Hospital Ball!!!!

[BleedingClaret]

No I'm not inviting you to a do!

The painfully slow passes that we do, where the recipient has to wait for it receiving it stood still whilst an opponent can catch up with the ball and then is arriving at speed to tackle, used to be called a 'Hospital Ball' or more aptly 'That's a F@cking Leg Breaker You F@cking Tw@t' and the passer used to get a proper bollocking of not just the recipient but several of his other team mates.

CJER played a really ridiculously slow ball to Anthony in the 2nd and half, and I feared For Anthony's well being, luckily these days the opponent isn't free to fly 2 footed into the receiver, as long as he gets something on the ball.

Why do we pass the ball so agonisingly slowly, to the point where we all reacted last night like Shelvey had just invented the wheel.

Whilst I'm at it, Why do we also stand so close to one another, so close that, for the best example, Cullen wins the ball and often has to actually circumnavigate 1 or 2 of his own team mates to get the space to actually see if there's a pass on.

[Darnhill Claret]

Yes we do give too many hospital balls, however the recipient could react quicker an underhit pass and go to meet it, quickly.
My biggest gripe at the moment and I'm a happy clapper, so not in the habit of criticising, BUT, our overdone safety first passing is what is leading to our regular retreating back to James Trafford.
Picture this.
Anyone of our back four has the ball and they want to pass the ball to another back four teammate. If they pass to the stronger foot, it is in front of that player and that player will be facing forwards.
If they pass to the weaker foot, they will be facing our keeper, or half turned towards Trafford, so will need to take a touch, to get the ball onto their stronger foot. If they feel under pressure from a press, that first touch goes back to the keeper.
Rinse and repeat.

[BleedingClaret]

Yes that too, I'd forgotten that last night as well as shouting Pass the ball quicker I was saying why do we keep passing behind the man

[Milltown1882]

Did feel Cullen was very overcrowded in the middle of the park last night. Could easily have done without Laurent in there.

[BleedingClaret]

Did feel Cullen was very overcrowded in the middle of the park last night. Could easily have done without Laurent in there.

We'd pushed Hannibal further forward, so yes Laurent was slightly deeper and as well as not necessarily having the closest control to receive and then give a ball from close quarters he's a fair lump too compared to Cullen who couldn't likely see round him and certainly not over him.

[Darnhill Claret]

Full back to nearest centre back is usually OK, other combinations, not so good.

[get stuck in tracy]

Not to mention the pass that is just a little behind the recipient so any impetus is lost.

[dandeclaret]

I mean they’re just terrible….. can you believe they under hit a pass in a game. No wonder they’re (checks league table) …..2nd

Parker out.

[Claret Till I Die]

Whilst I'm at it, Why do we also stand so close to one another, so close that, for the best example, Cullen wins the ball and often has to actually circumnavigate 1 or 2 of his own team mates to get the space to actually see if there's a pass on.

Part of the reason why we're so hard to break down?

[BleedingClaret]

Part of the reason why we're so hard to break down?

Not sure I agree with that entirely because it's also the reason we give the ball away with a multiple of 2 or 3 yard passes within ever decreasing space

[boatshed bill]

I think our passing is generally very good.

[Guitargeorge]

But if you watched CJ last night, his passes on the ground were made with pace every time. Couple this with his uncanny knack of finding his man with 50 yard passes, he certainly bucks the trend. Granted, he did make a few poor passes last night, most uncharacteristic. I agree with the original post that, to a man, the rest of the team are guilty of slomo passing.

[Goliath]

Because some of our players aren't very good technically. Cough Josh Laurent Cough

[Darnhill Claret]

Our passing is generally very good, especially when going forward but it is also an area where we can improve. Nobody can be perfect but we do hit quite a number of poor passes when we aren't under pressure. We also lose momentum when we aren't under pressure. Even if it means Esteve and CJ deciding that whoever isn't in possession dropping back a step or two so that they can receive the pass on their stronger foot. This would mean more occasions when we move forward, rather than back to Trafford. We are still getting throw-ins parallel to the edge of their penalty area and 10 seconds later it is back with Trafford.

How often do we relieve pressure on our opponents, by funnelling back to Trafford from our own attack. Throw-ins and corners included.

UTC

[Dark Cloud]

We regularly pass slightly behind the recipient too, but that means they invariably have to check back and so much momentum is lost. It happens so often, I'm starting to think it's deliberate and being coached.

[dandeclaret]

Because some of our players aren't very good technically. Cough Josh Laurent Cough

Why’s Laurent getting grief? He’s been excellent in most games I’ve watched him in this season. Good energy, breaks only, drives with the ball. Plenty of positives.

[helmclaret]

He seems to attract a bit of stick Laurent, but I think he brings some presence and drive to the midfield most of the games he has played.

[JohnMac]

My biggest bugbear is the consistency with which the ball is played behind our player when we are attacking. It robs us of momentum time and time again.

[Kevwando]

I really hope Anthony is ok and his well being doesn’t keep him out of the next game.

Burnley are 2nd!!!

Parkers claret and blue army!!

[Goliath]

Why’s Laurent getting grief? He’s been excellent in most games I’ve watched him in this season. Good energy, breaks only, drives with the ball. Plenty of positives.

He is incapable of receiving the ball under pressure facing his own goal, so hides away from doing it. He's fine facing the goal when he has time but in terms of how he uses it he's well short.

To back this up the stats say Laurent averages 40 passes per match at a completion of 82 percent in comparison to Cullens 62 at 88 percent.

Obviously this proves nothing I just was interested in seeing if the stats backed up how I saw it. He doesn't look to get on the ball enough which leaves Cullen isolated and easy to stop against a good press so we lose control of the midfield in my opinion.
Personally I'd go with Shelvey or Hannibal in that role over him for the extra ability on the ball