Link-up play, fluidity & awareness

[WarrenBartonCentrePartin]

We lack all of it.

 

Utterly embarrassing both today and in previous games how when one of our players, more often than not a midfielder, picks up the ball all those around him stand still.  There's absolutely no movement or willingness to ask for it and to create something.

 

These players train with one another every week yet there never appears to be any anticipation about what others are going to look to do with the ball.  Time and time again it's passing to people in static positions.  More often than not it looks like one player is going to attempt to do everything himself.  Others are just found watching.  It's getting beyond a joke now.

 

What is also extremely frustrating, today in particular, is how there's no cohesion between our midfield and our lone striker.  For all Marveaux was meant to play in the "number 10" role today, far too often he was dropping deep to support Anita and Perch and also to retrieve the ball.  Norwich were able to double up on him and nullify the threat immediately, before it was even anywhere near Cisse, who was utterly isolated.

 

It's almost as if continuos hoof-ball this season has led the players to forget how to do this, but when you look at the three goals at WBA away last season as a prime example, at least 3 players pushing on, wanting the ball from those in centre mid, it's enough to bring you to tears how backwards we've gone.

[Toondave]

We lack none of it.

 

Utterly embarrassing both today and in previous games how when one of our players, more often than not a midfielder, picks up the ball all those around him stand still.  There's absolutely no movement or willingness to ask for it and to create something.

 

These players train with one another every week yet there never appears to be any anticipation about what others are going to look to do with the ball.  Time and time again it's passing to people in static positions.  More often than not it looks like one player is going to attempt to do everything himself.  Others are just found watching.  It's getting beyond a joke now.

 

What is also extremely frustrating, today in particular, is how there's no cohesion between our midfield and our lone striker.  For all Marveaux was meant to play in the "number 10" role today, far too often he was dropping deep to support Anita and Perch and also to retrieve the ball.  Norwich were able to double up on him and nullify the threat immediately, before it was even anywhere near Cisse, who was utterly isolated.

 

It's almost as if continuos hoof-ball this season has led the players to forget how to do this, but when you look at the three goals at WBA away last season as a prime example, at least 3 players pushing on, wanting the ball from those in centre mid, it's enough to bring you to tears how backwards we've gone.

 

we lack all of it

[ATB]

[Tachikoma]

We lack none of it.

 

Wut?

[Ronaldo]

We lack none of it.

 

[Spudil]

More often than not it looks like one player is going to attempt to do everything himself.  Others are just found watching.  It's getting beyond a joke now.

 

I couldn't agree more.

[WarrenBartonCentrePartin]

corrected.  Typo due to sheer frustration.

[alexf]

couldn't be bothered to read the rest after that first line sorry.

[Guest bimpy474]

Choc ice please.

[Ketsbaia]

Movement? What the hell is movement?

 

Our playing style is embarassing at the moment - we just let Krul hoof it, the defender wins the header, they pass it around, we win the ball back, then pass it to Krul. Krul then hoofs it etc.

[TRon]

Never mind, Ben Arfa will be back soon to produce the individual magic and win us the games. Who needs link up play when you've got goals from nowhere?

 

 

[Cronky]

Accidental double negative, I assume.

 

It's a good point about Marveaux not linking with Cisse, but he often had to drop deep to get the ball because we have two DMs in the centre who lack the confidence or skill to make a forward run themselves or find him in a forward position with a good enough pass. That would help.

 

 

[Greg]

This is what happens when confidence is at rock bottom. Slow steps and getting our better players back on pitch and this will slowly improve.

[Tachikoma]

Never mind, Ben Arfa will be back soon to produce the individual magic and win us the games. Who needs link up play when you've got goals from nowhere?

 

Ben Arfa, Cabaye and Marveaux in the same 11

 

I'm sure the 3 of them combined will whip up the necessary number of rabbits out of the hat to save us from relegation.

 

 

[Mistle17]

Didn't someone on here say that Pardew is supposedly a big fan of Mourinho and has his books etc in his office? If that's true you'd think he's only flicked through to have a look at the pictures! Jose's teams are all about successful and aggressive transitions from defence to attack (and visa versa) and are incredibly organised. We couldn't look further from any that, we're a joke.

 

Agreed with the opening post, btw. It's clear our manager is petrified of losing and in general hasn't a clue how to set up a team to attack.

[KDT]

In the shit we are in I'd be terrified of losing also, Greg hit the nail on the head.

[themanupstairs]

the ultimate first line fail.

 

Agree with the rest of the post.

[JUICE690]

Think the fact the every team we play against right now seems to do it without any real fear. We look like a team, other teams expect to gain three points from making it so much harder for us to rediscover our form. At any level of football it's difficult to find your rythm when your opponents are pressing you all over the pitch.

 

We need to hammer a team, score 3+ without reply. Give the next team/manager something to worry about again.

[Gallowgate Toon]

Think the fact the every team we play against right now seems to do it without any real fear. We look like a team, other teams expect to gain three points from making it so much harder for us to refind our form. At any level of football it's difficult to find your rythm when your opponents are pressing you all over the pitch.

 

We need to hammer a team, score 3+ without reply. Give the next team/manager something to worry about again.

 

This. Unfortunately, our manager seems to be constantly worried about any threat of a goal from opposition, forgetting the benefits of being positive in our play and we consequently have no identity. I can't see us getting out of this funk with AP at the helm, he's just obsessed with weaknesses, he seems to have a complete lack of faith in the team a lot of the time.

[rocksammy]

Honestly believe we jumped out of the starting blocks trying to replicate last season. Unlucky results and poor football put and end to that quite quickly. But at the same time we went into our shell and played somewhat negative football. When we played Arsenal and Manu we played with some attacking intent and it showed. We may have been defensively fragile but we had a go. Norwich was more about a clean sheet then playing good football. I want us to have a real go and go down fighting rather than worrying about what could happen. Pardew really needs to get the confidence going be that signing players, playing attacking football or a team orgy. Just get the fucking team believing they can do anything like last year.

[madras]

Think the fact the every team we play against right now seems to do it without any real fear. We look like a team, other teams expect to gain three points from making it so much harder for us to refind our form. At any level of football it's difficult to find your rythm when your opponents are pressing you all over the pitch.

 

We need to hammer a team, score 3+ without reply. Give the next team/manager something to worry about again.

 

This. Unfortunately, our manager seems to be constantly worried about any threat of a goal from opposition, forgetting the benefits of being positive in our play and we consequently have no identity. I can't see us getting out of this funk with AP at the helm, he's just obsessed with weaknesses, he seems to have a complete lack of faith in the team a lot of the time.

and yet we did actually play quite expansivly against man utd and arsenal. almost as if he's thought "if we are gonna get beat anyway we may aswell play pretty"

[Wilson]

Lolk up plol, flolidity and lolareness

 

 

[colinmk]

Think the fact the every team we play against right now seems to do it without any real fear. We look like a team, other teams expect to gain three points from making it so much harder for us to refind our form. At any level of football it's difficult to find your rythm when your opponents are pressing you all over the pitch.

 

We need to hammer a team, score 3+ without reply. Give the next team/manager something to worry about again.

 

This. Unfortunately, our manager seems to be constantly worried about any threat of a goal from opposition, forgetting the benefits of being positive in our play and we consequently have no identity. I can't see us getting out of this funk with AP at the helm, he's just obsessed with weaknesses, he seems to have a complete lack of faith in the team a lot of the time.

and yet we did actually play quite expansivly against man utd and arsenal. almost as if he's thought "if we are gonna get beat anyway we may aswell play pretty"

 

Yep. It's a cowardly way of playing the game and it appears he will never change his ways.

[madras]

Think the fact the every team we play against right now seems to do it without any real fear. We look like a team, other teams expect to gain three points from making it so much harder for us to refind our form. At any level of football it's difficult to find your rythm when your opponents are pressing you all over the pitch.

 

We need to hammer a team, score 3+ without reply. Give the next team/manager something to worry about again.

 

This. Unfortunately, our manager seems to be constantly worried about any threat of a goal from opposition, forgetting the benefits of being positive in our play and we consequently have no identity. I can't see us getting out of this funk with AP at the helm, he's just obsessed with weaknesses, he seems to have a complete lack of faith in the team a lot of the time.

and yet we did actually play quite expansivly against man utd and arsenal. almost as if he's thought "if we are gonna get beat anyway we may aswell play pretty"

 

Yep. It's a cowardly way of playing the game and it appears he will never change his ways.

a couple of results and some confidence can change things. the way some are going on you'd think we reached 5th last season in spite of him playing for draws all last season.

[colinmk]

Think the fact the every team we play against right now seems to do it without any real fear. We look like a team, other teams expect to gain three points from making it so much harder for us to refind our form. At any level of football it's difficult to find your rythm when your opponents are pressing you all over the pitch.

 

We need to hammer a team, score 3+ without reply. Give the next team/manager something to worry about again.

 

This. Unfortunately, our manager seems to be constantly worried about any threat of a goal from opposition, forgetting the benefits of being positive in our play and we consequently have no identity. I can't see us getting out of this funk with AP at the helm, he's just obsessed with weaknesses, he seems to have a complete lack of faith in the team a lot of the time.

and yet we did actually play quite expansivly against man utd and arsenal. almost as if he's thought "if we are gonna get beat anyway we may aswell play pretty"

 

Yep. It's a cowardly way of playing the game and it appears he will never change his ways.

a couple of results and some confidence can change things. the way some are going on you'd think we reached 5th last season in spite of him playing for draws all last season.

 

True. No excuse not have a real go at Reading anyway, and Villa for that matter.