07 Nov 2020 11:14:26
Many many times I have pointed out that we are not crossing the ball. I watched our full backs getting to near the byline, even being in a position to get past the full back, yet stopping, turning back and recycling the ball back and across slowly. It seems the tactic is trying to work our way through the middle. So it came as a shock when Shaw crossed the ball to create a headed goal on Wednesday. Using pace through the middle has been so obvious a tactic, that works so well when we have a team that pushes up on us.

Therefore I found an article interesting this morning on crossing the ball. It seems we have gone from being the top or near the top for the numbers of crosses under SAF to close to bottom now. Having seen the full backs fail to cross and recycle the ball, it seems like an instructed tactic, but why? Ok, AWB is not great going forward, but we got rid of Dalot who could cross. Shaw and Telles can cross but until Wednesday you hardly see it. When Bruno was waving Shaw to make the run on the outside Shaw didn't, was it because it would have meant crossing the ball. Our wider players cut in, we play right footers on the left, left footers on the right, all seemingly to go through the middle. We don't have any real wingers but it seems and stats back it up that we don't want to cross. No one wants the Moyes 82 crosses scenario, yet it is hard to see why we are not crossing it, just trying to work our way through. Surely a mix is better, yet stats show we are not crossing the ball as much as most of the other teams. Something to watch today.

1.) 07 Nov 2020
07 Nov 2020 11:39:42
Do we still hold the crossing record from that Fulham game?

2.) 07 Nov 2020
07 Nov 2020 11:46:07
Yeah Red Man, we hardly put quality crosses into the box.
In the mid week, we had Rashy, Martial, Cavani in the box crying out for quality delivery while chasing the game.

Another reason why a Right sided winger was needed during the window.

3.) 07 Nov 2020
07 Nov 2020 11:52:18
Interesting post Redman.

I wish we played like Rangers do. They get their fullbacks right high and wide whilst their 'wide' players are always tucked in. That, I think, would compliment Ole's desire to have inverted wingers whilst still giving us width in the form of fullbacks. Of course, this is a tactic designed for dominating matches and they, like Utd, play counter attacking football against bigger sides (think Gerrard has only lost 5 out of 37 European games up in Glasgow) . But I thinkit could work for us with 2 cms (Pogba/ VdB and Fred/ McTominay) playing as pivots. l.

4.) 07 Nov 2020
07 Nov 2020 11:53:57
TRD

Yes, we should have bought someone who can cross on the right yet decided not to. I thought the Sancho money was too much yet there were others much cheaper but just didn’t do deals, then ended up with two youngsters.

5.) 07 Nov 2020
07 Nov 2020 12:13:58
No point crossing it if they can’t head the ball which non of our forwards can do. Maybe Cavani but he’s hardly played.

6.) 07 Nov 2020
07 Nov 2020 12:20:32
We need Fellaini back to finish off those crosses, our best ever header of the ball.

7.) 07 Nov 2020
07 Nov 2020 12:26:44
Blackpool

Martial scored on Wednesday with a good header. But by taking crossing out of our game we become obvious. A full back for the opposition against us is easier than it has been in the past.