Possession

[ghostrider]

I share your passion on this point Ghost. I would like nothing better than to see Ginola beating two or three players and lashing an unstoppable shot into the net or watching another Shearer or Supermac hatrick
But let’s face it those days are long gone, there is not one single player in our squad that excites me when he has the ball.

I agree there is nobody that really excites...but I believe there could be if they were given more freedom to express themselves when on the front foot.
It's clear to see that when on any rare attack, the emphasis seems to be stall in the move, rather than pass and move.
Better football attracts better football players. They will want to play for us.
In this set up most flair players will give us a wide berth and I would if I was aa flair player looking at the way we are set up.

The squad we have is a survival squad and nothing more and all I can see is another relegation dogfight ahead.

I agree and disagree in a way. One one hand, yeah it's a survival squad if you look at if from the point that everyone outside the top 6 is basically playing by that rule, with the odd one's having a short seasonal burst before getting back to brass tacks.
On the other hand we can easily play among the best of the rest outside of the elite band and survive at the upper end of that.

Of course we all want more than that and I beg for another Shearer/Ferdinand type combination, or a Beardsley bit of wizardry....etc.
The problem is the game has turned scientific. They've made football so tactical that even the players are likely taking exam A levels on what the hell they're supposed to do.
I'm laughing but serious at the same time.

I personally wouldn’t be too bothered if we got relegated as this is the current squads level and at least we would win more than we lost.

The premier league holds no excitement for me other than to watch the odd big game party, like man utd v man City or the likes, just so I can pick a side.

I'd take championship football rather than be cannon fodder for the elites, anyday.
It's closer to brass tacks without the general over thought tactical nonsense, in the main.

However I'd love to fight for the prem title under fair means.
I would not like to do it under a Sheikh because that's when the football club does get destroyed.

[pboromag]

I share your passion on this point Ghost. I would like nothing better than to see Ginola beating two or three players and lashing an unstoppable shot into the net or watching another Shearer or Supermac hatrick

But let’s face it those days are long gone, there is not one single player in our squad that excites me when he has the ball. The squad we have is a survival squad and nothing more and all I can see is another relegation dogfight ahead.

I personally wouldn’t be too bothered if we got relegated as this is the current squads level and at least we would win more than we lost.

Ritchie can go by players
so can kennedy

but neither get the chance
perez to a point is good with the ball at his feet

the truth is ginola wouldn't fit into rafas tactics
he would be going down the wing
get into their half and our lot would stop as if there is an electric fence stopping us going into their half

rafa doesn't do creativity
what is creative about 3 shots on goal

[pboromag]

Absolute joke Bournemouth 27% & Cardiff today 28% why don’t these teams have a go against top class opposition

But wait Huddersfield had a good go at Man City the other week with 23% and got tonked 6-1. Makes our 22% look not too bad yesterday funny thing statistics.

huddesrfield also had a go at everton and got a 1-1 draw with 42 percent possession 6 shots on target

Fulham a new team to the league at home to burnley who haven't had a bad start
64 percent possesio and 12 shots on target

west ham go to arsenal and have a go 38 percent possession


18 percent possession and only one shot on target against a fizzy side is non defendable

that is giving up

[ronandtet]

huddesrfield also had a go at everton and got a 1-1 draw with 42 percent possession 6 shots on target

Fulham a new team to the league at home to burnley who haven't had a bad start
64 percent possesio and 12 shots on target

west ham go to arsenal and have a go 38 percent possession


18 percent possession and only one shot on target against a fizzy side is non defendable

that is giving up

as shearer said" he hasn't changed his style from last season and why not it got us to 10th"

still if you want to watch flashy football go watch barcelona every week

[toonlegend]

I don't recall anyone complaining a few years back when we played a newly promoted swansea side - who loved having posession of the ball and tippy tapping it around.

but it was all in their own half - can't remember if we drew or won now .. think we might have won with less than 30% possession

not ONE PERSON complained about our lack of possession.......... in fact most were applauding the tactic. and that was before Rafa's time

[TheOtherTerryMac]

I don't recall anyone complaining a few years back when we played a newly promoted swansea side - who loved having posession of the ball and tippy tapping it around.

but it was all in their own half - can't remember if we drew or won now .. think we might have won with less than 30% possession

not ONE PERSON complained about our lack of possession.......... in fact most were applauding the tactic. and that was before Rafa's time

It suits the agenda to blame Rafa all the time June.

When it comes down to possession there is never the mention of how much money the likes of Fulham, West Ham, Brighton etc have spent on players in the last window

[Jammy89]

It suits the agenda to blame Rafa all the time June.

When it comes down to possession there is never the mention of how much money the likes of Fulham, West Ham, Brighton etc have spent on players in the last window

Exactly.

[ex_pat_magpie]

I'd take championship football rather than be cannon fodder for the elites, anyday.
It's closer to brass tacks without the general over thought tactical nonsense, in the main.

However I'd love to fight for the prem title under fair means.
I would not like to do it under a Sheikh because that's when the football club does get destroyed.

But you and your paramour refuse to understand that pre Ashley, only 11 short seasons ago WE WERE AMONG THE ELITE

[ghostrider]

But you and your paramour refuse to understand that pre Ashley, only 11 short seasons ago WE WERE AMONG THE ELITE

No we weren't. We were headed into oblivion.

[ex_pat_magpie]

No we weren't. We were headed into oblivion.

So you didn't support and cheer on K.K. first time round and Sir Bobby. Shame on you. That's the pits.