How many corners did Collison take against Forest? Three? Four? And they were all exactly the same, and every one was met by a Forest head thumping the ball to safety. Noble has his critics, but at least he delivers a corner into the six yard box where the opposition keeper is crowded and blocked according to Doctor Evil directives. It aint subtle, but it can produce scrambled goals. But the Collison delivery is NEVER going to panic a half decently organised defence.
What the hell are they doing on the training field? Surely a professional footballer should be able to deliver a corner with pace into the six yard box, even with his wrong foot? I can for Christ's sake, so why can't Collison?
But he is not alone in failing in the basics. One guy chatting with me at the game described a typical Cole header as "sucking the life out of the ball". Why does he cushion headers? Where are his neck muscles? Where is the headbutt motion that should deliver the forehead onto the ball, like a Barton greeting onto the bridge of a nose? For once, Faubert delivered the perfect cross on Saturday, only for Cole to cushion the ball tamely wide of the goal. It was like watching a girlie with a broken nose head the ball - or like watching Faubert!
And what about Green's kicking? Twice on Saturday he put the ball into touch in his own half, and on neither occasion was he under pressure. Basic, basic stuff, but England's number 666 can't do it! Pathetic!
I don't blame the players, I blame the coaches. How many goals have we scored from open play in the last two months? One, two? And is it any wonder when Faubert can't cross, Cole can't head a ball, McCartney can't cross, Collison can't take a corner, and nobody can hit a barn door from five yards? Why aren't they being drilled in these basic skills for pity's sake?
Prozac might be the solution for you.
ReplyDeleteThere will come a time in Feb/March when the teams in the division all suddenly realise that we are winning games down to luck and reputation, and they will all have a go and most will win and we'll slip down the table into the playoffs, which, with the massive pressure on us to win, we'll probably lose to a team like Hull who won't have much pressure on them. Transfers. Now.
ReplyDeleteIn the absence of Taylor I fail to see why George McCartney cannot take the set pieces that Taylor would normally take. Surely it cannot be that difficult to arrange? Beggars belief
ReplyDeleteWhat would the odds be on a goalkeeper kicking a ball in to touch twice in one game?
ReplyDeletekevin in manchester writes ...
ReplyDeleteno, blame the players .. they get paid a king's ransom; regardless of the coching demands they should have pride and drive enought to want to do it for themselves - if you can do it; it can't be that hard !!!!
Finally, a sport where Fat Sam's collection of lumps and long ball tactics could produce an entertaining show.
ReplyDeletehttp://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/crazy-norwegians-invent-bubble-football-131501352.html
Apparently, all the coaching staff spend their time in the Chadwell Heath tea room playing cards while the players are sent out with balls, cones and bibs and told to play defence and attack.
ReplyDeleteThe cones are arranged as defenders but our attack can't score against them. A changeround has our defenders up against the cones and several goals get shipped every time.
This must be true - I can see no other logical explanation!.
kevin in manchester writes ...
ReplyDeleteno, blame the players .. they get paid a king's ransom; regardless of the coching demands they should have pride and drive enought to want to do it for themselves - if you can do it; it can't be that hard !!!!
You can deliver a corner into the 6 yard box, with pace, off your wrong foot?............no, no , not avin that one!
ReplyDelete