A Passing Thought!

[stockyfox]

One aspect of our midfield approach play that I have been impressed with is the standard of passing (not always, I know but overall not bad). We have witnessed some slick, one touch, weighted passing. We have seen long diagonal passes made with pin-point accuracy, yet when it comes to a scoring opportunity, then a player's ability to show the same kind of precision and control seems to desert him. There is momentary panic, a rush of blood to the head, then he leans back, makes a wild stab at the ball and tres to kick it as hard as he can.

The resultant 'shot' usually sails harmlessly over the bar or wide or, if on target, straight at the keeper.

So why can't they 'pass' the ball with the same accuracy into the top or bottom corner?

We ARE creating the chances and when we've scored one, we have shown that we can get three or four but wouldn't it be really nice to see us score five again, even six!

So to Saturday and Donny, bottom but one. The question is will we give them too much respect or play with the flair we saw at Burnley!

[cardifflee]

I dont know

[Guest Col city fan]

One aspect of our midfield approach play that I have been impressed with is the standard of passing (not always, I know but overall not bad). We have witnessed some slick, one touch, weighted passing. We have seen long diagonal passes made with pin-point accuracy, yet when it comes to a scoring opportunity, then a player's ability to show the same kind of precision and control seems to desert him. There is momentary panic, a rush of blood to the head, then he leans back, makes a wild stab at the ball and tres to kick it as hard as he can.

The resultant 'shot' usually sails harmlessly over the bar or wide or, if on target, straight at the keeper.

So why can't they 'pass' the ball with the same accuracy into the top or bottom corner?

We ARE creating the chances and when we've scored one, we have shown that we can get three or four but wouldn't it be really nice to see us score five again, even six!

So to Saturday and Donny, bottom but one. The question is will we give them too much respect or play with the flair we saw at Burnley!

I agree Stocky, as I usually do with your posts.

I think the answer is simple.

We are reticent to shoot for two reasons:

1. The passing is too deep and not quick enough. This usually leaves us with a position to shoot when the opposition defence has been able to get men behind the ball. Therefore, we either choose not to shoot (because a shot is not really on) or if we do shoot it hits the opposition or goes wide. We need to up the tempo when getting forward.

2. We have a regularly present midfielder in Wellens who just chooses not to shoot. The times he has the opportunity to do so and instead chooses to pass implies poor decision making.

Regarding Donny.... I think Pearson will play the same side and be happy with a draw. If I'm being honest....

[davieG]

I've never seen so many players unable to keep the ball down and skying their shots over the goals as there are at Leicester and English football generally.

Is it the ball or do they not practice shooting?

[lcfcsnow]

Is it the ball or do they not practice shooting?

I've watched them shooting pre-match, King is the only player who attempts to place the ball into the net and succeeds (and this is against Weale). Many others just lash at it (Dyer and Waghorn the biggest culprits) and the ball sails over into the crowd, and this is pre match with no pressure.

[Corky]

The pre-match shooting is woeful.

[bmt]

I agree Stocky, as I usually do with your posts.

I think the answer is simple.

We are reticent to shoot for two reasons:

1. The passing is too deep and not quick enough. This usually leaves us with a position to shoot when the opposition defence has been able to get men behind the ball. Therefore, we either choose not to shoot (because a shot is not really on) or if we do shoot it hits the opposition or goes wide. We need to up the tempo when getting forward.

2. We have a regularly present midfielder in Wellens who just chooses not to shoot. The times he has the opportunity to do so and instead chooses to pass implies poor decision making.

Regarding Donny.... I think Pearson will play the same side and be happy with a draw. If I'm being honest....

To me, 1. is the most important point. We need to test the opposition keeper more often, up the tempo in the final third so we can get a shot away (the amount of times Peterborough blocked our shots was outrageous), and try and play the final ball for beckford to run on to rather than take coming backwards or moving sideways. A winger with pace and a good final ball would help with this.

If we sorted 1. I don't see 2. being a major issue, there are plenty of brilliant footballers who don't shoot. Bit of an outrageous comparison but Xavi can do whatever he wants with a football yet very, very rarely shoots.

I think we should stuff Donny, I'd give Wellens a week or two rest, Fernandes deserves a shot!

[marbelladave]

I agree Stocky, as I usually do with your posts.

I think the answer is simple.

We are reticent to shoot for two reasons:

1. The passing is too deep and not quick enough. This usually leaves us with a position to shoot when the opposition defence has been able to get men behind the ball. Therefore, we either choose not to shoot (because a shot is not really on) or if we do shoot it hits the opposition or goes wide. We need to up the tempo when getting forward.

2. We have a regularly present midfielder in Wellens who just chooses not to shoot. The times he has the opportunity to do so and instead chooses to pass implies poor decision making.

Regarding Donny.... I think Pearson will play the same side and be happy with a draw. If I'm being honest....

This is of course the crux of the problem......

We take so long to get the ball forward that by the time we are playing the ball into the box the defence is set and our players well marked. Even if our passes find a striker he is so quickly closed down that he is unable to get in a shot, or if he does it is blocked.

Some people on here see Wellens as the main culprit in all this and generally I agree, however I am aware that he can pick a pass so could be really effective in forward areas where he has to get his pass off more quickly to avoid being closed down.

[burni]

another negative post but valid non the less. we do some good stuff then the shot or the final simple pass can often fail. I think this is partly to do with our strike force not currently fully at their best. However i think theyve been unlucky nuge and beckfords hit the post a couple of times and had some good saves againt them had they gone in this post probably wouldnt exist, just seem to be that inch short atm hopefully a couple of goals for them will lift them a little a bit to start scoring reguarly.

[cc_star]

Many aspects of the side aren't quite good enough, defence is good for committing an error leading to dropped points on regular occasions, the forwards are weak, one runs around a lot & is very industrious which allows him avoid criticism & the other looks promising but when you need results 'promising' doesn't quite cut it... Both have also been unlucky, but they need to step their game up too

The midfield does also do quite a bit wrong, they CAN pass the ball with ease, but for some reason don't always, we have been at our best when breaking with speed and we certainly need to do something different to the last 3 games, whether that's with a tactical change in some of the personnel or just some extra coaching I'm not sure, but we've seen that speed works.

We have a knowledgeable management/coaching team, it will be right in the end.

With regards to Wellens not shooting like mentioned above... I remember the Cardiff away game where Johnson had the ball on the edge of the box with a clear shot on numerous occasions in a game where the 3pts were for the taking & he kept try 2/3yrd passes... That's not a personnel issue, it's just the way we played, but also like mentioned above Xavi never shoots, he always passes (ridiculous comparison obviously)

[Nickfosse]

I think that the issues raised in this thread more than anything else are the reason for our disapointing season so far.

We look decent for the most part, but the final pass (in particular), final touch, final shot has been poor.

With just a little more quality in this area we could have scored enough goals to put teams away.

[sphericalfox]

I've watched them shooting pre-match, King is the only player who attempts to place the ball into the net and succeeds (and this is against Weale). Many others just lash at it (Dyer and Waghorn the biggest culprits) and the ball sails over into the crowd, and this is pre match with no pressure.

Don't they know all they need to do is take the ball back a dozen or so yards and they'll score past Weale no probs.

[easilee]

Pisses me off that we don't take more speculative shots on goal early in our matches. Especially when the opposition are playing deep, defensive football.

Saying that, judging by the previous posts, the players know that they will sky it so they don't bother.

Must be the ball and lighter boots.

[davieG]

Part of the problem is we're too slow getting to with in a shooting distance by then most teams have got at least 10 men behind the ball significantly reducing the chances of a clear shot.

I'm guessing if they did attempt all these speculative shots playing the way we do there'd be a topic saying why do we keep attempting shots when there's no chance of scoring.

[deep blue]

Referring back to a phrase in the opening post, I hate the way our management and players often say before a game against lesser opposition that it will be a tougher game than on paper and they will show respect for the opposition. I don't believe that we should show respect for any opposition team, but should be intent on battering them right from the start and showing we are better. Or am I being too simplistic?

[stockyfox]

Speed, anticipation and movement off the ball are key elements if an attacking move is to be really effective and successful. However, I have to say that the recent goals scored by Konch at Burnley and Gally's two screamers were quite refreshing and indeed encouraging and are perhaps indicative of a possibly more direct approach.

Whatever, virtually every outfield player whether striker, midfielder or defender should, given even half a chance, be skilful enough to surprise and test the keeper from range rather than make that alternative pass which blunts the move and allows the opposition to re-group. If Konch and Pelts can do it, there's no excuse for any of the others.

Rather more worrying is this revelation that training makes the players too tired to get through 90 mins! That is an issue that NP must surely address. If you can't stand the heat, then you should get out of the kitchen!