Solving a problem

[Dougall]

Even yesterday we struggled for long periods against an ultra defensive side who could clearly break (albeit with little final result). We keep getting done by these sides over and over - is it down to formation, personnel or are we a bit lame in front of goal?

 

[Richo]

We are very slow in moving the ball forward. It allows teams who set up like Exeter to get back in their shape.

Hence harder to break them down.

 

[Matesrates]

The “coaches “ tactics

 

[Chunkylad]

It’s never easy breaking down teams determined to get a draw. If you watch teams like City, they rarely get the ball forward quickly. What they do do and do have is players who are patient, technically skilled and unselfish.

Dembele showed in the first goal what that means. He didn’t panic, he drew the players in and slipped it to Morgan in space. He tried little ‘grubber’ passes time and time again which didn’t quite come off but split their packed defence every time. We need our forwards to be alive to those passes. We need Morgan and Norburn making more of those passes too. On the ground, between defenders and not over hit.

That takes guts, patience and skill. Or we can smash it forward quickly into space and hope someone gets on the end of it?

 

[HappyasLarry]

The thing that frustrated me on Saturday is patient build up play often still results in a long ball over the top where we lose possession.
I would get that style of football in terms of keeping possession and finding the right option if we didn't make such a dog's dinner of it on so many occasions!