Aimless hoofing.

[shailen]

We aren't going to outplay teams like Man City. They are a better footballing team than us. We have to rely on a more direct style of play, winning second balls and headers and physically forcing our way into games. If we tried that game, teams would counter on us and destroy us

[CPW22]

This drives me crazy. So many times we work hard to get the ball back, it goes out to either full back and we knock it long. Then we just repeat the process.

Morgan needs to stop letting the ball run across his body too. He's often under pressure to play a pass but he lets it run across him and he has to turn to play it back to the keeper.

[cc_star]

We started hoofing from the off and 9 times out of 10 we lost possession as a result. We made far more progress actually running up the field with the ball. I think the fact we choose not to do it very often just highlights the lack of quality. Nothing to do with Ulloa.

Must have been watching a different game, Mahrez was constantly running with the ball. Good play between King & Cambiasso then with Drinkwater doing well in their half.

Not every game will we be trying to through the likes of Toure & Kompany though

Of course we put the ball in the air later on just like every single other team trailing by one goal does later on

[Kitchandro]

Pearson seems to make subs when we don't need them, then not make them when we do.

 

Yesterday we were well on top and causing them problems. Then we brought Ulloa on and I thought we regressed. We reverted to the long ball and although we still put the pressure on, we looked less likely to score.

 

Powell coming on for Vardy made things even worse.

 

On the upside, it was a much improved performance in general.

[Monsell1976]

Thought with hamer in yesterday, he looked for the short throw, and did throw it out quite a bit, but we did go more direct as we ran out of ideas.

[CosbehFox]

The hoofing is a product of having defenders who are uncomfortable on the ball.

This is something which I really hope we address because at the moment we simply give away possession too much. Last season DD was dropping right back to collect the ball from the defenders. This season we don't seem to have anyone playing that role. I'd like to see Cambiasso dropping deeper to get the ball like the Man City midfielders were doing today.

 

 

The pattern of play is similar every game. I'm sure teams press us deliberately towards the left hand side. The ball goes back to a centre back (usually Morgan) who has few options so gives it to Konchesky. Konchesky doesn't have the confidence or composure on the ball so chips it forward. Most of the time we lose that ball and the opposition attack again. It happens far too much for it to be accidental, I'm convinced teams target us and feel we aren't as dangerous down the left hand side.

 

Bang on! Swansea exposed it the best. Press right up on the defenders and we just give the ball away. 

 

There's some silly fact that 60% of goals are conceded when a team gives the ball away in their half of the pitch. 

[Captain...]

We hoof because there is always too big a gap between the defence and midfield. I don't know if this is because the defenders play too deep or the midfield push forwards. Watch back some of our games, Konch or Wes often end up with no option other than Hamer or hoof it.

We saw Man City at the start of the match just pass it around their back 6, yes it was in their half and yes they created little doing so, but we need to be able to do that. You win the ball in defence you can't go all running forwards and expect someone to pick out an amazing pass. This is the advantage of the 4231 When the defenders have it on the edge of the area they can pass it between the 2 holding midfielders and work the ball forwards to the half way line, then launch an attack.

It is great to have outs like Mahrez, Schlupp and Vardy, but when we don't move forwards as a team they get isolated and none of them are good enough to do it all on their own on a regular basis. If the ball is on send Vardy through but if not we just squander possession.

[Guest]

Why?

When chasing a game hoofing the ball up the field towards a side containing two outfield players taller than 6'0 ft is quite obviously not going to work.

To break a side like that down you need to stretch the play with good movement or players drawing the opposition out of their shape by running at them - easy to defend against hoofs aren't going to turn a game around.

 

When chasing a game at the end stretching the play doesn't work as the other team plays a rigid 10 men behind the ball formation - even the big teams. That's why even big teams return to hoofing into the box at the end of games. Prior to the 70th minute you're not too far wrong though. 

[m4DD0gg]

I think i have seen one effective substitution made by pearson this season and that was against everton in 1st match of the season. Watching leicester is so obvious how to play against us hence every one we play seeming to be mega affective, think Aston Villa being made to look like Barcelona when they are in fact SHIT week in week out. Even my missis who has seen a fair few games has said 'why do they just kick it up the pitch all the time?'

[broughtonblue]

By the phrase 'when chasing a game' I presume the op means last 5 or 10 mins. This means for the other 80 mins our original plan hasn't worked. It's called plan B. Most teams do it.

[Mark 'expert' Lawrenson]

Hoofing only ever seems to work for teams with a real physical presence on the pitch, put the big guys up there and stick the ball in the box. We are not equipped to play this style of football. All stems from a lack of confidence throughout the team/club and smacks of desperation.

[Captain...]

I think i have seen one effective substitution made by pearson this season and that was against everton in 1st match of the season'

So you didn't see the substitutions that changed the game against Stoke?

Not every substitution changes the game, not every sub is supposed to.