What is missing?

[degsy]

I have just been thinking about why we haven't been scoring many goals under martinez and can only really come to 2 conclusions. The first is a fairly popular one; Jelavic is crap.
The other conclusion I came to will however be massively unpopular. I honestly believe that the reason we aren't winning any games is because of Ross Barkley.
The reason I say this, is not because I think he is a bad player. Far from it, I think he is a terrific player. I say this because I still don't think he understands the position he plays very well. As an attacking midfielder he needs to be the man that break stubborn defences down. He needs to play the intricate through ball when that option is available ( this might also be Jelavics fault as the pass does need to be available) and needs to be the first man to get into the box behind the striker. I think he has the ability to do both very well but at the moment all of his work is being done outside the box.
I think these problems are easily fixed though and don't see any reason to drop him as I am pretty sure he just needs to be told. Step up Bobby.

You're talking rubbish lid

 

[bobsrighthandman]

I knew saying anything negative about Ross would go down pretty badly!
I said before i think he will be an unbelievable player. As you have said he is brilliant at drawing in players and creating space inside the box but once he has done that he very rarely goes and finds that space.
When you play 451 midfielders need to get into the box for crosses. As the most advanced midfielder, he should get in there but he just doesn't do that.
You can say that we are having loads of shots but they are typically tame efforts through a load of players. Id like to see us cutting through defences and I think Ross is technically good enough to drive that.
I could have just posted another article on how everything is moyes/ naismith/ kenrights fault but I thought it might be interesting to talk about why we cant seem to break teams down. I just wanted to talk tactics.

 

[Ashtonluke]

If you want insight into our performances this season then the last minute of the game against Cardiff when Deulofeu smashed a ball across the six yard box which was crying out for someone to just get themselves in there was watched by about 5 blue shirts all stood static outside the 6 yard box. Not one of them gambled on the obvious ball coming in. We had something like 31 shots against Cardiff but like 8 on target or something. Main difference between us and the RS so far has been they have a player who has got himself in the right positions and nicked goals. Let's hope Lukaku can do this for us. Otherwise, we've had 2 clean sheets out of 3 league games and been comfortable. Let's not forget how poor our clean sheet record last year was.

 

[degsy]

I think there must be something missing. We haven't scored in about 200 mins of PL football. Things don't just "click into place". Teams win games by maximising the players they have got. They achieve this through hard work and tactical astuteness. Things don't just click into place once they have had long enough to knock the ball around.
I think the team is working hard and I am sure they will start scoring eventually. I think Ross is technically brilliant but that doesn't excuse him from criticism. One of the best ways we can unlock teams is by getting the tactics right to maximise his talents. To me it looks like Bobby is just letting him do his own thing, and whilst he does look an incredible player, I cant help but think he can be made into a much more effective player given the right advice ( i.e. get into the box more and support the striker)

'Threading the intricate ball through' as you put it, may only happen once a game, chances bieng scare in the prem. Barkley CAN do it in fact did do it. Put Jelly through on a plate, who poked it wide....let Barkley learn by doing and get off his case

 

[yorksrye]

Patience from us fans is all that is needed. We have our squad now until January at the earliest. We have got a the quality players needed to get results (wins) and im sure we will.

Have a little patience as Take That sang Should be our fans song at the moment.

We are unbeaten in league and cup. Draws will become both wins and defeats but come May we will have done well again.

 

[Joey66]

In a nutshell a rich owner - you can not prosper by selling your best player assets season in season out - BK says we are for sale so he has to find us the right buyer they are out there look at Fulham fc sold in four weeks!

 

[malfosse]

I have just been thinking about why we haven't been scoring many goals under martinez and can only really come to 2 conclusions. The first is a fairly popular one; Jelavic is crap.
The other conclusion I came to will however be massively unpopular. I honestly believe that the reason we aren't winning any games is because of Ross Barkley.
The reason I say this, is not because I think he is a bad player. Far from it, I think he is a terrific player. I say this because I still don't think he understands the position he plays very well. As an attacking midfielder he needs to be the man that break stubborn defences down. He needs to play the intricate through ball when that option is available ( this might also be Jelavics fault as the pass does need to be available) and needs to be the first man to get into the box behind the striker. I think he has the ability to do both very well but at the moment all of his work is being done outside the box.
I think these problems are easily fixed though and don't see any reason to drop him as I am pretty sure he just needs to be told. Step up Bobby.

Welcome mate, well that's one way to introduce yourself. In my opinion Barkley has been one of our better players, you pretty much answered your own question regarding intricate passing.

 

[ART]

As my dear mum would say, Holy Jesus Christ of all Mighty.

 

[chicoazul]

Welcome mate.

 

[Bungle]

 

[chicoazul]

The 81st are actual fiends by the way. Everything is getting attacked these days, out of control.

 

[nsno-chris]

I have just been thinking about why we haven't been scoring many goals under martinez and can only really come to 2 conclusions. The first is a fairly popular one; Jelavic is crap.
The other conclusion I came to will however be massively unpopular. I honestly believe that the reason we aren't winning any games is because of Ross Barkley.
The reason I say this, is not because I think he is a bad player. Far from it, I think he is a terrific player. I say this because I still don't think he understands the position he plays very well. As an attacking midfielder he needs to be the man that break stubborn defences down. He needs to play the intricate through ball when that option is available ( this might also be Jelavics fault as the pass does need to be available) and needs to be the first man to get into the box behind the striker. I think he has the ability to do both very well but at the moment all of his work is being done outside the box.
I think these problems are easily fixed though and don't see any reason to drop him as I am pretty sure he just needs to be told. Step up Bobby.

Under Moyes, i.e. Cahill, then yes; this was the role of that position. However, we are not playing like that anymore, we've gone from a 4-5-1 to more of a 4-3-3. Barkelys job is different to that of Cahills, he's the link between midfield and attack and its pretty opbvious he his becoming very good at that with his visions and awareness.

 

[ijjysmith]

The 81st are actual fiends by the way. Everything is getting attacked these days, out of control.

Hang on a minute - you started that!

Control your troops!

 

[steken1]

Think it's a lot simpler. Wingers have both been uber turd in pretty much every game. Difficult to do anything when one barely touches the ball and the other can't cross or beat a man.

 

[chicoazul]

Hang on a minute - you started that!

Control your troops!

Pfft I'm a mere occasional pilot lid.