Cottoned On

[Carlito]

There is almost two years' worth of footage for teams to base their game plans on.

Either sit back and wait for an opportunity to counter via the enormous spaces left in the middle of the park and at the back, or press high and force the technically lacking players to make mistakes.

 

[mkrudden]

seems to me that the opposition in general have cottoned on to our two major weaknesses- inability to defend crosses and corners which we've known for a good while, and more tellingly Phil Jagielkas distribution. Every team we've played this year has pushed onto us in a way that leaves Jagielka the free man - that means he has to invariably move the ball on to the offensive part of the team. Jagielka is the least comfortable of our players on the ball and as a result possession is given up easily in the early stages of the move. Arsenal did it perfectly yesterday.
For me, if Martinez stays and possession football remains our preferred style then the captain unfortunately needs to be moved on.
We have a similar issue with the centre of midfield where for all his good work and break-up play James McCarthy is equally poor in terms of distribution. I'm not sure we can improve massively with that limited passing ability in two key positions.
Shame, as both are two of the more committed, heart-on-their-sleeve type players in the team. How's the conundrum solved....change in style or change in personel?

Could you clarify, is this a thread to damn Martinez, Jagielka or McCarthy?

 

[alpha1]

This seems too simple to even suggest but why don't we just play the same way at home as we do away? Counter attack.
After all, we have lost just once away all season in the league so we must be doing something right!