How would you feel....

[Phil from the upper holte]

I mean Westwood, He drives me insane, Set piece wise he's the new Bannan, Overhit corners, Wasted free kicks but he's allowed to take them week in week out. Fulham away I think I nearly had a heart attack watching his shit deliveries

[Monty]

I mean Westwood, He drives me insane, Set piece wise he's the new Bannan, Overhit corners, Wasted free kicks but he's allowed to take them week in week out. Fulham away I think I nearly had a heart attack watching his shit deliveries

Oddly, Bannan doesn't float corners at Palace but whips them in with menace. Maybe it's not Westwood and Bannan, maybe it's the tactic.

[Phil from the upper holte]

It's not all about physique but it'd be nice if we could mix it up if needed without looking like getting sent off. Also technique and movement would go a long way towards winning a few games, Our players always seem afraid of the ball, they get it and they want to get rid of it, no-one has any composure

[David_Nab]

Our set pieces in general are utter shite

[aj2k77]

I mean Westwood, He drives me insane, Set piece wise he's the new Bannan, Overhit corners, Wasted free kicks but he's allowed to take them week in week out. Fulham away I think I nearly had a heart attack watching his shit deliveries

Has anyone found out what it is Westwood does yet?

[Phil from the upper holte]

I mean Westwood, He drives me insane, Set piece wise he's the new Bannan, Overhit corners, Wasted free kicks but he's allowed to take them week in week out. Fulham away I think I nearly had a heart attack watching his shit deliveries

Oddly, Bannan doesn't float corners at Palace but whips them in with menace. Maybe it's not Westwood and Bannan, maybe it's the tactic.

Surely not? I bloody hope not

[Monty]

It's not all about physique but it'd be nice if we could mix it up if needed without looking like getting sent off. Also technique and movement would go a long way towards winning a few games, Our players always seem afraid of the ball, they get it and they want to get rid of it, no-one has any composure

Agree with that, they look like they play bizarro netball, where you can't move if you don't have the ball. I would also like to see them, as you say, mix it up and challenge their opponents, but non-large teams do that really well. Arsenal never leave their opponents alone, and they're probably smaller than we are. I think it's a question of attitude, where they need to combine passion with a bit of sense and teamwork, backing each other up in pressing like rugby.

Edit: re the corners - it's definitely the tactic. Bannan's not floated a single corner since leaving. Westwood floats them all. There's no doubt anymore.

[curiousorange]

It's not all about physique but it'd be nice if we could mix it up if needed without looking like getting sent off. Also technique and movement would go a long way towards winning a few games, Our players always seem afraid of the ball, they get it and they want to get rid of it, no-one has any composure

Agree with that, they look like they play bizarro netball, where you can't move if you don't have the ball. I would also like to see them, as you say, mix it up and challenge their opponents, but non-large teams do that really well. Arsenal never leave their opponents alone, and they're probably smaller than we are. I think it's a question of attitude, where they need to combine passion with a bit of sense and teamwork, backing each other up in pressing like rugby.

Edit: re the corners - it's definitely the tactic. Bannan's not floated a single corner since leaving. Westwood floats them all. There's no doubt anymore.

That alone is worthy of dismissal on the grounds of incompetence for whoever came up with the tactic.

[paul_e]

It's not all about physique but it'd be nice if we could mix it up if needed without looking like getting sent off. Also technique and movement would go a long way towards winning a few games, Our players always seem afraid of the ball, they get it and they want to get rid of it, no-one has any composure

Agree with that, they look like they play bizarro netball, where you can't move if you don't have the ball. I would also like to see them, as you say, mix it up and challenge their opponents, but non-large teams do that really well. Arsenal never leave their opponents alone, and they're probably smaller than we are. I think it's a question of attitude, where they need to combine passion with a bit of sense and teamwork, backing each other up in pressing like rugby.

Edit: re the corners - it's definitely the tactic. Bannan's not floated a single corner since leaving. Westwood floats them all. There's no doubt anymore.

If you want to play a pressing game you have to hunt in packs.  1 player running round does nothing, 3-4 players supporting each other and eating up the space so the man with the ball has to make a decision.

With the ball our confidence is fucked, no 2 ways about it.  When we've played well in 2013 has been when the confidence was up and everyone wanted the ball, for the last couple of months they're all scared of being caught in possession or caught out of position so they hold their space and we have to go back or long.  I think it's something that can and should be resolved in training but it's worrying that it hasn't been.

[curiousorange]

Has anybody witnessed a training session at BMH these days? You used to be able to go along, is that still the case?

[Irish villain]

Remember Newcastle away in Lambert's first season? We pressed so well that day. Where did it all go wrong from those first few games when we passed well and pressed hard?

[pauliewalnuts]

There were plenty of matches last season when we worked really hard to close the opposition down when we didn't have the ball.

There have been hardly any this season. Either Lambert can no longer do that, or the players don't want to listen to him, because it is really hardly the greatest of tactical innovations.

[curiousorange]

There were plenty of matches last season when we worked really hard to close the opposition down when we didn't have the ball.

There have been hardly any this season. Either Lambert can no longer do that, or the players don't want to listen to him, because it is really hardly the greatest of tactical innovations.

We look nothing like the times we were good last season. I really believe while there may have been enthusiasm that raised some players games, there has been some kind of event of major change behind the scenes which has caused a downturn in confidence and unity.

[SamTheMouse]

I've been a supporter of Lambert, but it's getting to the stage where I wouldn't be at all bothered if he got the boot.

If he signs a couple of decent players in the window, I think we could really kick on. But if he doesn't, and the football doesn't improve, then someone needs to seriously consider their position: Lambert if he's the one who can't or won't sign experience, or Lerner if he refuses to sanction the extra wages.

[aj2k77]

Don't forget if you take out the last 10 or so games at the end of the season by and large the other 28 we were terrible, it wasn't some golden season where all the youngsters and bargains came good. We were shot, had an appalling goal difference and wiganed it at the end. This season is no surprise because he hasn't rectified the major flaws last season, namely left back, centreback, attacking and defensive mid.