Quote from: Clampy on September 26, 2013, 05:33:40 PMQuote from: Billy Walker on September 26, 2013, 05:06:28 PMNursey shit-stirring? Never! He does tend to have a pop every now and again, especially after a defeat or two.Or still smarting from seeing us beat his beloved Norwich last weekend
Quote from: Billy Walker on September 26, 2013, 05:06:28 PMNursey shit-stirring? Never! He does tend to have a pop every now and again, especially after a defeat or two.
Nursey shit-stirring? Never!
Just to point out also that we rarely have majority possession even when Westwood is in the team. I think his importance is grossly exaggerated.
Quote from: Isa on September 26, 2013, 05:42:33 PMJust to point out also that we rarely have majority possession even when Westwood is in the team. I think his importance is grossly exaggerated.I'm not sure. Our possession would probably be a lot worse having him out the side for 10 games, than in it. I agree he's definitely got to step his game up a level. Last season he very rarely wasted a pass, was always an available option for a teammate. He's really the one player who does his role, that we have. KEA I think is too cumbersome on the ball. He's generally quite tidy, but he's got to sharpen up. He gets caught on the ball too often and also makes Westwood look positively fleet of foot.But yes, despite the fact Lambert wants us to be a side that gets the ball down and plays football. You'd find over the course of last season (and this) that far more often than not our possession stats would be under the 50 mark, not over it. For that to change we're going to need more technically able midfielders and a suitable formation (certainly at home). He's got us as a reasonably effective counter attacking side at the moment, but as a footballing possession side, not really. It's work in progress and we look a good year away from it at least. Aside from Sunderland last season, I've not seen us walk all over a side at Villa park and just dominate possession virtually the whole game. We had 61% of possession that game which is almost unheard of for us. Another couple of cultured midfielders, particularly one who can operate well behind the attackers, to compliment the more athletic players like Delphy, Sylla, and Bacuna mattata are essential.
I think that stat could largely be skewed by how unimaginitive and a bit desperate we get at home. When we can't string 5 passes together on the ground we inevitably look long. The Newcastle game in particular was wretched. We were utterly clueless going forward.Honestly though, if we have to resort to playing even more like Stoke while Benteke's out, I'll settle for it, as long as the points are rolling in. I'd rather win ugly than lose playing pretty (not that we play pretty all that often in truth).
I have to say that much of the Premier League is about possession and tippy tappy football in areas that pose no threat ie around the half way line. Watching Match of the Day DVDs of the 70s and 80s reminds old codgers like me of how quick teams were to get forward using players who could run and go past players and on getting the ball in and around the opponents penalty area. This attrition by passing does not get me on my feet, and I yearn for quick and decisive passing, wing play, overlapping full backs, speed of thought throw ins and corners, players unafraid to dribble and take a risk, one twos, goalkeepers who throw the ball out to a midfielder rather than a centre half, mobile and risk taking players who understand that play without the ball is as important as when in possession, movement and taking defenders out of position, midfielders who don't get a nose bleed when they find themselves in the penalty area. If a long ball to a forward is appropriate then use it, it's about decision making and adapting style to get the result.Enough, rant over, apologies.
I've noticed so far this season that we play a lot more long balls at home than we do away.