marbelladave Posted 14 February 2011 Posted 14 February 2011 For much of this season virtually every City fan has, at one time or another complained about our inability to score despite the number of 'chances' created. The criticism invariably falling on our strikers. I (and a few others) have suggested another reason for our lack of goals, put simply this is that our attacking play is so slow that by the time the ball is played in to our strikers they are tightly marked by a defence that is well set. Sure, they may receive the ball in the box often enough, but do so under pressure so that any 'chance' that is created is fleeting and often difficult to take. Compare that to King's goal yesterday. We had possession just inside our own half in the inside right position but seemed to be going nowhere, the ball is passed back to Ricardo and Derby push up. Ricardo switches the play to Mee on the left who finds Wellens further forward, a quick pass plays in PVA wide, who in turn picks out Gallager some 30 yards out, in space, with a choice of runners taking on a Derby defence still retreating into position. Gallagher plays in King, but Wellens was also available in a left central position and Vassell was totally unmarked in the inside right channel. Derby were undone by the shear pace of that attack, pace as in speed of thought and speed of pass, barely 10 seconds from Ricardo on the edge of our box to Andy King deep in theirs. It really was 'like watching Brasil'....... More of this please...
richardsfoxes Posted 14 February 2011 Posted 14 February 2011 I think the threat of our front 3 have allowed us to play like that though, like the commentator was saying, derby showed so much respect to Yakubu, too much, they have 2-3 players on him which allowed King to drift into this space, i thought gally was allowed alot of space aswell which is suprising because he's got the quality to give that killer ball, which is exactly what he did for kings goal. Has anyone noticed the past few weeks, Yaks touch outside the box has been pretty bad P.S - Dyer should play instead of Vassell, he offers so much more, i often feel Vassell tries and does "Too much" with the ball, just my opinion though.
Bellend Sebastian Posted 14 February 2011 Posted 14 February 2011 I was out of the country over the weekend and have only just seen the goals and I must say I was mightily impressed - I don't remember seeing that quality of movement and positioning from a City side. Isn't it nice to see that now the whole team is playing well, Gallagher now looks like an integral part of the side and not just some fancy dan waltzing about not contributing much
okie fox Posted 14 February 2011 Posted 14 February 2011 It was great play by Gallagher and King. It was set up by our passing the ball back and forth to Ricardo to seemingly play out the half. The Derby fans, being impatient at their team's lack of ambition at 1-0 down, urged their team up the pitch, and they got caught by a sucker punch!
marbelladave Posted 14 February 2011 Author Posted 14 February 2011 It was great play by Gallagher and King. It was set up by our passing the ball back and forth to Ricardo to seemingly play out the half. The Derby fans, being impatient at their team's lack of ambition at 1-0 down, urged their team up the pitch, and they got caught by a sucker punch! It might have been an extreme example but most English teams will press forward in those circumstances, we do it ourselves in fact. No, the goal was made by the speed with which we played the ball through, midfield, no dwelling on the ball, no taking time to control and run with the ball, just precise one and two touch passing. The final ball was played just before King broke into their box, a month or two ago the ball would have arrived much later, King would already be in the box, stationary, flat footed and well marked. In all probability the chance would not have been made, let alone scored.
Finnegan Posted 14 February 2011 Posted 14 February 2011 I don't disagree per se but I think you are far too forgiving of some damn shit forward play earlier in the season.
Guest BlueBrett Posted 14 February 2011 Posted 14 February 2011 It was a really nice team goal but no matter how fast we moved it from back to front there is no way Gallagher should have found himself in so much space. Well done to him for finding it and sitting in it but you have to admit that Derby's defending was just non-existent. I think most of them were already half-way down the tunnel on the way to being moaned at by Clough inside their heads.
marbelladave Posted 14 February 2011 Author Posted 14 February 2011 I don't disagree per se but I think you are far too forgiving of some damn shit forward play earlier in the season. Quite true, but just pointing out that there may have been other reasons we did not score as often as we should have...
OzFox Posted 14 February 2011 Posted 14 February 2011 It really was 'like watching Brasil' Was thinking the same. Wonderful goal. Like the way Gallagher had the vision to let the ball run then hit a nicely weighted pass. Very classy.
Corky Posted 14 February 2011 Posted 14 February 2011 It was the speed and movement that was key. Quick passing which dragged the Derby players to the ball, leaving gaps to exploit. Super team goal.
morris1234 Posted 14 February 2011 Posted 14 February 2011 Fantastic goal and watching over and over on sky+ king making his run from right midfield and as soon as that ball even begisn to roll in gallys directions hes off and their centre back was left for dead. i think it was just brilliant to see our players smiling and looking quite loose though! they knew a job had to be done but even with the celebrations you could see this. they werent tense,they werent rushing and the fitness levels looked good
Criggers Posted 14 February 2011 Posted 14 February 2011 It was a really nice team goal but no matter how fast we moved it from back to front there is no way Gallagher should have found himself in so much space. Well done to him for finding it and sitting in it but you have to admit that Derby's defending was just non-existent. I think most of them were already half-way down the tunnel on the way to being moaned at by Clough inside their heads. I'm pretty sure if you watch it back, Yak dropped deep looking for the ball. He took the defender with him which made and absolute acre of space for Gally to waltz into.
B52 Posted 14 February 2011 Posted 14 February 2011 ...Yak dropped deep looking for the ball. He took the defender with him which made and absolute acre of space for Gally to waltz into. This is why we score so easily nowadays. The defenders don't know what to do....... Are the Yak lazy and Vassell waste or does Sven manipulate other teams defence??? Have a moan in.
marbelladave Posted 14 February 2011 Author Posted 14 February 2011 This is why we score so easily nowadays. The defenders don't know what to do....... Are the Yak lazy and Vassell waste or does Sven manipulate other teams defence??? Have a moan in. That is an interesting point... Their very presence causes the opposition to play differently, the fear factor at work. Gallagher and the rest of our midfield have to help out King with the goals though.
B52 Posted 14 February 2011 Posted 14 February 2011 That is an interesting point... Their very presence causes the opposition to play differently, the fear factor at work. Gallagher and the rest of our midfield have to help out King with the goals though. Gallagher told in an interview that Sven had said he should get in the gap between defence and midfield and shoot when Yak held the defence up. If Yak would be a headless chicken it wouldn't work. Yak can't track back.
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