Possession v Stoke

[JJ-AV]

Our control of the ball has been pathetic all season.

Stoke had more of the ball than us on Monday, 53% to 47%

(Source - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17581522)

I seem to remember it being a documented last season when Hodgson's Liverpool had 49% possession at the Britannia that it was the first time in their Premier League history that Stoke had more possession in a 90 minute match.

I'm not sure how many times they've done it since - but a midfield of cloggers like Palacios, Delap and Whitehead we kept the ball better than our midfield with the likes of Bannan, Ireland and Herd (technically capable players, IMO).

Bit worrying considering he'll probably be bringing in his own players this Summer.

[PeterWithesShin]

30% of Stoke's possession was Rory Delap holding the ball.

[berneboy]

I don't know how accurate these statistics are as they vary significantly from source to source.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

I don't know how accurate these statistics are as they vary significantly from source to source.

They are usually 76% accurate.

[PeterWithesShin]

I don't know how accurate these statistics are as they vary significantly from source to source.

They are usually 76% accurate.

I heard it was 75%.

[Concrete John]

We actually passed it quite neatly in the first half.

I'm guessing that when they lump it and Jones gets a flick on, that's classed as 'possession'.

[Mazrim]

Yes we found it hard to get hold of the ball... as Delap was drying it for the umpteenth time.

Ball retention is our homework for the summer though, yes (as well as defending set pieces and... well, almost everything else). A lot of the kids coming through are already pretty good at it and hopefully we'll buy a few natural footballers this summer too.

[N'ZMAV]

Bannan gives the ball away too often. I don't believe the hype with this kid.

[cdbearsfan]

Then again he did put Agbonlahor through with a brilliant instinctive pass. Had Gabby scored we'd be hailing that as a moment of genius.

I wouldn't give up on Bananaman just yet. I think part of the problem is our players are too thick to read where he is going to put it.

[pauliewalnuts]

Bannan gives the ball away too often. I don't believe the hype with this kid.

I think he needs to take the simple pass option more often than he does.

[Villanation]

30% of Stoke's possession was Rory Delap holding the ball.

I noticed that, and why does he keep trying to hide it under his shirt, that can't be in the rules.

[citizenDJ]

Bannan gives the ball away too often. I don't believe the hype with this kid.

I think he needs to take the simple pass option more often than he does.

Indeed. Something which Ireland does very well in my view, so hopfully Bannan can learn from him.

[Concrete John]

Bannan gives the ball away too often. I don't believe the hype with this kid.

I think he needs to take the simple pass option more often than he does.

Indeed. Something which Ireland does very well in my view, so hopfully Bannan can learn from him.

Agreed.

I think he's always looking to impress when he gets his chance and play a killer ball.  Taking the easy option a bit more often would improve him as a player.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

30% of Stoke's possession was Rory Delap holding the ball.

I noticed that, and why does he keep trying to hide it under his shirt, that can't be in the rules.

If they could get away with crab football and cabbaging, they'd do that as well.

[pauliewalnuts]

That match would have been mindlessly boring and horrible to watch even if Delap hadn't been on the pitch.

The fact he was, so we also got to see his five minute long throw-ins just made it even worse.