Matt Richards

[timbha]

we can't afford to wait another six games for him to settle in and realise we play in blue and white....

and wtf was he doing on their goal? - what's the point of trying to run 18 yards back to the goal line as the opponent starts a five yard run up to take a free kick?

and does he realise he is allowed to cross the half way line in the second half?

 

[SeagullEd]

I was impressed with him in the first half, I dare say.

He was making forward runs and good passes. However, he did have moments of madness. I am not a fan of Matt Richards whatsoever but I thought he played well!

 

[Theatre of Trees]

and wtf was he doing on their goal? - what's the point of trying to run 18 yards back to the goal line as the opponent starts a five yard run up to take a free kick?

Kuipers signalled him to do it - something he has done regularly over the years to whoever our wing backs are. You can't have the defender stay on the line before the free kick is taken because it allows the opposition forwards to move further towards the goal without being offside therefore he runs back at the last minute to cover.

Saying that the free kick was perfectly placed, too high for the defender to head it and too far away from the keeper to get it, don't think Kuipers would have got had Richards not been there.

 

[Del Boy]

He had a decent game, Kuipers was getting nowhere near the shot for the goal.

 

[timbha]

Kuipers signalled him to do it - something he has done regularly over the years to whoever our wing backs are. You can't have the defender stay on the line before the free kick is taken because it allows the opposition forwards to move further towards the goal without being offside therefore he runs back at the last minute to cover.


I'm afraid I find this "tactic" frustrating and amateurish. Perhaps we should sell this "secret tactic" to the top clubs who clearly haven't cottoned on to this way of dealing with free kicks.

Accept what people say about Richard in the first half, but in the 2nd half he sat back and chipped long balls to the Hudds centre half.

 

[Del Boy]

Accept what people say about Richard in the first half, but in the 2nd half he sat back and chipped long balls to the Hudds centre half.

Because Cox was not giving him an option.

 

[Theatre of Trees]

There is no need for defenders to run back towards the goal when a free-kick is being taken. A free-kick is, effectively, a 25 yard penalty with the added problem of a wall. Unless the player picks out the corner perfectly, no goalkeeper should be beaten. Admittedly, the Huddersfield player did produce an unstoppable shot which wouldn't have been saved regardless of what Richards was doing, but it still seems very unnecessary.

That's a ridiculous statement. You defend a free kick whichever way you can and if players know that someone in the opposition is capable of picking a spot over the wall from 20 yards then you defend as you think. Point is the wall will cover the near post and the keeper will cover the far post middle area and no matter how good a keeper you are the near post area is still vulnerable particularly as the keeper will always have an obscured view of the shot due to the wall and will often see the ball late. And a good free kick taker will always aim for that spot.

Putting an extra man on the near post allows you to protect that area of the goal though if done too early allows the opposition forwards more space in the 18 yard box ready to pounce on parries, therefore as the player shapes to take the free kick the defender sprints back to cover that vulnerable area of the goal. Its a tactic that has actually worked for us in the past on a few occasions, seem to recall both Whing and Mayo clearing from that spot on the line with the keeper beaten having run back from a defensive line near the wall, and I've seen it practised by other clubs. The reason we don't see other teams do it down here much is because we haven't had a decent free kick specialist since Paul Watson left.

 

[El Turi]

I'm sure it was El-Abd who ran back to try protect the post?

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

I'm sure it was El-Abd who ran back to try protect the post?

100% NO

 

[Rookie]

There is no need for defenders to run back towards the goal when a free-kick is being taken. A free-kick is, effectively, a 25 yard penalty with the added problem of a wall. Unless the player picks out the corner perfectly, no goalkeeper should be beaten. Admittedly, the Huddersfield player did produce an unstoppable shot which wouldn't have been saved regardless of what Richards was doing, but it still seems very unnecessary.

is the incorrect answer. The chances of getting it over the wall but not in top corner are pretty likely so having a man on the post is a good idea. That way the keeper has one side covered and the wall + man on the post have the other. Does open the problem of playing people on side but sometimes is risk worth taking really depends on who the taker is. Wonder how many times the fella has done that in matches would bet not many otherwise he would be playing a bit higher with a left(?) foot like that.

 

[Scotty Mac]

it said on seagulls world the freekick was 35 yards out - that is a decent enough distance to get it up and over the wall, and dip enough to get into the top corner

kuipers is not the most mobile across his line, so having a guy on the post would seem like a sensible idea

 

[saltash seagull]

what did richards do wrong? thought he had a steady game,better in the 1st half but a vast improvment on any one else thats played left back of late

 

[andybaha]

Having watched Rents at Millwall and Lynch against Mansfield I thought Richards had a good game particularly when you consider he has just had a chest infection and hadn't played for a month.

 

[BUTTERBALL]

I thought Richards played well.

 

[goldstone]

Richards played very well. It's good to see a full back who likes to pass to feet.

 

[Caveman]

I thought Richards played well.

Agreed.

 

[The Oldman]

Good first half. Not fully match fit in second? Must admit the free kick stuff got me puzzled.

 

[NMH]

I won't interrupt a perfectly good chance to have a go at a new player who hasn't had ANY time to settle in, in his debut game.

No, good thread timbha - and while you are at it, have a needle at McFaul as well. He must have watched that match yestersday, so he's not immune from criticism