Pointless possession is the key phrase.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bohinen
Under Neal Ardley and Stuart Maynard the large percentage of possession was/is pointless, because too often it hasn't produced a positive result, and it isn't the least bit entertaining to watch. In fact it's tedious, like watching a never-ending pre-season game.
Under Luke Williams there was always more purpose and attacking intent about what we were doing, winning the ball back quickly and always trying to get it into the opponent's box. His policy of banning shots from outside the area was odd, especially when you've got someone like Didzy in the team, but players like Jodi Jones were free get forward to put as much quality ball into the box as possible and they thrived on it. We also played at a much higher tempo than under Maynard, taking fewer touches, so opposition defences didn't have time to set. The only major criticism I had of Williams was the unnecessary overplaying at the back which exposed the limitations of a player like Baldwin, but I suppose even then the risk-taking had you on the edge of your seat rather than dozing off.
There's another thread suggesting that our squad lacks a considerable amount of talent, but I don't really agree. I think Bass is one of the best goalkeepers in the division, our new centre-halves this season have been far better than the ones they replaced, we have two attackers who managed to get themselves amongst the leading scorers in the division DESPITE the amount of turgid football we've played, and wide players like Jones, Tsaroulla and Jarvis could thrive under a Williams-style system. In Matt Palmer we've got a steady midfielder who can collect the ball from defence and play the pass to the player who can play the killer pass, but what we lost in Dan Crowley was the latter. That needs addressing through recruitment.
For me, the criticism that is equally valid of Neal Ardley and Stuart Maynard is that neither is able to get their team playing in a way that maximises the potential of their players, in fact quite the opposite, they stifle our leading talents. That needs to change, whether Maynard undergoes some sort of summer coaching epiphany, gets new help from elsewhere or is replaced. I don't want another season watching the sub-standard entertainment I've seen in 24/25.
