Do we know how to attack?

[Delima]

I always thought that we are clueless going forward. We are just the poor man Liverpool. We can show lots of spirit resisting an onslaught and punish the opponents with deadly counter attack but when we have the ball we are simply clueless in trying to score a goal.

 

Do we know how to attack?

 

We are badly missing Emre.

 

The reason why Sibierski has done well for us so far is simply because he is an easy outlet, easy solution. After running out of ideas, just aim a high ball at the shiny bald head inside the penalty box and play for the percentage.

 

We are badly missing N'Zogbia too.

[Nobody]

This is very true.

We only try to attack down the flanks and get a cross in. It's so easy to read for the opponents, and not effective at all. We need creativity in the middle, and Dyer is not the answer.

[Dokko]

We need two new fullbacks to help support each side of the wings, Duff/Zoggy & Milner/Solano are good enough players, but the support behind them are shite, so moves are one dimensional and predictable.

 

We do that the centre opens up for more creative movement as the opposition players will be drawn to the extra bodies down the flanks, leaving a Dyer like player to rip through the middle on the end of a decent pass across the box to slot home nicely, or even take the ball on a dribble himself.

 

A good target man wouldn't go a miss. At the moment we have Martins who's a dwarf to aim at, and Sibi doesn't count as he doesn't get into the penalty area until two days after the full time whistle.

 

One other thing to note is the 'creative force' or that supposed force has barely had two minutes together so attacks are disjointed, un-natural and disorganised.

 

Were sorting out the back at the moment, and for me there's no better place to start, then we can concentrate on the mid creating for the attack, especially when we get our top players back together.

 

 

[Syrette]

Emre's the man. Unfortunately he hardly plays for us nowadays and I doubt he'll be here much longer.

[Guest JamesD]

Emre does the simple things which go unnoticed, but are vital to our play.  He keeps the game ticking with his ability to make passes and keep possesion and also provide an outlet.  Definetly more suited to a 3 man midfield where there is a DM and an out-and-out attacking mid, but played well with Butt.  Also his work rate is great. 

[Beren]

I blame the wingers' lack of vision. Well, mainly.

 

Duff - Cannot beat anyone. Ever. Is horrendously one-footed and can do nothing useful from out wide.

 

Milner - Has good and bad days. On a good day, he will try different things - yesterday, he was like an automated take-the-ball-down-the-wing-and-fire-a-low-outswinging-corner-to-the-edge-of-the-6-yard-box machine. He hasn't got the best pace, but he has the skill and agility to come inside, once he's at the byline. On some days he knows this, others he doesn't.

 

Solano - Is unfortunately at RB most of the time.

 

Zoggy - Last season was excellent - this season, inconsistent before injury.

[Howaythelads]

We'll improve IF Owen forms a good partnership with Martins.

 

We need another good quality striker to cover for either of those two being out injured. The only other decent option is using Dyer out of position as a striker, he's reasonably effective because of his movement which stands out due to our current lack of movement up front. Martin's needs working to work on that, tbh.

 

I think with Owen out we'd have more creativity with Butt/Emre in the centre midfield and Dyer up front. However, Emre being out as well introduces the problem of having to use Dyer in CM to get any creativity there at all, hence we then lack any movement up top. Dyer is vital right now in the absence of both Owen and Emre.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

The fullbacks are very important - it's fairly rare you see a good quality attacking side without proper fullbacks who can overlap and support their wide midfielders.

 

I think if we get a couple of decent FBs, along with Owen back, we will see some major improvements. Keeping Emre would be nice, but looks unlikely at this stage.

[Cajun]

The fullbacks are very important - it's fairly rare you see a good quality attacking side without proper fullbacks who can overlap and support their wide midfielders.

 

I think if we get a couple of decent FBs, along with Owen back, we will see some major improvements. Keeping Emre would be nice, but looks unlikely at this stage.

 

Yep, huge thing we are missing (more so when Solano isn't there). Part of the reason we rarely have fuck all coming from the left hand side!

[ElDiablo]

Emre's who miss, we have noone who'll pick the ball up in the middle and take on a few players, it's always Butt recieving from the defence then playing to Milner etc. All in front of the opposition, no penetration.

[Optimistic Nut]

38 goals in 25 games since the Sheff Utd game isn't too bad for a team who doesn't know how to attack mind you.