[Albion] Has shooting from distance become a deliberate tactic of ours?

[Cowfold Seagull]

It feels as though, over recent games, we've taken more pot shots from around the edge of the box than has previously been the case.

It was most obvious against Palace and on a greasy pitch, where the ball was skidding across the surface, there seemed some merit in that approach.

However, I'm wondering if in an attempt to see a broader distribution of goals amongst the team, players have been instructed to not be so shot-shy and to have a dig when they fancy it.

Alternatively, I'm just imagining it, and nothing has changed.

Well, whether it's in your imagination or not, I don't think it's a bad policy anyway. Too often in the past, (going back to Chris Hughton's reign in fact), it seems as if we have been trying to pass the ball into the net from close range, and in all too many cases the player is tackled, or fails to get his shot away until it's too late.

 

[Gazwag]

While we are talking tactics, why can't we change the kick off routine, every single one I can remember is pass back to Dunk (or Duffy yesterday) and kick it long towards the touchline and invariable lose the ball or it goes out for a throw

 

[Pavilionaire]

Opposition are happy for us to have the ball in wide areas because we do not have players who can hurt them out wide.

Tell that to Hugo Lloris.

 

[Biscuit Barrel]

Tell that to Hugo Lloris.

Case in point. Gross had all the time in the world to cross the ball and sent in the worlds worst delivery. The only reason we scored was because the goalkeeper made a comple hash of things and managed to break his arm.

Any other keeper would have caught it or tipped it over the bar.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Case in point. Gross had all the time in the world to cross the ball and sent in the worlds worst delivery. The only reason we scored was because the goalkeeper made a comple hash of things and managed to break his arm.

Any other keeper would have caught it or tipped it over the bar.

World's worst delivery?! What, a cross that was on target and moving in the air? Have you ever seen Craig Noone play?

 

[Two Professors]

Amazed nobody has chipped Maty Ryan from halfway,seems to be playing in midfield sometimes.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

Case in point. Gross had all the time in the world to cross the ball and sent in the worlds worst delivery. The only reason we scored was because the goalkeeper made a comple hash of things and managed to break his arm.

Any other keeper would have caught it or tipped it over the bar.

Any other keeper? ninety nine times out of a hundred Lloris would have coped with it easily too. Fortunately for us, that was the one occasion that he didn't manage to.

 

[zefarelly]

Shooting is good. We've been gagging for it for a while now. Still are, in fact. It's why we in the North automatically shout shoooooot! as soon as we get within about thirty yards of the goal with a modicum of space. Personally would far rather see Stephens, say, blast one far over the bar or far round the post, than not attempt the shot at all. Nobody's expecting them all to go in, but would always applaud the intent.

Agreed, and in the North, the opportunity to see the ball getting larger as opposed to always being really small is an added bonus

 

[dazzer6666]

Shooting is good. We've been gagging for it for a while now. Still are, in fact. It's why we in the North automatically shout shoooooot! as soon as we get within about thirty yards of the goal with a modicum of space. Personally would far rather see Stephens, say, blast one far over the bar or far round the post, than not attempt the shot at all. Nobody's expecting them all to go in, but would always applaud the intent.

LOL - when we're attacking the South you all shout SHOOOOOOT when we're 45 yards from goal

 

[Weststander]

The midfield and Dunk have obviously been told to make opposition keepers work. But the 25 yard screamers into row Z from Stephens, Dunk and Propper are always a limp waste of possession. If it’s not in a player’s locker, it probably never will be, regardless of shots flying during Lancing training in the week.

 

[Weststander]

Amazed nobody has chipped Maty Ryan from halfway,seems to be playing in midfield sometimes.

When we had corners against Wolves and SheffU, Ryan was literally at the centre circle as a sweeper, doing stretching.

Ankergren used to do something similar at Withdean, it gave us kittens when teams countered. I remember a Leeds player lobbing our goalie in those circumstances to score, it may’ve been Graeme Smith.

 

[BensGrandad]

I would sooner we retained possession until in a realistic position to take a shot at least on target rather than a wild shot from 40 yds out that goes ridiculously wide.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

When we had corners against Wolves and SheffU, Ryan was literally at the centre circle as a sweeper, doing stretching.

Ankergren used to do something similar at Withdean, it gave us kittens when teams countered. I remember a Leeds player lobbing our goalie in those circumstances to score, it may’ve been Graeme Smith.

Well to be fair, l feel a hell of a lot safer with Maty being out there than l did when it was Graeme Smith!

 

[Weststander]

Well to be fair, l feel a hell of a lot safer with Maty being out there than l did when it was Graeme Smith!

On every “Worst Albion XI” thread, Smith is instantly my keeper.

I’ve seen a fair few going back to Peter Grummitt, who was the best imho.

 

[Biscuit Barrel]

Any other keeper? ninety nine times out of a hundred Lloris would have coped with it easily too. Fortunately for us, that was the one occasion that he didn't manage to.

That was my point.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

On every “Worst Albion XI” thread, Smith is instantly my keeper.

I’ve seen a fair few going back to Peter Grummitt, who was the best imho.

Was it merely coincidence that he was in the same Albion side as possibly our worst ever centre-half? Colin Hawkins?

A spoincidence too that they both came from north of the border?

 

[Weststander]

Was it merely coincidence that he was in the same Albion side as possibly our worst ever centre-half? Colin Hawkins?

A spoincidence too that they both came from north of the border?

We were very low budget then, but still losing £1m a year.

The Albion team that lost 1-5 to Stoke in April 2006, contained:
Nicolas
Noel-Williams
Carole
Frutos
Loft

I didn’t go. Were they all quality players?

 

[GloryDays]

It feels as though, over recent games, we've taken more pot shots from around the edge of the box than has previously been the case.

It was most obvious against Palace and on a greasy pitch, where the ball was skidding across the surface, there seemed some merit in that approach.

However, I'm wondering if in an attempt to see a broader distribution of goals amongst the team, players have been instructed to not be so shot-shy and to have a dig when they fancy it.

Alternatively, I'm just imagining it, and nothing has changed.

Spare a thought for the ppl behind the goal that end up having to catch them.

 

[FF1]

I would sooner we retained possession until in a realistic position to take a shot at least on target rather than a wild shot from 40 yds out that goes ridiculously wide.

Should depend on conditions. In rainy slippery conditions, we may take shots from far out and hope for a goalie mistake, or a rebound... In dry non-windy conditions, maybe 25 yard max...

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

We were very low budget then, but still losing £1m a year.

The Albion team that lost 1-5 to Stoke in April 2006, contained:
Nicolas
Noel-Williams
Carole
Frutos
Loft

I didn’t go. Were they all quality players?

Yes, the last game of the season, l remember it well, we totally capitulated after about 20 minutes. To be fair I don't think most of those players that you mentioned were that bad, bearing in mind we were playing in a lower dicision then.