Match Thread vs. Port Vale 01/01/18

[Steward]

See what happens when the hoofball tactics are ditched

[Elite_Pie]

See what happens when the hoofball tactics are ditched

This "hoofball" thing is all a bit silly. Do you think Nolan tells the players "even if a pass is on, boot it aimlessly forward"? You can only pass when the opposition give you the time and space to pass. If they don't allow it, the sensible option is to get rid rather than gift possession simply by trying to look easy on the eye.

[navypie]

This "hoofball" thing is all a bit silly. Do you think Nolan tells the players "even if a pass is on, boot it aimlessly forward"? You can only pass when the opposition give you the time and space to pass. If they don't allow it, the sensible option is to get rid rather than gift possession simply by trying to look easy on the eye.

Couldn't agree more.

[uysapie]

This "hoofball" thing is all a bit silly. Do you think Nolan tells the players "even if a pass is on, boot it aimlessly forward"? You can only pass when the opposition give you the time and space to pass. If they don't allow it, the sensible option is to get rid rather than gift possession simply by trying to look easy on the eye.

But when we "get rid", it goes to the opposition?

[Elite_Pie]

But when we "get rid", it goes to the opposition?

Sometimes, but the big difference is that it goes to the opposition in their half rather than ours.

[tarquinbeech]

Sometimes, but the big difference is that it goes to the opposition in their half rather than ours.

Not quite sure what you are saying here Elite?......firstly you say "this hoofball talk is silly"......then you say "at least when we hoof it away, it is in their half"........so we ARE hoofing it a lot of the time?......we ARE giving it away?....but at least it is not in our half?......so basically we are all agreeing with you BUT, some of us think it might be better to PLAY it into their half....rather than giving it to them on a silver plate.

Great 3 points, mixed the game up well....coyp

[Elite_Pie]

Not quite sure what you are saying here Elite?......firstly you say "this hoofball talk is silly"......then you say "at least when we hoof it away, it is in their half"........so we ARE hoofing it a lot of the time?......we ARE giving it away?....but at least it is not in our half?......so basically we are all agreeing with you BUT, some of us think it might be better to PLAY it into their half....rather than giving it to them on a silver plate.

Great 3 points, mixed the game up well....coyp

Of course it's preferable to play it into their half, but unfortunately sometimes opponents do nasty things to us like close us down, pressurise us, and tackle us. That's when the best option is to get rid rather than try and be fancy and give them the ball in our half.

As a Forest fan might say, it's not rocket surgery.

[tarquinbeech]

Of course it's preferable to play it into their half, but unfortunately sometimes opponents do nasty things to us like close us down, pressurise us, and tackle us. That's when the best option is to get rid rather than try and be fancy and give them the ball in our half.

As a Forest fan might say, it's not rocket surgery.

Personally I think Jones and Toots are perfectly capable of getting the ball to the halfway line without losing the ball to those pesky opposition forwards......if they do get closed down, at least the hoofball launch angle and trajectory might be different....it will frighten the life out of their defenders after they have gobbled up the last 50 balls down the middle

[countygump]

Personally I think Jones and Toots are perfectly capable of getting the ball to the halfway line without losing the ball to those pesky opposition forwards......if they do get closed down, at least the hoofball launch angle and trajectory might be different....it will frighten the life out of their defenders after they have gobbled up the last 50 balls down the middle

Fair comment, but 50% of the time there is no other option than to put your foot thru it. Especially when you have a 9ft 6in forward bearing down on you. It's not brain science, it's league 2 footy.

[drillerpie]

This thread brings to mind Mourinho's seven point guide to winning football matches:

1*The game is won by the team who commits fewer errors.

2*Football favours whoever provokes more errors in the opposition.

3*Away from home, instead of trying to be superior to the opposition, it’s better to encourage their mistakes.

4*Whoever has the ball is more likely to make a mistake.

5*Whoever renounces possession reduces the possibility of making a mistake.

6*Whoever has the ball has fear.

7*Whoever does not have it is thereby stronger.