Keith wrote:isn't the question we should be asking 'why have we reverted to hoof-ball again?' When we play it on the deck, we play well, when we launch it, we play crap. So, let's play football again.
A few weeks ago I had a good natter with Jimbo about the use of the long 'high' ball.
It was interesting to get a players perspective on this.
I don't know if you've noticed but whenever Jimbo goes for a long one, it's nearly always a diagonal ball, in other words directed to the wing men. Arts tends to hoof it anywhere unfortunately!
I believe that they are coached to do the diagonal balls by Mark ( in fairness JH did the same!)However what I now believe is happening is that we are using that tactic as the only means of getting forward, for whatever reason. Possibly we don't play on the ground through midfield because of a lack of confidence. Who knows.
What became apparent yesterday was that Roach invariably gave the ball on the deck to a defender rather than the long hoof. If that was to then use a more accurate diagonal ball, I don't know. But I'd certainly prefer a style of play that builds on the ground from the back, through midfield and then onto the strikers.
What is apparent is that we have nobody capable in midfield of keeping hold of the ball and running with it at the opposition defence. Wainwright does it on the wing as does WC to some extent but to go through the middle, as an alternative tactic to the diagonal would make our game less predictable.
But hey..what do i know?
I'm only a very critical and hard to please old git who wants to be entertained!