Can't shoot for shit - is it a genuine failing?

[TRon]

How many of our current squad can actually hit a decent strike? Beyond Harvey Barnes I struggle to think of anyone. 

 

If you think this is an exaggeration, then consider what our options are if we get a free kick 25 yards out. Trippier was one but it's been years since he's pinged one in. 

 

Yesterday Buendia hit a scorcher, but if he hadn't then Rogers might have done it instead. Villa can score from distance and they've picked up a lot of points from those efforts.

 

Isak was also someone who could hit the odd screamer, even if it wasn't a regular occurrence. I only mention that because I don't really see much evidence that either Wolt or Wissa are really good strikers of the ball, one pen which flew into the top corner withstanding. 

 

 

Edited January 26 by TRon

[Sima]

Don't think Brendan Rodgers is up to the intensity of the Premier League these days.

 

Good point though, that we haven't scored a direct free kick for over three seasons tells it's own story.

 

 

Edited January 26 by Sima

[TheBrownBottle]

Have we scored from outside the box yet this season?  I honestly can’t remember one. 

[Yorkie]

I think it's more tactical/a trend; fewer teams are doing it now because it's high-risk and also there are fewer opportunities with so many behind the ball. Barnes, Murphy and Tonali can all unleash a shitpinger; Hall, Miley, Joelinton, Bruno and Gordon have all and scored from range too. Dunno if Wissa can but I wouldn't back Woltemade to reach the six yard box if he had a dig from 25 yards. 

[Yorkie]

2 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Have we scored from outside the box yet this season?  I honestly can’t remember one. 

 

Bruno x3 (Forest, Burnley, Burnley). Was Barnes just outside the box for his first against Man City?

[TheBrownBottle]

Just now, Yorkie said:

 

Bruno x3 (Forest, Burnley, Burnley)

Good old Bruno  - and it makes sense; Forest and Burnley were a couple of the games I didn’t watch live (I try and watch as many as I can).  

[TheBrownBottle]

2 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

I think it's more tactical/a trend; fewer teams are doing it now because it's high-risk and also there are fewer opportunities with so many behind the ball. Barnes, Murphy and Tonali can all unleash a shitpinger; Hall, Miley, Joelinton, Bruno and Gordon have all and scored from range too. Dunno if Wissa can but I wouldn't back Woltemade to reach the six yard box if he had a dig from 25 yards. 

Didn’t Howe just say he wants Tonali to shoot more?

[The Prophet]

https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4272809

[Fak]

Barnes, Schar, Murphy, Hall, Tonali and Miley all have a decent ping on them from range.

 

Bruno has popped a few in from edge of the box but they were all placed efforts and not screamers.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Making the space for the shots is the issue I would say. We push the ball wide almost every time we attack. 

 

Although we do have a few players who can't really kick the ball hard in midfield. 

 

 

Edited January 26 by AyeDubbleYoo

[Elliottman]

5 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Making the space for the shots is the issue I would say. We push the ball wide almost every time we attack. 

 

Although we do have a few players who can't really kick the ball hard in midfield. 

 

 

 

 

This is the main issue, we are never central enough, we hardly ever play on the edge of the opposition box (centrally). Everything goes out wide, then back inside, back out, around the corners. 

 

If we tried to play in-between the lines a bit more, no doubt we'd see more attempts. Cant see it happening any time soon though if EH cant get them on the training pitch. 

[Dr.Spaceman]

So many people around me in the middle of the Gallowgate complaining about this yesterday.

 

I'm firmly in the "if you don't buy a ticket" camp, similar with getting crosses knto the box. We need to create more chaos. Even a shite long ranger could ricochet off someone and wrong foot the keeper for example. It certainly beats going sideways to create fuck all, that's for sure.

 

 

Edited January 26 by Dr.Spaceman

[TaylorJ_01]

15 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Making the space for the shots is the issue I would say. We push the ball wide almost every time we attack. 

 

Although we do have a few players who can't really kick the ball hard in midfield. 

 

 

 

 

This is true, we sort of camp outside the box when we're attacking and let them get 10 behind the ball. No space.

[TRon]

26 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

I think it's more tactical/a trend; fewer teams are doing it now because it's high-risk and also there are fewer opportunities with so many behind the ball. Barnes, Murphy and Tonali can all unleash a shitpinger; Hall, Miley, Joelinton, Bruno and Gordon have all and scored from range too. Dunno if Wissa can but I wouldn't back Woltemade to reach the six yard box if he had a dig from 25 yards. 

 

Those have all scored the odd one, but how many of them would you bet on regularly? Come to think of it, we've probably left one of the main contenders out in Schar, he's probably the only one who really fancies himself to hit a free kick as well. 

 

That is something I would like us to reflect on. Why do so few of our players fancy themselves to hit a free kick other than Trippier?

 

 

[Dr.Spaceman]

Hey, maybe the new training facility will have a dedicated area for kicking balls into the back of the net

[TaylorJ_01]

I don't even think it's something up for debate.

 

It's critical we get more shots away. There's been games recently with zero shots on target in 80 mins, no shots in full halves etc. You'll never win football matches like that.

 

As much as we struggle to create openings, there have been definite opportunities.

 

Our shots per game stats seem fairly poor to me. For most teams their highest is their strikers, but ours aren't. Suggests we're not creating chances and/or they aren't being aggressive enough.

 

[Kid Icarus]

The one thing I notice more than anything is the amount of times players are in shooting positions on their weaker foot.

 

It happens often with Murphy, Tonali, Joelinton, Barnes, and Hall. Bruno's the only player who seems to find the spaces to have a shot on his stronger foot.

 

It's also what (in theory) should make Elanga such a good asset to have.

[RobsonsWonderland]

I know we all hate him but I remember watching a podcast with Michael Owen.

 

He said he never ever placed a shot but just looked to hit it as hard and fast as he could towards the goal.

 

Even if it when slightly of line at least he got his shot off before the keeper could react.

 

We are so slow around the box even if we do get a shot off the keeper is expecting it.

 

So frustrating as per the old saying 

 

If you don't shoot you don't score!

[John P]

57 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

I think it's more tactical/a trend; fewer teams are doing it now because it's high-risk and also there are fewer opportunities with so many behind the ball. Barnes, Murphy and Tonali can all unleash a shitpinger; Hall, Miley, Joelinton, Bruno and Gordon have all and scored from range too. Dunno if Wissa can but I wouldn't back Woltemade to reach the six yard box if he had a dig from 25 yards. 

It's definitely a trend. I used to write some articles for a football website that was quite stats-based and I looked into certain trends over the last 10 years in the PL - the proportion of shots taken from outside the box has steadily declined over the years, probably due to data analysis showing that it's "better" to try and work the ball wide and create a shooting opportunity inside the box. There's been lots of analysis of shot locations in basketball over the years and how they've changed due to analysis of the optimum shot locations, and football is definitely heading that way imo

[Virtua Stiva]

Team full of scuffers, it’s sad to see 

[gbandit]

Gordon can’t volley a ball or strike from distance other than a curler right footed shot but even then it’s not that powerful. 
 

Joelinton can’t strike from distance 

 

Bruno can strike from distance but not with power, he does get excellent curl though and can keep it down 

 

Hall, Miley, Tonali can all strike well from distance. 
 

Trippier is done when it comes to striking from distance 

 

Elanga can’t strike from distance

 

Murphy can strike really well from distance.

 

Dont think Wissa or Woltemade are made for striking from distance at all. Osula is probably better than them at it 

[Pilko]

The old adage about raffles & tickets comes to mind. Even if we aren't super adept at shooting from distance like some of the Villa lot we might get a deflection for a corner or a goal, even a keeper error. Miley at Everton the perfect example. 

 

We seem content to sling crosses into nobody a lot of the time and turn the ball over that way, so I don't see why shooting is seen as such a huge risk in comparison.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

32 minutes ago, TaylorJ_01 said:

I don't even think it's something up for debate.

 

It's critical we get more shots away. There's been games recently with zero shots on target in 80 mins, no shots in full halves etc. You'll never win football matches like that.

 

As much as we struggle to create openings, there have been definite opportunities.

 

Our shots per game stats seem fairly poor to me. For most teams their highest is their strikers, but ours aren't. Suggests we're not creating chances and/or they aren't being aggressive enough.

 

This is true but shooting too little is the symptom rather than the cause, surely. You can't just decide to shoot more, they just miss or get blocked unless they're from positions and chances where it's likely to work. 

[joeyt]

Could be that we prioritise athletes rather than technical ability

[nufcjb]

We do.have players who can hit it and maybe atleast get it on target but they aren't doing it atball, either by instruction from the coaching staff or a lack of belief in themselves that they can score.