Why on earth, the long ball?

[Tommytoffee]

After watching Everton make Burnley look like world beaters. I pondered to myself, why the long ball?

Just because we have a 6,4 lump in Marouane Fellaini, doesn't mean we should use the long ball. Why? Not because its "unattractive football". But because it doesn't bloody work and that Everton do far better when they have link up play. It doesn't work for us. Yobo lobs it up and either the opposition gets the ball or Felli heads it towards an Opposition player. Whats the point? I fail to see why Moyes does not tell the players to cut the long ball out. In fact I seem to remember the last time the long ball worked for us, was against West Brom last season and we all know they had some of the worse defending known to man.

Everton do far better with link up play, that 4th goal against Sigma on Thursday, was result of link up play.

P.S Heres hoping Yakubu gets a hat-trick in the reserves!

 

[Rugby Toffee]

Possibly we don't have intelligent ball-playing defenders/midfielders in our side at the mo,or their confidence is shot , so it easier to get rid instead of playing to feet etc.

 

[Goat]

We played some lovely non hoof ball when Arteta was playing, he gave us an option, he wanted the ball, at the moment we have got Cahill running around like a headless chicken, trying to play a postion hes not natural in and Fellaini sulking and moaning all over the pitch.

 

[Axlswhk]

I am puzzled too. Why can't we end this bad habit of long ball after so many ******* years. Am very interested to know who or what kept encouraging our players to play it long.

 

[davek]

Two words: Yo Bo.

 

[Dejan79]

No Confidence = Long Ball

 

[Axlswhk]

No Confidence = Long Ball

As if it works.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Because we have a central midfield bereft of creativity, movement and more than anything bottle. No one has the balls to take responsibility and put there foot on the ball.

Fellaini doesn't do it, Cahill doesn't do it and Rodwell try's but drift's in and out of games. We need to get Arteta fit and sign up another player similar in style.

 

[Sharpys top lip]

It happens when theirs no confidence in the team. No one wants to take responsability on the ball. So we end up just hoofing it.

 

[Sharpys top lip]

Because we have a central midfield bereft of creativity, movement and more than anything bottle. No one has the balls to take responsibility and put there foot on the ball.

Fellaini doesn't do it, Cahill doesn't do it and Rodwell try's but drift's in and out of games. We need to get Arteta fit and sign up another player similar in style.

FFS just beat me to it!!!!!

Well said thou TB

 

[Tommytoffee]

We played some lovely non hoof ball when Arteta was playing, he gave us an option, he wanted the ball, at the moment we have got Cahill running around like a headless chicken, trying to play a postion hes not natural in and Fellaini sulking and moaning all over the pitch.

Well I think it can be done without Arteta, though I am praying every day for his return! Even in the Burnley game, the minutes the lads were doing something right. They were, at least attempting to do, a bit of link up play.

Also I really think Cahill and Felli should swap positions, we all know Cahill is no CM and is better just behind the main striker. I also think Felli would be better use in the midfield, with his height, power and ball control.

 

[Goat]

CMs need to be able to tackle and have some sense of postional sense, thats why Fellaini will never play CM.

Also the ability to run helps.

 

[Number_25]

When players like Arteta and Pieenar come back into the squad you will see alot more Football coming from us.

The team interlinks alot more when their back.

 

[Axlswhk]

In order for it to work we have to drop fellaini.

 

[Tommytoffee]

Because we have a central midfield bereft of creativity, movement and more than anything bottle. No one has the balls to take responsibility and put there foot on the ball.

Fellaini doesn't do it, Cahill doesn't do it and Rodwell try's but drift's in and out of games. We need to get Arteta fit and sign up another player similar in style.

I agree it is a lot to do with confidence and bottle. But I think it can be done without Arteta, I mean even Burnley were showing how it is done. It is just passing on the ground! If our players can't do that....well not worth the wages, thats for sure.