Hoof-ball

[neo_Villan]

Once again yesterday we resorted to pretty embarrassing hoof-ball and not for the first time. It just seems that when things are not going to plan, the players just lump it up the pitch- namely to Benteke. If you cast your memories back, you will remember it all began during Benteke's first start for us, the 4-1 against Southampton. It was sad to see considering the patient possession football we had displayed in the games leading up to that. I'm not sure that the manager is ordering them to play this type of football but he sure as hell isn't doing anything to root it out of our game. It almost seems like a default mode for many of the players and despite some decent football early on in games, they gradually end up putting in more and more long balls. Maybe Benteke's strength in the air gives them the excuse to do this? Nonetheless, it is pretty shocking really and as bad as anything from last season. Just watching the final 20 minutes yesterday of repeated one-dimensional hoofs into their half as our only plan (against fourth division opposition) just made me feel utterly ashamed. As with the failure with set-pieces, it makes you wonder what we actually do in training.

[N'ZMAV]

When Benteke wasn't in the team, like Newcastle Away, we played very well and kept it on the deck. More of this is needed.

[danlanza]

Once again yesterday we resorted to pretty embarrassing hoof-ball and not for the first time. It just seems that when things are not going to plan, the players just lump it up the pitch- namely to Benteke. If you cast your memories back, you will remember it all began during Benteke's first start for us, the 4-1 against Southampton. It was sad to see considering the patient possession football we had displayed in the games leading up to that. I'm not sure that the manager is ordering them to play this type of football but he sure as hell isn't doing anything to root it out of our game. It almost seems like a default mode for many of the players and despite some decent football early on in games, they gradually end up putting in more and more long balls. Maybe Benteke's strength in the air gives them the excuse to do this? Nonetheless, it is pretty shocking really and as bad as anything from last season. Just watching the final 20 minutes yesterday of repeated one-dimensional hoofs into their half as our only plan (against fourth division opposition) just made me feel utterly ashamed. As with the failure with set-pieces, it makes you wonder what we actually do in training.

We give the ball to Bannan and ask him to hoof it 50 bloody yards to a cardboard cut out of Benteke. In the 30000 attempts on the training ground he has yet to hit the target. Fucking change it then Lambert, or are you just bloody stupid?

[paul_e]

Once again yesterday we resorted to pretty embarrassing hoof-ball and not for the first time. It just seems that when things are not going to plan, the players just lump it up the pitch- namely to Benteke. If you cast your memories back, you will remember it all began during Benteke's first start for us, the 4-1 against Southampton. It was sad to see considering the patient possession football we had displayed in the games leading up to that. I'm not sure that the manager is ordering them to play this type of football but he sure as hell isn't doing anything to root it out of our game. It almost seems like a default mode for many of the players and despite some decent football early on in games, they gradually end up putting in more and more long balls. Maybe Benteke's strength in the air gives them the excuse to do this? Nonetheless, it is pretty shocking really and as bad as anything from last season. Just watching the final 20 minutes yesterday of repeated one-dimensional hoofs into their half as our only plan (against fourth division opposition) just made me feel utterly ashamed. As with the failure with set-pieces, it makes you wonder what we actually do in training.

We give the ball to Bannan and ask him to hoof it 50 bloody yards to a cardboard cut out of Benteke. In the 30000 attempts on the training ground he has yet to hit the target. Fucking change it then Lambert, or are you just bloody stupid?

Where's the need to slag Bannan off there?  The hoofball only started after he was subbed.  Seriously, stop making him the scapegoat for everything.

[Dave]

The game plan for the last 20 minutes was 'give it to Lowton while everyone else crowds into the penalty area'.

Apart from set-pieces I don't think Bannan lifted the ball off the ground all game.

[pelty]

Once again yesterday we resorted to pretty embarrassing hoof-ball and not for the first time. It just seems that when things are not going to plan, the players just lump it up the pitch- namely to Benteke. If you cast your memories back, you will remember it all began during Benteke's first start for us, the 4-1 against Southampton. It was sad to see considering the patient possession football we had displayed in the games leading up to that. I'm not sure that the manager is ordering them to play this type of football but he sure as hell isn't doing anything to root it out of our game. It almost seems like a default mode for many of the players and despite some decent football early on in games, they gradually end up putting in more and more long balls. Maybe Benteke's strength in the air gives them the excuse to do this? Nonetheless, it is pretty shocking really and as bad as anything from last season. Just watching the final 20 minutes yesterday of repeated one-dimensional hoofs into their half as our only plan (against fourth division opposition) just made me feel utterly ashamed. As with the failure with set-pieces, it makes you wonder what we actually do in training.

For me, this is spot on. The worst part of it is that Benteke is talented enough to play with the ball at his feet, too. I suppose it is just the rest of them who are unable to do so...

[PaulWinch again]

It's very apparent that when the ball is played into his feet Benteke is very good, he actually struggles from the high ball. As a team we're much better when we play on the deck, but as soon as we struggle we start hoofing it and everything falls apart. Clark is one of the worst culprits of this.

[paul_e]

It's very apparent that when the ball is played into his feet Benteke is very good, he actually struggles from the high ball. As a team we're much better when we play on the deck, but as soon as we struggle we start hoofing it and everything falls apart. Clark is one of the worst culprits of this.

I don't think it's clark's fault, or any of the defenders.  When we struggle the midfielders either go to far up field or drop to deep, it's happened in the last 4 games, where we've either been 6-0-4 or, last night, 4-0-6.

We need the manager to stop taking midfielders off for strikers and for someone in the middle to take control and drag us back into a decent shape.  Don Goodman commented on it repeatedly last night, we spent the last 40minutes (after they scored) with our players following the ball and not even attempting to play to any system.  Delph needed to hound Ireland and Nzogbia to come deeper and collect the ball from him and the defense but he didn't so we had no one to pass to.

[neo_Villan]

Yes, just to clarify, I don't blame Benteke for this. He is more then capable of playing a good passing game.

[paul_e]

Yes, just to clarify, I don't blame Benteke for this. He is more then capable of playing a good passing game.

He's actually a lot better when we play decent football.

[Nev]

It's an abdication of responsiblility, kick it as far away as possible. You'll see all players do it when the shit hits the fan, thats where your captain or leader comes in, restoration of calm and also encouragement, to remind players of the initial instructions, to whit: dish out bollocking where required.

At one point last night Clarke made a rather hurried clearance in front of the Bradford fans, at that point he looked a bit lost and a brief pat on the back and word from a more experienced head would have helped greatly.

[avfc1966]

Get real all ofyou  i have been going to the sacred ground for over thirty years and have never seen any thing like it. Lambert is to blame he has no tactical idea of the game a small club manager in a big mans club.We have a chairman who doesnt give a s~@+. Poor old DEADLY must wondering what he has done. Until the above said have gone back to there home countries we will never be the club of old, don't keep blaming the players

[Pat McMahon]

Once again yesterday we resorted to pretty embarrassing hoof-ball and not for the first time. It just seems that when things are not going to plan, the players just lump it up the pitch- namely to Benteke. If you cast your memories back, you will remember it all began during Benteke's first start for us, the 4-1 against Southampton. It was sad to see considering the patient possession football we had displayed in the games leading up to that. I'm not sure that the manager is ordering them to play this type of football but he sure as hell isn't doing anything to root it out of our game. It almost seems like a default mode for many of the players and despite some decent football early on in games, they gradually end up putting in more and more long balls. Maybe Benteke's strength in the air gives them the excuse to do this? Nonetheless, it is pretty shocking really and as bad as anything from last season. Just watching the final 20 minutes yesterday of repeated one-dimensional hoofs into their half as our only plan (against fourth division opposition) just made me feel utterly ashamed. As with the failure with set-pieces, it makes you wonder what we actually do in training.

We give the ball to Bannan and ask him to hoof it 50 bloody yards to a cardboard cut out of Benteke. In the 30000 attempts on the training ground he has yet to hit the target. Fucking change it then Lambert, or are you just bloody stupid?

Where's the need to slag Bannan off there?  The hoofball only started after he was subbed.  Seriously, stop making him the scapegoat for everything.

I agree paul_e. The hoofball began when we sent in the kamikaze squad.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

We have no option. We're not good enough to pass all game.

We scored from a hoof forward as well. When 4 strikers were on the pitch it should've been hoofed forward more.

[neo_Villan]

We have no option. We're not good enough to pass all game.

We scored from a hoof forward as well. When 4 strikers were on the pitch it should've been hoofed forward more.

Hmmm...interesting though that nobody made this excuse for McLeish's hoof-ball. We are good enough to pass all game because we have already had games doing just that.