Crosses

[el matador]

I think a fully fit gerrard adds at least thirty percent more to the teams attacking prowess. truly amazing player and once he goes we may not see another like him for a long long time.

[Jaymo]

I was having this debate with my brother, who still believes that downing produces a quality ball every time...

Its so frustrating that we get in the position to put in a good ball, then we tickle the ball into the box.

Maybe its just not clicking at the moment, as the cliche goes "it takes two to make a good cross" but we've spent 35 million (or minus 15 million) on a ball winning striker, and 40 million on players capable to providing ammunition for him.

I'm sure that one day it will all come good, but how long do we have to wait..

[Craig_H]

Our crosses are so random and have such a 'token gesture' feel about them, especially from Downing IMO. Very rarely do we put in a ball into the proper danger area, at pace and with whip, making it hard to defend. Once in a ****ing blue moon.

And furthermore, when we do cross it, whether it's a good cross or not, we invariably have ONE ****ing player in the middle. One.

And we wonder why, with six defensive players marshalling our one player, we dont score goals....

Well, duh....

[el matador]

there was a stat. couple of years ago about how jermaine pennant was the.player with the most crosses into the box, but he had a terrible assist rate.

its more about quality than quantity ie pick someone out instead of just putting the ball into the box.

[Craig_H]

I dont think players tend to 'pick someone out' that often with crosses actually, i think it's more about putting the ball into the right areas, with good pace/swerve/dip etc and the strikers making the right kind of runs and movement.

[Vermilion]

As soon as i saw this thread i thought...Jesus!

[Vermilion]

I dont think players tend to 'pick someone out' that often with crosses actually, i think it's more about putting the ball into the right areas, with good pace/swerve/dip etc and the strikers making the right kind of runs and movement.

I love how you hear commentators say...'he's put that right on his head..what a superb cross', then when you see the slow mo...it's obvious the player has just lashed it in without looking up.

As you say, most of the time it's about putting it in the right areas, and you'd expect strikers to be occupying those areas.

[The_weatherman]

I love how you hear commentators say...'he's put that right on his head..what a superb cross', then when you see the slow mo...it's obvious the player has just lashed it in without looking up.

As you say, most of the time it's about putting it in the right areas, and you'd expect strikers to be occupying those areas.

Whereas you'll invariably find Carroll on the wing or on the edge of the box, linking up play because of his finesse touch.

[BillobShaisley]

I'm not sure about that. I'll fairly often on the highlights shows see a striker making a yard or 2 for himself and at that point the player taking the feekickcorner whips one in perfectly for him between 2 defenders. That is what earns them their money the ability to see, react and deliver and that's what we should be working on in training.

[Fredo]

[JohnDoe]

Gerrard is the only player in the team who understand how to cross the ball. ****ing whip it in and Carroll suddenly becomes a menace.

But no, we have to float it to the far post so that he can knock it down to absolutely no one.

**** off you soft *******s and whip it in.

[Fredo]

Gerrard is the only player in the team who understand how to cross the ball. ****ing whip it in and Carroll suddenly becomes a menace.

But no, we have to float it to the far post so that he can knock it down to absolutely no one.

**** off you soft *******s and whip it in.

It's about technique and none of the players bar Gerrard have got it.

[Molby]

Gerrard is the only player in the team who understand how to cross the ball. ****ing whip it in and Carroll suddenly becomes a menace.

But no, we have to float it to the far post so that he can knock it down to absolutely no one.

**** off you soft *******s and whip it in.

100 % agree

Stevie is an exceptional footballer, but, it is a fundamental skill for any footballer to cross the ball like that...

But, in all honesty, we are blessed to have Stevie G. He is a king in the making.

[spanky]

Carroll is getting slated due to the poor crossing of our players

[Mattshark]

Carroll is getting slated due to the poor crossing of our players

To be fair mate, there was only once when he got in the right position and really attacked the ball.