I'd imagine our stats for running around while the opposition play football are pretty strong?
Quote from: Matt Collins on October 27, 2014, 03:46:18 PMQuote from: supertom on October 27, 2014, 03:09:28 PMOne interesting stat I've just noticed. Despite the fact we've defended for pretty much 90% of the season so far. We actually average lowest in tackles per game. You'd think having play backs to the wall so much, we'd be getting our foot in a lot more. As it is, we're not. We've got to be a bit more aggressive I think, particularly in the opposition half with pressing. We're making it too easy for sides. We're pretty low on interceptions per game too. So basically...we don't keep the ball well, we don't create chances, we don't try hard enough to get the ball back either. It all adds up and something has to change. Hopefully starting tonight. I think putting a big bastard like Sanchez in midfield might be a good start. We need a ball winner. Westwood and Cleverley don't tackle. Delph can't tackle (injured anyway of course). So we definitely need someone in midfield who will try and tackle.Tackling is disappearing from the game a bit though isn't it? If you're a side that sits deep like us I don't think its a surpriseBut I agree it would be good to get pressure on the ball higher up the pitch. It's certainly a dying art, but we're definitely allowing opposition players far too much time and freedom on the ball. And whilst having 9-10 men camped back in defence will keep teams out to a point, it only goes so far and merely delays the inevitable. Our defence isn't good enough to cope with that pressure. So we've got to start getting in teams faces.Ironically last season our discipline was one of the worst in the fairplay league. This season we're one of the fairest. We don't give away many fouls, not many yellows. In some regards that's good, but you'd have thought with Keano being on board we'd have a bit more of nasty streak. Sometimes, for want of quality, you need that. I think we're a bit soft.
Quote from: supertom on October 27, 2014, 03:09:28 PMOne interesting stat I've just noticed. Despite the fact we've defended for pretty much 90% of the season so far. We actually average lowest in tackles per game. You'd think having play backs to the wall so much, we'd be getting our foot in a lot more. As it is, we're not. We've got to be a bit more aggressive I think, particularly in the opposition half with pressing. We're making it too easy for sides. We're pretty low on interceptions per game too. So basically...we don't keep the ball well, we don't create chances, we don't try hard enough to get the ball back either. It all adds up and something has to change. Hopefully starting tonight. I think putting a big bastard like Sanchez in midfield might be a good start. We need a ball winner. Westwood and Cleverley don't tackle. Delph can't tackle (injured anyway of course). So we definitely need someone in midfield who will try and tackle.Tackling is disappearing from the game a bit though isn't it? If you're a side that sits deep like us I don't think its a surpriseBut I agree it would be good to get pressure on the ball higher up the pitch.
One interesting stat I've just noticed. Despite the fact we've defended for pretty much 90% of the season so far. We actually average lowest in tackles per game. You'd think having play backs to the wall so much, we'd be getting our foot in a lot more. As it is, we're not. We've got to be a bit more aggressive I think, particularly in the opposition half with pressing. We're making it too easy for sides. We're pretty low on interceptions per game too. So basically...we don't keep the ball well, we don't create chances, we don't try hard enough to get the ball back either. It all adds up and something has to change. Hopefully starting tonight. I think putting a big bastard like Sanchez in midfield might be a good start. We need a ball winner. Westwood and Cleverley don't tackle. Delph can't tackle (injured anyway of course). So we definitely need someone in midfield who will try and tackle.
Just realized your bloody clocks went back didn't they?
Don't know why we are so fussed about tackling, it's overrated.A bit like possession, shooting and scoring goals, all overrated.
Don't forget the pointing.
Clark's playing according to the wireless.
Quote from: Clampy on October 27, 2014, 06:53:31 PMClark's playing according to the wireless.Oh FFS
I hope we win. Can't be arsed to run through all the various arguments in favour of this or that, I am just tired of us not keeping the ball, not getting shots on target and not scoring.It'd be nice to have fun watching us play for a change.