Why on earth, the long ball?

[Number_25]

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

He's a brillaint player.

Cahill has been absolutley shocking in recent games.

 

[Rugby Toffee]

Pass n move not hoof n chase....

 

[Tommytoffee]

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.

Hehe. The guy tackles..not to the refs liking though. I just think he would do better back in the midfield, swapping with Cahill. Who is damn quiet in midfield.

 

[Number_25]

Drop Cahill.

 

[Tommytoffee]

Drop Cahill.

....and who would replace him?

 

[Number_25]

Hopefully a new signing.

 

[Tommytoffee]

Would not put my money on that

 

[AdamTheGreatOneB]

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.

And whenever we're under pressure we start banging it upfield, especially against the bigger teams.

 

[SuperToffee]

Would not put my money on that

I would put 2 pounds

 

[Brownie]

Because we only have 3 or 4 players in the squad that are natural footballers and an extremely cautious manager.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

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.

For all Moyes' strengths I don't think he's going to get a group of average footballers (technically) bar the odd exception playing pass and move football.

I wouldn't say he preaches that football although after a few years he's certainly seems to have realised that having a central midfielder with a bit of craft is a must.

I think it's a combination of things really. Confidence, lack of balance and lack of creative players all play a part.

 

[Rook]

To be fair, Yobo's hoof balls were actually accurate on Saturday. Baines flubbed a really nice pass by Yobo and Fellani when he did get a head on the ball always managed to flick it on to a Burnley player.

 

[Desaparecido]

Our midfield can't play like that at the moment. Cahill's weakness is passing, Osman's weakness is going completely missing against all but the weakest sides, Neville is a defender naturally, Fellaini - well I don't rate him, he's a poor man's Cahill for me.

Bring back Arteta, Cahill will get more involved, if we get the new Russian fella he's a captain and runs at people so I think will take it upon himself to play 'football'. Banega who knows, could be the new Arteta or the new Osman.

 

[kenada_blue]

Just gotta go from what TB said.

At the moment is Cahill and Neville/Rodwell that have to link from the defenders to Fellaini. Most of the time we cut out that middle maybe due to lack of movement (which happens a fair amount of time, ie no one supporting players) and go straight to the forward 2. Fellaini being the tallest, gets the punt.

Technically Fellaini is sound, he certainly does more with the ball at his feet than he can with his head (outside the box, inside he can kill), and is far more comfy/has a better touch than Cahill.

For me technically (comfy on the ball, pass well, good touch, the basics really) our best players at the moment for me are - Pienaar, Baines, Fellaini, Saha, Rodwell, Jo, Osman.

BUT each has flaws that hinder them being that all out creative midfielder. (Fellaini's pace, Osman's strength, Jo's 1 foot, Rodwell's positioning etc)

Arteta has everything in our team IMO. Pass, control, tackle, positioning, creativity, skill, strength. Only Pienaar comes close, but we dont have a winger as effective to replace him.

This isnt a go at Cahill, Neville, Yobo etc its just a thing I feel is why we use the hoof. We can play when we want to, we did it in the 2nd half on Thursday, and in spells against Burnley. But when you dont have the link, you go route 1.

 

[SuitsBlueX2]

Confidence thing. Pressure is on to not concede at the back so hoofing the ball away is the safest option, but possession is turned over and it also leads to mistakes like not picking up runs made by opposition centre backs for instance.