Final Ball

[kingy10]

I don't think I have ever seen such a good side be so poor at creating chances.

We play some great stuff through the midfield and appear to be improving our comedy defending, but we are still so short at playing a decent final ball.

It's pretty standard knowledge that most goals are scored from crosses and set plays and I have to say our delivery is probably the poorest in the league. Bosingwa gets into a lot of decent positions, but will then delay the cross, or over hit or struggle to get the ball in. I can remember about 3 decent crosses all season. Traore is the same. Our wide men very rarely get beyond the opposition's full backs and when they do again the delivery is poor. After a while the forwards stop making the runs, which is what has happened, and you never look like scoring.

Redknapp needs to find a way of getting us to play the game further up the field. Sunderland and Villa have been an improvement on that, but I don't think we have any natural wide men. SWP drifts in, as does Hoillet, Traore and Bosingwa are options but they generally get the ball deeper and as previously stated they cannot hit a decent ball.

Watching Reading last night they must've put 10 or so top quality balls into the box and as such looked very dangerous.

[dave58]

Think Taarabt is the worst player for poor final ball his decision making is very poor in the final 3rd of the pitch he either holds on to it to long or gives it waste fully , the only thing is he looks like he really is putting in the work for the cause,

[kingy10]

Think Taarabt is the worst player for poor final ball his decision making is very poor in the final 3rd of the pitch he either holds on to it to long or gives it waste fully , the only thing is he looks like he really is putting in the work for the cause,

I agree mate. I love Adel but would find him a nightmare to play with, impossible to time your run as he tends to choose the wrong option in the final 3rd. On the plus side he is really trying and does look like our only creative player, albeit in the wrong areas. I would consider sticking him upfront alongside Mackie to do some damage in and around the box as he is no danger 40 yards out. I'm sure he would win a few penalties and I don't believe we have won one yet.

[Shania]

I don't think I have ever seen such a good side be so poor at creating chances.

We play some great stuff through the midfield and appear to be improving our comedy defending, but we are still so short at playing a decent final ball.

It's pretty standard knowledge that most goals are scored from crosses and set plays and I have to say our delivery is probably the poorest in the league. Bosingwa gets into a lot of decent positions, but will then delay the cross, or over hit or struggle to get the ball in. I can remember about 3 decent crosses all season. Traore is the same. Our wide men very rarely get beyond the opposition's full backs and when they do again the delivery is poor. After a while the forwards stop making the runs, which is what has happened, and you never look like scoring.

Redknapp needs to find a way of getting us to play the game further up the field. Sunderland and Villa have been an improvement on that, but I don't think we have any natural wide men. SWP drifts in, as does Hoillet, Traore and Bosingwa are options but they generally get the ball deeper and as previously stated they cannot hit a decent ball.

Watching Reading last night they must've put 10 or so top quality balls into the box and as such looked very dangerous.

That the next step to recovery, so to speak!!:pleasantsuprise: I do fully agree with you.

[80sCasual]

I don't think I have ever seen such a good side be so poor at creating chances.

We play some great stuff through the midfield and appear to be improving our comedy defending, but we are still so short at playing a decent final ball.

It's pretty standard knowledge that most goals are scored from crosses and set plays and I have to say our delivery is probably the poorest in the league. Bosingwa gets into a lot of decent positions, but will then delay the cross, or over hit or struggle to get the ball in. I can remember about 3 decent crosses all season. Traore is the same. Our wide men very rarely get beyond the opposition's full backs and when they do again the delivery is poor. After a while the forwards stop making the runs, which is what has happened, and you never look like scoring.

Redknapp needs to find a way of getting us to play the game further up the field. Sunderland and Villa have been an improvement on that, but I don't think we have any natural wide men. SWP drifts in, as does Hoillet, Traore and Bosingwa are options but they generally get the ball deeper and as previously stated they cannot hit a decent ball.

Watching Reading last night they must've put 10 or so top quality balls into the box and as such looked very dangerous.

Arsenal have mastered this style of play for years, just ask any of their fans.

[zeberdee]

Thought the general team play was decent enough for a lot of the Villa game and better than Sunderland.
But the gap between that and the final ball has been way too big in both games for all the players.
Even Adel, if you judge him by his own standards as the star player of the team and reported 'target of the top4', his final ball is terrible way too often.
Not sure that can be fixed in the short term so Redknapp may go more direct especially in away games.

[paulmason]

Thought the general team play was decent enough for a lot of the Villa game and better than Sunderland.
But the gap between that and the final ball has been way too big in both games for all the players.
Even Adel, if you judge him by his own standards as the star player of the team and reported 'target of the top4', his final ball is terrible way too often.
Not sure that can be fixed in the short term so Redknapp may go more direct especially in away games.

Adel was superb yesterday, but his decision making in the final third is ridiculous 70% of the time. v Reading, pass the ball in the net, we get 3pts, v Stoke, instead of scoring he tried to chip the keeper and yesterday, all he had to do was roll the ball to Mackie and another 3pts would have been ours.

[zeberdee]

Adel was superb yesterday, but his decision making in the final third is ridiculous 70% of the time. v Reading, pass the ball in the net, we get 3pts, v Stoke, instead of scoring he tried to chip the keeper and yesterday, all he had to do was roll the ball to Mackie and another 3pts would have been ours.

Yeah I wouldn't fault Adel for work rate, technical ability, or desire but his final ball was not massively better than anyone elses.
When Villa sat back more second half the whole team looked unsure of what to do and how to pick the lock and the tempo was slow and nervy.
Early days and can't overestimate the two injuries forcing subs of course and even top teams find it hard to break down defences.
The front to back play later in the first half to Mackie/SWP actually looked top class, accurate passes well controlled and chances created.
All managers mix it up but that might be the fastest way to get a win while he tries to teach them final ball .