the opposition which i agree with but without sharp, one touch football (with some movement off the ball) we cant break down a team who sit back (like we do ourselves in europe). Our players do not have the skill to play one touch football. Kuyt and babel have the worst control ive ever seen.
Players have strict areas of the pitch which they marshall but cannot go beyond that. This is fine for a holding player and centre backs but not two holding players and most of the defence. In Rafas defence i think he wants the full backs to bomb on (sorta wing backs) hence the two holding midfielders to cover unfortunately the dossena and degen signings have not worked out and aurellio and arbeloa are not wings backs (good players though arbeloas had a good season for me)
Are players allowed to take on a man? its rare to see our players take on a man. Rieras debut i thought we'd got a capable player, he took the piss out wes brown that day, now he rarely tries. El Zhar looks capable of beating a man. babel has pace but cant dribble where he wants to.
Corners, take gerrard off them he should be in the box goin for headers a la ronaldo, im sure he used to be a threat years a go.
sorry guys this turned into a rant
RAFA 
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