47 crosses…

[RVclaret]

yesterday. The most we’ve had in a single match over the past 6 Prem seasons.

Yet aside from JBG to McNeil I’m failing to remember another that found a man in a good position.

[Richardsbfc]

47 Crosses to a team with 3 centre backs that love to head ... Shambles

[taio]

It's a good point to highlight. Needs to be a strength but our crossing was really poor. Exemplified by Taylor's awful cross in the second half when he wasn't under any pressure.

[AfloatinClaret]

..our crossing was really poor. Exemplified by Taylor's awful cross in the second half when he wasn't under any pressure.

One of many. Aaron Lennon appeared to 'over hit' every cross he put in; I'm not the greatest fan of JBG, but I cheered when he came on yesterday.

[Rileybobs]

Our crossing from open play has been poor for some time, but yesterday we squandered some great positions. I’d love us to fizz a ball across the ground along the 6 yard line every now and then but everything is just floated into the box or over hit beyond the back post.

I suggested bringing Pieters on for Taylor shortly after the hour mark. It would have been quite a big call at the time, but in hindsight think it would have been a positive move.

[taio]

One of many. Aaron Lennon appeared to 'over hit' every cross he put in; I'm not the greatest fan of JBG, but I cheered when he came on yesterday.

Yes, Gudmundsson wasn't particularly good when he came on but at least he put a couple of half decent crosses into the box. I can't particularly remember Lennon's attempts at crossing, but I cant remember him being involved in anything yesterday to be honest.

[TheFamilyCat]

47 Crosses to a team with 3 centre backs that love to head ... Shambles

I disagree. The defenders weren't the issue, it was the quality of delivery.

[quoonbeatz]

Our crossing problem us two-fold.

1. Our crosses are too similar, hit from the same areas so they're too predictable. When do put in something a bit different, it fools our forwards as well.

2. Only Jay and Vydra really attack crosses. Wood has never been very good in the air, in that way. Vokes was better at it but we haven't really had a striker who really attacks the ball since Austin.

[Richardsbfc]

I disagree. The defenders weren't the issue, it was the quality of delivery.

Agree. My point was more about the tactics rather than the actual crosses.

[jrgbfc]

I thought Lennon put in 1 or 2 decent one's to the back post which nobody attacked. Lack of bodies in the opposition box is a regular problem for us.

[cockneyclaret]

Our crossing from open play has been poor for some time, but yesterday we squandered some great positions. I’d love us to fizz a ball across the ground along the 6 yard line every now and then but everything is just floated into the box or over hit beyond the back post.

I suggested bringing Pieters on for Taylor shortly after the hour mark. It would have been quite a big call at the time, but in hindsight think it would have been a positive move.

Totally agree..
Taylor had so much time and space (time after time) yet he never looked up and put a ball straight in.
There was no need!!! Run another 20/30 yards and your in there box.
I know he's under instructions to get to a certain part on the pitch and cross it in regardless but come on! Play the ball on the floor when situations like this are blatant

[CrosspoolClarets]

Jay got several heads on crosses and JBG improved us in this area. I too would have brought on Pieters, the assist record going back years is conclusive. Similarly Roberts’ introduction cannot be far away, much, much needed.

[MACCA]

47 Crosses to a team with 3 centre backs that love to head ... Shambles

Exactly this.

If anything coming up from the championship the Norwich defenders will be more accustomed than any to heading the ball all afternoon, and they were 3 of them there all afternoon to head the ones away they needed to.
Obviously not the ones that sailed aimlessly over everyone's head, to which they were many

[warksclaret]

Last week I saw something thats rarely seen in a Burnley shirt. Cornet was pressing the Leicester right back on the edge of the Leicester penalty area, played a quick one two with Taylor and from the byeline pinged low towards the 6 yard box. It got cut out. We won a corner and scored from it

We just hopefully punt it towards our front two from anywhere. The hard low cross from the by line is a night mare to defend against. When McNeil came on the scene his quick low delivery across the 6 yard box led to a good number of goals for Wood. We rarely see that anymore

[TheFamilyCat]

Agree. My point was more about the tactics rather than the actual crosses.

Sorry to be argumentative on a Sunday morning but creating 47 crossing opportunities is a positive in my opinion. It only took one good one to win is the game and we barely managed that.

I don't think taking poor options or poor delivery is poor tactics.

[Rileybobs]

Last week I saw something thats rarely seen in a Burnley shirt. Cornet was pressing the Leicester right back on the edge of the Leicester penalty area, played a quick one two with Taylor and from the byeline pinged low towards the 6 yard box. It got cut out. We won a corner and scored from it

We just hopefully punt it towards our front two from anywhere. The hard low cross from the by line is a night mare to defend against. When McNeil came on the scene his quick low delivery across the 6 yard box led to a good number of goals for Wood. We rarely see that anymore

Yes, that little bit of interplay from Cornet in the Leicester game is rarely seen from this Burnley side. It made me think, when do we ever see McNeill being incisive in his play? We know he’s technically great, and he has a good delivery - but I would love to see a shift in his mentality. His laboured, languid style isn’t helping. When does he ever burst into the box or look to get behind the opposition?

I know I will probably be hammered for criticising our most ‘creative’ player, but we need our most creative player to be more creative.

[buzzclarets79]

I dare say most of them 47 crosses where majorly over hit, high looping crosses with no pace on them.
We don’t cross with pace, whip. We need to mix it up.
Just occasionally I’d like also the ball to be pulled back, edge of area and a midfielder to take a shot.

[Hurstclaret]

I'd like to see our wide players getting to the byeline and pulling the ball back for our forwards to run on to the ball. That happened against is twice v Brighton and I think it will prove more effective than putting hopeful aerial balls into the box.

[ClaretTony]

47 Crosses to a team with 3 centre backs that love to head ... Shambles

with three centre backs who have been vulnerable to crosses all season - the problem yesterday was the poor delivery, not the plan.

[Quickenthetempo]

Yes, that little bit of interplay from Cornet in the Leicester game is rarely seen from this Burnley side. It made me think, when do we ever see McNeill being incisive in his play? We know he’s technically great, and he has a good delivery - but I would love to see a shift in his mentality. His laboured, languid style isn’t helping. When does he ever burst into the box or look to get behind the opposition?

I know I will probably be hammered for criticising our most ‘creative’ player, but we need our most creative player to be more creative.

Was he not in behind at the back post from JGBs cross? When it bounced a little high for him to control?

But I get your point, unfortunately he plays in a Dyche style system who was very happy with the performance yesterday.
Luckily we have an exciting player who doesn't understand a word Dyche says and just plays off his instinct. It will change though the longer he is here.

[Iloveyoubrady]

Yes, that little bit of interplay from Cornet in the Leicester game is rarely seen from this Burnley side. It made me think, when do we ever see McNeill being incisive in his play? We know he’s technically great, and he has a good delivery - but I would love to see a shift in his mentality. His laboured, languid style isn’t helping. When does he ever burst into the box or look to get behind the opposition?

I know I will probably be hammered for criticising our most ‘creative’ player, but we need our most creative player to be more creative.

Unfortunately for Dwight he’s just not quick enough. Worse players can be better wingers if they are better athletes. Dwight is a technician and yesterday he was excellent playing centrally and spreading the play, but he was nowhere to be seen when Taylor needed a winger to link up with on the left to do something other than the early cross.

With crosses it’s the obsession with getting them in so early from so wide that’s weird to me. If they can just link up once or twice with a CM/full back and then cross it hard/low/pull back from the edge of the box it gives so many options. Obviously Taylor struggled with crossing it from so deep - especially in the wet.

Lennon wasn’t bad but he too went very narrow which is weird considering he is a right footed winger on the right who doesn’t score many. The couple of times he beat a man down the right and put a cross in were about the most dangerous looking crosses, whipped across the six yard box. If he’d done more of them I’m sure we score. JBG put some better crosses in but again they are from so deep it gives time for the defenders to head it away.

[Rileybobs]

Was he not in behind at the back post from JGBs cross? When it bounced a little high for him to control?

He was, and he looked as surprised to find himself in that position as I was.

[Quickenthetempo]

with three centre backs who have been vulnerable to crosses all season - the problem yesterday was the poor delivery, not the plan.

For a side that crosses so much, we have a poor success rate of about 1 in 6 being decent. Not helped by slow forwards but we should devote at least one days training a week to crossing.

[Rileybobs]

Unfortunately for Dwight he’s just not quick enough. Worse players can be better wingers if they are better athletes. Dwight is a technician and yesterday he was excellent playing centrally and spreading the play, but he was nowhere to be seen when Taylor needed a winger to link up with on the left to do something other than the early cross.

With crosses it’s the obsession with getting them in so early from so wide that’s weird to me. If they can just link up once or twice with a CM/full back and then cross it hard/low/pull back from the edge of the box it gives so many options. Obviously Taylor struggled with crossing it from so deep - especially in the wet.

Lennon wasn’t bad but he too went very narrow which is weird considering he is a right footed winger on the right who doesn’t score many. The couple of times he beat a man down the right and put a cross in were about the most dangerous looking crosses, whipped across the six yard box. If he’d done more of them I’m sure we score. JBG put some better crosses in but again they are from so deep it gives time for the defenders to head it away.

He can’t change his lack of pace but what he can do is look to be more incisive, quicker at using the ball and sometimes look to run beyond players rather than standing demanding the ball. Yesterday he was tedious to watch. When players move off the ball it opens up space for others, Dwight has started to play like the kid at school who is better than everyone else.

[Iloveyoubrady]

He can’t change his lack of pace but what he can do is look to be more incisive, quicker at using the ball and sometimes look to run beyond players rather than standing demanding the ball. Yesterday he was tedious to watch. When players move off the ball it opens up space for others, Dwight has started to play like the kid at school who is better than everyone else.

I agree but maybe its what he’s been told to do. But yes, when cornet and Vydra are playing, running in behind (and actually getting to balls because they have some pace) we look a different team. When you get in behind you really expose defences and they make mistakes. Yesterday was just too easy for them. But whether Dwight is the person to do that I’m not sure. Although it is true he literally never makes an off the ball run.

[MACCA]

with three centre backs who have been vulnerable to crosses all season - the problem yesterday was the poor delivery, not the plan.

Apparently only the 2nd time Norwich have played 5 at the back this season, the 1st was last week.

IMO Whether they are vulnerable to crosses or not, persistently continuing with them when the delivery was abysmal and for the whole 90 minutes is madness.

Saying that, the rare good cross that found McNeil 4 yards out and unmarked was a shocking miss, and probably win us the game.

Watched MOTD this morning and McNeil was terrible, regularly lost the ball and gave Norwich their 2 2nd half breakaways, then missed that sitter.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Apparently only the 2nd time Norwich have played 5 at the back this season, the 1st was last week.

IMO Whether they are vulnerable to crosses or not, persistently continuing with them when the delivery was abysmal and for the whole 90 minutes is madness.

Saying that, the rare good cross that found McNeil 4 yards out and unmarked was a shocking miss, and probably win us the game.

Watched MOTD this morning and McNeil was terrible, regularly lost the ball and gave Norwich their 2 2nd half breakaways, then missed that sitter.

McNeil had a pass completion of 87% he gave the ball away very few times at all compared to recent weeks. For example our midfield alone gave the ball away 35 times vs Leicester last week

[Rileybobs]

McNeil had a pass completion of 87% he gave the ball away very few times at all compared to recent weeks. For example our midfield alone gave the ball away 35 times vs Leicester last week

I think Macca is referring to a couple of times when he was dispossessed by dithering on the ball. I think one occasion was when our midfielders had committed forward and led to Kabak running the entire length of the pitch before being fouled on the edge of our box.

[Conroy92]

Personally I think McNeil has been sussed out by many managers in this league. All left peg! Force him onto his right and he has to do a David Jones-esque pirouette to get back onto his left.
But if he wasn't all left peg he wouldn't play for us.

[ClaretTony]

Apparently only the 2nd time Norwich have played 5 at the back this season, the 1st was last week.

IMO Whether they are vulnerable to crosses or not, persistently continuing with them when the delivery was abysmal and for the whole 90 minutes is madness.

Saying that, the rare good cross that found McNeil 4 yards out and unmarked was a shocking miss, and probably win us the game.

Watched MOTD this morning and McNeil was terrible, regularly lost the ball and gave Norwich their 2 2nd half breakaways, then missed that sitter.

The delivery was shocking yesterday

[CFS]

The tactical change would of been to put pieters on for Taylor however he opted to stick Barnes on and carry on hoping.

[SalisburyClaret]

Taylor just can’t cross well enough. Pieters makes sense

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Taylor just can’t cross well enough. Pieters makes sense

Both current fullbacks crossing is dreadful.

[Belial]

Teams have figured out over the past couple of seasons, as our only options are a hoof upfield for a hopeful flick on, or like yesterday, aimless crosses from 25 yards out. Anyone who's ever played as a Forward will tell you they are more difficult to do anything with as often you're having to come backwards to meet the ball which favours the defenders, whereas crosses from further forward and via the byline are easier to get something on and tricky for defenders

When you look back to the season where we finished 7th, my thoughts are that we're virtually the same or at least a similar team; the main differences being Defour who drove us forward from MF and brought another passing dimension, and an in-form Brady who had great crossing that year and could take a man on.

Let's hope we've found the new version to push us on in Cornet

[dougcollins]

Doesn't matter how many crosses you put in when Wood's feet hardly ever leave the ground and Jayrod looks like he's running with Barnes strapped to his back.

[the_magic_rat]

47 crosses maybe but how many of them got past the first defender? I'd guess about 50% Still more than enough to fashion a decent chance or two but very few of our crosses threatened any real danger for Norwich.

[NewClaret]

Personally I think McNeil has been sussed out by many managers in this league. All left peg! Force him onto his right and he has to do a David Jones-esque pirouette to get back onto his left.
But if he wasn't all left peg he wouldn't play for us.

That exactly why he should stay left where that can be used most effectively, in my opinion.

[NewClaret]

Besides the fact our crossing was poor, the bigger issue for me is how many times we chose to cross when we had a chance to overload down one side and cause real danger. We just played too conservatively. We next to never overload and try to break in to the box, preferring aimless looping balls from so far out that defenders have all the time in the world to get set and deal with.

[PadihamThickNeck]

Lowton is the best crosser of a ball we have. As for Taylor he couldn’t cross the road.

[MACCA]

I think Macca is referring to a couple of times when he was dispossessed by dithering on the ball. I think one occasion was when our midfielders had committed forward and led to Kabak running the entire length of the pitch before being fouled on the edge of our box.

Correct, Norwich's 4 chances on the highlights 2 were when they dispossessed McNeil as you put dithering on the ball.

[taio]

Linked to this, I said towards the end of the game we'd had a lot of corners. Just checked and we had nine which is a high number and more than anything other PL team yesterday. We didn't trouble Krul with any of them either.

[AlargeClaret]

Lowton is the best crosser of a ball we have. As for Taylor he couldn’t cross the road.

I’ve read some garbage on here , but to presume Lowton “is our best crosser of the ball” is simply ludicrous. Against v poor opposition he can admittedly put an outswinger in ,usually miles off target . Taylor is clearly one of our best players , how often if ever does Lowton beat a man and get a tight cross in on the byline ? Not to mention his errors and stupid fouls .Taylor was (and can be ) wayward yesterday but is a quality player integral to our teams limited attacking style . Lowton could be replaced with a 1lb of cheap mince .

As for Westwood’s corners..

[boatshed bill]

Lots of crosses, but is it a worthwhile tactic??

[claretspice]

A number of things wrong with our crossing yesterday. The first and most obvious is that the quality of those deliveries was unremittingly poor.

The second is that too often, the delivery was slow. Either it was the predictable outcome of some tight possession out on the flank, and teh Norwich defence knew exactly what was coming, or when we did open up more space, a lack of confidence tended to mean we took a touch, often a poor touch, and allowed the defence a chance to reset.

The third thing was that it was all a bit deep. We didn't get to the by-line anywhere near enough.

Put it all together and we were crossing badly, from a roughly level with the 18 yard line, towards a set defence. Our strikers had already made their move and were ahead of the ball, so weren't attacking the ball.

There were three honourable exceptions in the second half - JBG's cross from which McNeil should have scored, which was a fine delivery, and the two occasions that Brownhill got beyond the forwards and to the byline - on the first occasion Rodriguez should have scored, and the second was the move of the match and ended with Lowton coming onto a hung up cross and heading just over the bar. But we didn't create moves like that often enough - largely because once Vydra went off, neither of our strikers were looking to run the channels, and too often we had the two strikers, plus McNeil (doing his level best to create stuff) ahead of the 2 central midfielders - all within the width of the "D". It was all too congested, and too square - and it was tempting to wonder what might have happened had we moved one of the strikers out of the way, let McNeil have that space he occupied to good effect, and freed Brownhill to make those third man runs. That would have added some depth to our attacking play which was painfully lacking on the day.

[boatshed bill]

A number of things wrong with our crossing yesterday. The first and most obvious is that the quality of those deliveries was unremittingly poor.

The second is that too often, the delivery was slow. Either it was the predictable outcome of some tight possession out on the flank, and teh Norwich defence knew exactly what was coming, or when we did open up more space, a lack of confidence tended to mean we took a touch, often a poor touch, and allowed the defence a chance to reset.

The third thing was that it was all a bit deep. We didn't get to the by-line anywhere near enough.

Put it all together and we were crossing badly, from a roughly level with the 18 yard line, towards a set defence. Our strikers had already made their move and were ahead of the ball, so weren't attacking the ball.

There were three honourable exceptions in the second half - JBG's cross from which McNeil should have scored, which was a fine delivery, and the two occasions that Brownhill got beyond the forwards and to the byline - on the first occasion Rodriguez should have scored, and the second was the move of the match and ended with Lowton coming onto a hung up cross and heading just over the bar. But we didn't create moves like that often enough - largely because once Vydra went off, neither of our strikers were looking to run the channels, and too often we had the two strikers, plus McNeil (doing his level best to create stuff) ahead of the 2 central midfielders - all within the width of the "D". It was all too congested, and too square - and it was tempting to wonder what might have happened had we moved one of the strikers out of the way, let McNeil have that space he occupied to good effect, and freed Brownhill to make those third man runs. That would have added some depth to our attacking play which was painfully lacking on the day.

Good analysis, Spice.
I'm of the opinion that if we are in a position to cross into the danger area once every two minutes we should either:
A. batter the opposition
B. Sign a massive centre forward 6^'5" or taller
C. Give up on, or at least vary from, this tactic.
Nice to see you posting BTW.

[Vegas Claret]

we made their 3 CB's look like Van Dijk, Maldini and John Pender, agree with the above that our crossing was woeful

[HunterST_BFC]

Most crosses from miles out.

Their 3 at the back stayed narrow.

They knew exactly what we would do. And by having 5 in MF we could not get wide unless it was a channel punt.
Where is our forward MF?

We are so predictable going forward. And get easily torn apart if the FB's push forward assuming the other team has any pace of skill...

4 3 3 is surely worth a try
of 3 5 2

against city 5 4 1

[superdimitri]

There's a reason most teams pass and prize opportunities.. And when they do cross, cross low. Chances created from high crosses are usually a lot harder to put away, you end up with a bunch of half chances and very little clear cut ones.

[Shaggy]

I think what it does highlight is that we are one dimensional.

We haven’t changed anything in the way we play for a long time now. Unfortunately for the foreseeable it’s going to stay that way. I just hope we can muster up enough results to keep us in the league.

[Mala591]

Taylor’s crosses are actually very good, they hit the same zone every time (back of the 6 yard box just where Lowton’s late header was against Norwich.) I would expect right side of midfield and occasionally right back should be in that zone when Taylor is attacking. Could be an area of the pitch where Roberts might be very effective?