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If teams shut down Bridcutt, do they shut down us?



stss30

Registered User
Apr 24, 2008
9,546
First off I'd say that I didn't go yesterday, but I've seen teams employ this tactic a couple of times now and more often than not it seems to work. The way we attack we are pretty reliant on our centre backs or holding midfielders playing out from the back. Both our centre backs aren't exactly comfortable on the ball or great passers, so last night we were reliant on Dicker (who is a good passer but can disappear in games) and Bridcutt who Blackburn seemed to be targeting (albeit illegally). It sounded as though the front 4 barely saw the ball for most of the game as we were forced to play it long (but seeing as we are largely poor in the air and had no pacey players in the starting line up) we seemed totally ineffective. I don't want to turn this into another lets have a go at the centre backs thread, but we clearly need players in that position in our system that are comfortable on the ball (Which I appreciate Gus is looking at).
 




dannyboy

tfso!
Oct 20, 2003
3,651
Waikanae NZ
Ulloa should change all that , meaning we have an outlet and can go long which will make them sit deeper . the missing piece of the tactical jigsaw
 


shaolinpunk

[Insert witty title here]
Nov 28, 2005
7,187
Brighton
This is one of the reasons I think that if we get him, VVD will be a huge boost as he seems to be comfortable on the ball. If teams shut down Bridcutt that's fine, VVD will just play the balls instead

edit: Plus Ulloa gives us an extra option
 


Stat Brother

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
73,888
West west west Sussex
There's nothing particularly new there, it's always been our weakness, even Appleton can score points off Gus:-

Blackburn manager Michael Appleton said: We did look comfortable - that's the most disappointing thing.
"We controlled the game in terms of we knew exactly how Brighton play - there was a gameplan in terms of how we would set up and how we would deal with it.
"Their keeper was certainly a lot more busy than our goalkeeper on the night. I think if we'd have got the second goal we'd have won the game comfortably."
 


LamieRobertson

Not awoke
Feb 3, 2008
48,434
SHOREHAM BY SEA
First off I'd say that I didn't go yesterday, but I've seen teams employ this tactic a couple of times now and more often than not it seems to work. The way we attack we are pretty reliant on our centre backs or holding midfielders playing out from the back. Both our centre backs aren't exactly comfortable on the ball or great passers, so last night we were reliant on Dicker (who is a good passer but can disappear in games) and Bridcutt who Blackburn seemed to be targeting (albeit illegally). It sounded as though the front 4 barely saw the ball for most of the game as we were forced to play it long (but seeing as we are largely poor in the air and had no pacey players in the starting line up) we seemed totally ineffective. I don't want to turn this into another lets have a go at the centre backs thread, but we clearly need players in that position in our system that are comfortable on the ball (Which I appreciate Gus is looking at).

With regards to the thread title ..it can be a problem..but then u wander on the CB's even though u state u dont want to turn it into a thread about them..Ive never though that greer isent comfy on the ball..cant say that El Abd isent either ..apart from the fact that he isent very good at distributing it...responsibility is also with other midfielders who can be a tad static at times
 




stss30

Registered User
Apr 24, 2008
9,546
Ulloa should change all that , meaning we have an outlet and can go long which will make them sit deeper . the missing piece of the tactical jigsaw

Ulloa will give us the option to mix it up but we still need more defenders who are comfortable on the ball as it's clearly our weakness imo. It is kind of related to the Bridcutt issue though, as I say I think we're over reliant on him in attack and defence
 


LamieRobertson

Not awoke
Feb 3, 2008
48,434
SHOREHAM BY SEA
There's nothing particularly new there, it's always been our weakness, even Appleton can score points off Gus:-

Blackburn manager Michael Appleton said: We did look comfortable - that's the most disappointing thing.
"We controlled the game in terms of we knew exactly how Brighton play - there was a gameplan in terms of how we would set up and how we would deal with it.
"Their keeper was certainly a lot more busy than our goalkeeper on the night. I think if we'd have got the second goal we'd have won the game comfortably."

whats surprising is why every team doesnt do it..but then maybe they dont want to later there own way of playing
 


stss30

Registered User
Apr 24, 2008
9,546
With regards to the thread title ..it can be a problem..but then u wander on the CB's even though u state u dont want to turn it into a thread about them..Ive never though that greer isent comfy on the ball..cant say that El Abd isent either ..apart from the fact that he isent very good at distributing it...responsibility is also with other midfielders who can be a tad static at times

As I say, I think it is kind of a related issue. El-Abd is clearly a poor passer and although I think Greer is better, he can play some rather perplexing long balls at times.
 




LamieRobertson

Not awoke
Feb 3, 2008
48,434
SHOREHAM BY SEA
As I say, I think it is kind of a related issue. El-Abd is clearly a poor passer and although I think Greer is better, he can play some rather perplexing long balls at times.

so its distribution rather than comfy being on the ball? I take your point re Greers long balls..however they have contributed to a couple of good goals off top of my memory ...i do think that the person who referred to the argie has the point..as it does give us more options and makes us less predictable
 


Marshy

Well-known member
Jul 6, 2003
19,956
FRUIT OF THE BLOOM
Its not all about the passing you know ! its how people make themselves available to receive the ball.

You could put Rio Ferdinand in the side and he would struggle to find a pass at times.

This is when having the option of going a bit longer to Ulloa for example should hopefully gut us out of a bit of trouble.

Relax people.
 


stss30

Registered User
Apr 24, 2008
9,546
so its distribution rather than comfy being on the ball? I take your point re Greers long balls..however they have contributed to a couple of good goals off top of my memory ...i do think that the person who referred to the argie has the point..as it does give us more options and makes us less predictable

My definition of being 'comfortable on the ball' is the ability to move forward and pick a pass quickly. I personally don't think either of our centre backs are that good at that and try and move the ball on quickly to Bridcutt (for example) who is relied on to pick the passes.
 




yxee

Well-known member
Oct 24, 2011
2,521
Manchester
Can anyone at the game say what the impact of bringing CMS on?

I've got this idea that his speed is enough to force defenders to drop deep. So whereas he doesn't have the best touch or finishing, he should at least have created space for our midfield/defence.

Is any of that remotely true?
 


stss30

Registered User
Apr 24, 2008
9,546
Its not all about the passing you know ! its how people make themselves available to receive the ball.

You could put Rio Ferdinand in the side and he would struggle to find a pass at times.

That's a good point although I think that's partly down to the pace that we play the ball. We spend too much time playing the ball about along the back 4 allowing the opposition to get back into position.
 


LamieRobertson

Not awoke
Feb 3, 2008
48,434
SHOREHAM BY SEA
Its not all about the passing you know ! its how people make themselves available to receive the ball.

You could put Rio Ferdinand in the side and he would struggle to find a pass at times.

This is when having the option of going a bit longer to Ulloa for example should hopefully gut us out of a bit of trouble.

Relax people.

agreed which is why i said in my earlier post about the rest of the midfield looking static at times...Newcastle game we had a great deal of movement and some great passing
 




nwgull

Well-known member
Jul 25, 2003
14,533
Manchester
Can anyone at the game say what the impact of bringing CMS on?

I've got this idea that his speed is enough to force defenders to drop deep. So whereas he doesn't have the best touch or finishing, he should at least have created space for our midfield/defence.

Is any of that remotely true?

He put the defenders under pressure a bit more and won us a few throw ins in the final 3rd. They were very much a no nonsense hoofball from the back side though, with CKR using his weight to win the ball on the halfway line. So CMS pressurising them didn't make as much difference as it would to a side who like to play a bit.
 


Marshy

Well-known member
Jul 6, 2003
19,956
FRUIT OF THE BLOOM
My definition of being 'comfortable on the ball' is the ability to move forward and pick a pass quickly. I personally don't think either of our centre backs are that good at that and try and move the ball on quickly to Bridcutt (for example) who is relied on to pick the passes.


Just how many centre halfs do you know that can move forward with the ball and pick a pass ? When you find one... look at how much they will cost.
Or if you do find one, they will have other areas of there game that are not quite up to the mark yet.

We have an excellent footballer in Dunk, yet people have a go at his defending, I for one would pick Dunk, ther more he plays the better he will get defensively and we desperately miss his ability on the ball and the speed he moves it.

Just my opinon :)
 




Mellotron

I've asked for soup
Jul 2, 2008
32,482
Brighton
Dunk loses the ball more than Greer or El Abd. He's not there yet. He will be.
 


BensGrandad

New member
Jul 13, 2003
72,015
Haywards Heath
J

We have an excellent footballer in Dunk, yet people have a go at his defending, I for one would pick Dunk, ther more he plays the better he will get defensively and we desperately miss his ability on the ball and the speed he moves it.

Just my opinon :)
Not as good in any aspect as the two playing but you would expect me to say that as I must be the only person who sees it the same as Gus who picks El Abd and Greer every game.

One day Dunk may be but not at the moment.
 


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