Why is it that....

[Dando]

our keeper always rightly rolls the ball out to our defence, but then they just go ahead and hoof it upfield anyway? I dont see the point? Surely rolling it to the defender is suppose to be the start of us passing the ball about upfield?

Is it because our defenders just dont know how to use the ball, or because the other players are just not making any good movement?

i wouldnt mind so much if we had big guy up front - but we dont, so 90% of the time, the ball ends up back with our opposition

[Bluehoop]

The fact is there is never any other option for the defender as no one and I mean no one ever looks to receive a pass from the back line. They all play statues while the opposition players work and close down, both the forward players (easy as there is no movement) and the midfield (for the same reason) - pressure then comes on the player with the ball leaving 2 options, pointless tippy tap passes across the back line (which we do a lot) or lump it forward for the opposition to collect and come back at us (which we do the rest of the time). The Upper Loft, right in the middle is the perfect place to sit and see this obvious flaw.

[wozzawears21]

This is what ive been saying for months now! How can people claim that Magilton wants to play football when hes playing 1 CB that just plays diaginal balls and the other that hoofs the ball? The keeper rolls the ball out to the left bk or right bk then they look for the line every time. Our centre mids should be showing for them inside and thats how a move is started but our centre mids are Mahon and Legs. Not only cant they pass but couldnt trap a bag of cement! Just think if we had watson and rowley in the middle, passing ability, both can be creative and both battle till the end. Its just sooooo frustrating!!!!!!!!!

[NW9_RANGER]

totally agree with bluehoop thats why i keep saying the midfield is a big problem, there is no movement - you just had to see the way the forest midfield moved about.. put out midfield to shame and thats only forest lol

[crossborderexile]

be fair mate he is rolling it to Ramage and Borrowdale

[Dando]

be fair mate he is rolling it to Ramage and Borrowdale

agree - that Ramages passing isnt the best, but if he could just play it simple to one of the midfielders, and let them do the job - itd be fine. Instead, they just hoof it down the line, and we no longer have the ball. Seems a complete waste of time to me.

[NW9_RANGER]

agree - that Ramages passing isnt the best, but if he could just play it simple to one of the midfielders, and let them do the job - itd be fine. Instead, they just hoof it down the line, and we no longer have the ball. Seems a complete waste of time to me.

the whole defence is guilty of long balls, in fact stewart and hall are the worst culprits

[Dando]

the whole defence is guilty of long balls, in fact stewart and hall are the worst culprits

we should have just left our defence as it was last year - where we looked composed and solid

[swanleyhoop]

Yes, changing them seems to have undermined their confidence, especially Gorkss.

[kingy10]

Because our midfield consists of 2 defensive players who lie deep and two attacking wingers who push on. There is nothing in between, often Mahon and Legs come to the defenders to pick up the ball but they are often put under pressure, forcing them backwards to keeper or defender again. Stanley did this very well. What you need is 1 defensive midfielder and 1 attacking midfielder in the centre. The defensive midfielder comes short and then spins away, hopefully creating space for the attacking one to keep the ball and play the wingers in.

This is one area that we have really struggled on. Pattern of play. This is what they (should) spend the majority of time on in training. It is a problem of have 2 defensive midfielders in a 4-4-2. Doesn't really work. Would be better in a 4-2-3-1 formation.