Ball possession

[supertom]

It really depends on whether this is some temporary tactic to keep us out of relegation places until we can sign some footballers, or a log term footballing principal.  The former I can stomach.  The latter isn't good enough.

Let's see what happens when we're playing teams from our league again.

The former has been happening for 3 years under Lambert and still going unfortunately. He even briefly found an alternative which seemed to work to a point, between feb and May of his first season, but it got found out very quickly and he's had no answer since, other than to revert to how McLeish liked to play. That will work to a point, but lose 2-3 of your better players to injury or sale, as McLeish found, and Lambo last season, then your fragile grounding can implode. Both came very close to taking us down after we'd lost the talismanic striker who can nick you the odd win here and there. We lost Bent in 11/12 and couldn't score. We then lost Benteke last season and couldn't score.
It's a dangerous tactic.

[Ads]

You didn't say no strategy, you said no masterplan. You're wrong. From Gabby pressing Gerrard back, after half an hour we reverted to a clear plan and Liverpool did not have a shot on target or do pretty much anything there after. We were excellent in our shape and discipline and forced Gerrard to make forty yard passes into space on the channels, as they had no other options. There is no such thing as luck, why ascribe decisions of players or managers to some intangible figment of imagination?

[Monty]

Our style is limited, but its limitations lie well above 17th place, so I'm okay with it. We do at least appear to be quite good at this style this year.

[Malandro]

Our style is limited, but its limitations lie well above 17th place, so I'm okay with it. We do at least appear to be quite good at this style this year.

I agree that we are much better than previous seasons but don't see any positivity in giving the opposition so much of the ball or creating so few chances.

[curiousorange]

Our style is limited, but its limitations lie well above 17th place, so I'm okay with it. We do at least appear to be quite good at this style this year.

I agree that we are much better than previous seasons but don't see any positivity in giving the opposition so much of the ball or creating so few chances.

The positivity comes from results. I can't pretend I'm happy watching Villa chase shadows, but I don't suppose I'll mind if we beat the likes of Liverpool with it. However, we'll be one of those sides everybody hates, like Stoke or the Spammers, so it depends if that bothers you. Myself, I watch Villa in a constant state of anxiety, waiting for the opposition to make one of their seven billion half chances count.

[villan from luton]

How much did the Man City team cost compared to ours? That may be a slight reason why they had so much possession

[curiousorange]

How much did the Man City team cost compared to ours? That may be a slight reason why they had so much possession

I do take that line to a certain extent, but it doesn't explain why we can't do the basics well enough. Better players see space that others don't, they may have better technical skill and all of that, but a bloke that plays in the Evo-Stik Premier Division Nine surely knows how to take a throw in, or not to blast the ball vaguely in the direction of a team-mate and hope for the best.

[Rigadon]

It really depends on whether this is some temporary tactic to keep us out of relegation places until we can sign some footballers, or a log term footballing principal.  The former I can stomach.  The latter isn't good enough.

Let's see what happens when we're playing teams from our league again.

The former has been happening for 3 years under Lambert and still going unfortunately. He even briefly found an alternative which seemed to work to a point, between feb and May of his first season, but it got found out very quickly and he's had no answer since, other than to revert to how McLeish liked to play. That will work to a point, but lose 2-3 of your better players to injury or sale, as McLeish found, and Lambo last season, then your fragile grounding can implode. Both came very close to taking us down after we'd lost the talismanic striker who can nick you the odd win here and there. We lost Bent in 11/12 and couldn't score. We then lost Benteke last season and couldn't score.
It's a dangerous tactic.

I'm willing to give them (Lambert+Keane) the benefit of my patience for a while.  But I do agree to an extent.

[Jimbo]

You didn't say no strategy, you said no masterplan. You're wrong. From Gabby pressing Gerrard back, after half an hour we reverted to a clear plan and Liverpool did not have a shot on target or do pretty much anything there after. We were excellent in our shape and discipline and forced Gerrard to make forty yard passes into space on the channels, as they had no other options. There is no such thing as luck, why ascribe decisions of players or managers to some intangible figment of imagination?

So why say: "You said it yourself; no strategy, down to luck, myths."? To prevent you from tying yourself up in any further knots, I'll agree with you and have done with it. Gabby played the hassling game very well, it was great to watch. And we always knew Coutinho's shot would hit the post, we had it well covered, no sweat. But controlling the game like Italians? Nah.

[pauliewalnuts]

How much did the Man City team cost compared to ours? That may be a slight reason why they had so much possession

Nobody is saying otherwise, though.

But what about when the same thing happens at home to Newcastle? Or Hull? Or pretty much everyone we play?

I'd love to know when was the last time we had more of the ball or passed more than our opposition.

We are perennially amongst the worst  teams in the league for passes competed or possession, we just seen unable to improve this.

Possession and passing doesn't always translate to points, and as Monty said, the limitations of that style are above where we have actually been finishing, but teams which spend so much time without the ball or who rarely pass never do very well.

They also aren't great to watch, which is one reason for our poor attendances of late.

[kippaxvilla2]

That's the worst part about it.  Absolutely turgid shit is served up week after week.  If you were paying 40 or 50 quid for the theatre and they performed like we do you would be quite within your rights to demand a refund.  But because its football fans anything goes.

[supertom]

How much did the Man City team cost compared to ours? That may be a slight reason why they had so much possession

I do take that line to a certain extent, but it doesn't explain why we can't do the basics well enough. Better players see space that others don't, they may have better technical skill and all of that, but a bloke that plays in the Evo-Stik Premier Division Nine surely knows how to take a throw in, or not to blast the ball vaguely in the direction of a team-mate and hope for the best.

Who is this bloke you speak of, and why haven't we signed him yet!?

[villan from luton]

How much did the Man City team cost compared to ours? That may be a slight reason why they had so much possession

Nobody is saying otherwise, though.

But what about when the same thing happens at home to Newcastle? Or Hull? Or pretty much everyone we play?

I'd love to know when was the last time we had more of the ball or passed more than our opposition.

We are perennially amongst the worst  teams in the league for passes competed or possession, we just seen unable to improve this.

Possession and passing doesn't always translate to points, and as Monty said, the limitations of that style are above where we have actually been finishing, but teams which spend so much time without the ball or who rarely pass never do very well.

They also aren't great to watch, which is one reason for our poor attendances of late.

Maybe judge after the next 7 games, I think with Benteke back and the middle 3 we have, we will have more possession and play better football, but maybe it is the cider and wine making me think that lol

[Matt Collins]

Our middle three are capable of keeping it well

But Weimann and gabby either side of benteke don't offer the quality of movement or touch to help with that.

[supertom]

Our middle three are capable of keeping it well

But Weimann and gabby either side of benteke don't offer the quality of movement or touch to help with that.

I'd be tempted to play two up front. Gabby alongside the Beast. Then either the midfield 3 with Zogbia ahead in a free role, or a diamond with Westy at the base and Zog at the tip.
Two up top is back in fashion now and I think it would benefit us to give Benteke support. Plus he and Gabby both like to work the channels so they can drift wide as and when, or drop deep.