Did we play LONG BALL again today?

[Chesney Christ]

Didn't get to go today - did we hoof it again? Please say we didn't.....

 

[clippedgull]

you know the answer to your question!

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

Brighton & Hoof Albion.

 

[BurgessHillNorthStandBoy]

Both home league games have been the same , even Kuipers booted to the 13th man that wasnt there!!

 

[BensGrandad]

As Bristol Rovers manager said MAs teams do not play 100% route one just 90%.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Played the long ball marginally less than v Bristol Rovers. Micky must have really shouted at the them. So today we at least TRIED to play it on the ground, albeit poorly. When we did hoof it, it was ALWAYS overlong and no use to anybody.

Mid-to-lower table shit basically.

 

[Icy Gull]

and against two MASSIVE central defenders who may well have struggled with balls on the ground.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Put it this way, FDM must have been attributed with at least two shots on goal cos his goal-kicks ended up - with one bounce - straight in the arms of his opposite number

 

[hans kraay fan club]

The situation was summed up in one nice quip from a particularly sharp 9 year old, in the family stand. After watching Kuipers collect their keepers long punt, and then punt it straight back to him, the lad yelled, "what are you doing Michel? Its not piggy-in-the-middle!". Quite.

(Not that anyone is singling out kuipers, overall. He and richards were excellent today)

 

[Silent Bob]

I think to say we played long ball is wrong. I don't think we went out there with the intention of playing a Stoke/Watford/Bolton type game - with the right players it can be a very very effective gameplan, if horrible to watch. However what we did was not that - it was more of idealess aimless hoofing brought on by a severe lack of competent midfield players.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

How can you blame Kuipers or Elphick hoofing it over their heads, on the midfield players?

 

[BensGrandad]

and against two MASSIVE central defenders who may well have struggled with balls on the ground.

For the first 15 mins Forster beat their 2 central defenders on the ground every time but we stopped doing it and then hit long balls into their goalkeepers arms.

Why, in the first half did Livermore stand over every free kick and then Cox take it why waste a man who could stand on the edge of the box to pick up the loose ball as it comes out.

 

[timbha]

How can you blame Kuipers or Elphick hoofing it over their heads, on the midfield players?

midfield players and full backs should find space and demand the ball from them. Sadly none are good/confident enough to do this, hence the hoof is the only option.

Virgo is a centre half, who had a successful but brief spell at centre forward - why does MA think he's a central midfield player?

 

[Silent Bob]

How can you blame Kuipers or Elphick hoofing it over their heads, on the midfield players?

I don't blame Kuipers hoofing on anyone - if he kicks it straight he's done well... last season he rolled it out a lot more, but not at the moment. However the midfield need to make themselves available, and they didn't. And when they did get the ball it was constantly given away, which hardly inspires confidence.

Our problem is simple, the midfield AIN'T good enough.

 

[1066familyman]

I don't blame Kuipers hoofing on anyone - if he kicks it straight he's done well... last season he rolled it out a lot more, but not at the moment. However the midfield need to make themselves available, and they didn't. And when they did get the ball it was constantly given away, which hardly inspires confidence.

Our problem is simple, the midfield AIN'T good enough.

Agreed, we lack creative players in the middle who want the ball. Coupled with that we haven't even got any bite there either.

 

[clarkey]

We also have no-one who can/ is willing to take on their man and beat him. This leads to players receiving the ball, seeing an opponent in fron of them and turning and passing backwards.

 

[Freddie Goodwin.]

Didn't get to go today - did we hoof it again? Please say we didn't.....

For you, Chesney, we didn't.

 

[SNOOBS]

Despite many people saying we were hoofing it all the time, it wasn't actually that bad. Early on often Richards and Whing were playing it into Forster and Murrays feet but they did seem to lack support. Also in the second half a fair few times FDM rolled it out wide on the counter, we just couldn't take advantage. There are also times where the defence have to clear their lines which is probably deemed a hoof eg Elphick on the edge of our penalty area in the first half when a lot of groans could be heard.
I think some people would rather think we hoof it so they can moan on here

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

For the first 15 mins Forster beat their 2 central defenders on the ground every time but we stopped doing it and then hit long balls into their goalkeepers arms.

Why, in the first half did Livermore stand over every free kick and then Cox take it why waste a man who could stand on the edge of the box to pick up the loose ball as it comes out.

Aren't these both examples of the tactics being dictated by the coaching staff and not individual player decisions?