57% Possession

[ablueclaret]

How long since we had those figures and with a make-shift side. Interesting.

[Wile E Coyote]

its all relative ablue,it was bristol, not arsenal. we are supposed to be able to dominate a game like this as a premier outfit surely.

[ablueclaret]

Often the same sort of figures when we were in the Championship.

[DCWat]

Aside from Pope, Darikwa and Tarkowski our side had the following international experience (some admittedly with limited international experience). Welsh international, Canadian international, Icelandic international, Belgian International, 2 England internationals, 2 England under 21 internationals. We were playing a side from the lower end of the division below.

Is it that interesting or surprising that our possession was higher than usual?

[Quickenthetempo]

West Brom away. We know how that ended.

[NRC]

Surprised it's that low and actually shows the inflexibility of the system that has in itself stood us in such good stead. Basically our instinct is to the system - we don't know what to do with the freedom (apart from win the game of course - but hopefully you get the point)

[Saxoman]

Often the same sort of figures when we were in the Championship.

Nice edit there.

[ablueclaret]

Would be interesting to analyse our possession figures over the past three seasons and in particular last season.
We had a much more balanced midfield yesterday than for a long time even if they were finding their feet.
There will come a time where attrition isn't good enough even the best defences can only take so much.
Bristol it might have been but lessons might be learnt.

[Wile E Coyote]

think Liverpool had about 99% possession ablue here at the Turf, fat lot of good it did them....we won.

[hampsteadclaret]

We will sit back and defend properly when we need to..that is how we play.

We will break quickly if we can [be nice if we were QUICKER].eg. Defour on Saturday.

This inevitably means letting the opposition have the ball some of the time.

- what then can they do with it?

[Shore claret]

Stats are stats , mostly irrelevant.
The only stat that matters is the scoreline.

[bfcmik]

Those brizzle lads played lots of pretty little triangle passes and looked good at passing and finding space - all without really getting anywhere with it.

We huffed and puffed a lot trying to show how good we were at passing prettily to each then found we aren't that good at it after all and so started playing our usual counter attack, knock it long or down into the channels with much better success.

[dsr]

Probably last time we had that sort of possession was the last time we played a side at the bottom of the league below us.

[Bin Ont Turf]

We had less possession than MK Dons when we beat them 5-0.

It's become a meaningless stat where Burnley are concerned.

[Sidney1st]

There's only one stat that really matters at the end of the game.

[bfccrazy]

There's only one stat that really matters at the end of the game.

Possession ?

[BennyD]

According to Guardiola, correct. A load of b0ll0cks if you ask me.

[Sidney1st]

Possession ?

Don't be silly.

Its how far Boyd has run of course.

[ablueclaret]

It's the reason we have such a wretched away record and concede goals late in games, no defence even one as good as ours can withstand constant pressure without at times making mistakes.
Yes possession without a cutting edge just makes you look pretty and ineffective and a counter-attacking strategy at pace can be hugely effective but sometimes you need to be able to take the sting out of a game by keeping possession oneself and that is something we are not particularly good at at this level.

[Darthlaw]

It's the reason we have such a wretched away record and concede goals late in games, no defence even one as good as ours can withstand constant pressure without at times making mistakes.
Yes possession without a cutting edge just makes you look pretty and ineffective and a counter-attacking strategy at pace can be hugely effective but sometimes you need to be able to take the sting out of a game by keeping possession oneself and that is something we are not particularly good at at this level.

It's a shame your lad Tarkowski was one of the worst culprits for losing possession this weekend then isn't it? Against Championship relegation fodder too! Then again, you wouldn't know that seen as there were no highlights / internet stream for you to watch the game on.

[Ooogeorgeorgeoghani]

It's a shame your lad Tarkowski was one of the worst culprits for losing possession this weekend then isn't it? Against Championship relegation fodder too! Then again, you wouldn't know that seen as there were no highlights / internet stream for you to watch the game on.

Tis true, he is not a midfielder

[ablueclaret]

Tarkowski can do a decent job there and gives strength to the side no other player can.

[NRC]

That's simply not a true statement abc

[leedsdave]

Tarkowski can do a decent job there and gives strength to the side no other player can.

Based on WHAT EVIDENCE?

[Goodclaret]

I'm sorry ABC, as much as you want Tarks to be our midfield saviour he just isn't a midfielder. He is a very good footballer and, if we didn't have the best two centre halves we have had for many years, he would be playing at the back. On Saturday he often got closed down quickly and he hasn't the quick feet to move the ball quicker than, pretty much, every PL midfielder. As said above, he was the most guilty of losing possession. No attack on Tarks at all, he is clearly a good player but unfair to expect him to be a PL quality defensive CM.

[jlup1980]

There's always this debate when you have an half decent ball playing centre half. People used to think Steve Davis would make a good midfielder. He played there on the odd occasion and proved why he was a centre half every time. Tarky is the same. He looked like a world beater at CB vs Sunderland and a second rate player in CM vs Bristol City. He might be ok to bring on for the last 15-20 to sit in front of the back four and offer his physicality to the game, but he's certainly not someone who should be starting games in CM.

[ablueclaret]

The thing about having Tarka as a holding midfielder is
It strengthens the defence
It allows the midfield in front of him to play
It gives us more attacking potential from set-plays.
It allows us to break from the back quicker.

That to my mind is sufficient to give it further trials.

[Sidney1st]

The thing about having Tarka as a holding midfielder is
It strengthens the defence
It allows the midfield in front of him to play
It gives us more attacking potential from set-plays.
It allows us to break from the back quicker.

That to my mind is sufficient to give it further trials.

Could you explain what all that is based on?
Is it based on his game against Bristol when a few people on here have said he wasn't actually that good?
Is it based on the numerous times you've seen him play in the defensive midfield role for 90mins against top opposition?

[Darthlaw]

Based upon what those of us who went to the Bristol game saw, ABC is just plain wrong. Based upon diddly squat actual evidence he is correct.

PL clubs look to target weak players as we have seen in 'leaked' scouting reports in the past. When they see how often Tarks is caught in possession, seen as he is a defender and not some Pirlo style holding midfielder, he'll be targeted regularly.

Tarks is a defender and a bloody good one at that. Get over it.

By the way, whats Renny Smith up to, ABC?

[ablueclaret]

Renny is supping wine on his balcony Darth.