Teams who defend

[eosmhdo 1,879]

We just can’t play against teams that defend against us. Very frustrating to watch. A number 10 who can unlock defences with a slide rule pass is a must in January imo.

[Brackley Bluenose 4,479]

The problem is it’s so much easier to destroy than it is to create. Look at what happened at Wembley on Saturday with Spurs and Burnley. Carbon copy of what we were up against today against Hamilton. If it a team approaches a game with no regard whatsoever to attack then any team would struggle against that. 

Difference being Spurs have the financial clout to buy players like Eriksen/Son/Lamela who can open a few doors and make things happen. Players like that aren’t exactly ten a penny when you’re looking at spending £2-3 million max on a player. 

[cushynumber 25,178]

think about this for a second. They were 1 nothing down and still defending like fuck - because they had no other choice. Surely that is a positive.

[DMax399 3,685]

They had a back 5 for the first half.

Very frustrating to watch, and unfortunately very difficult to break down.

[SIRB_72 3,986]

I mean to be fair today it took us 2 minutes to break Hamilton down.

[King Jela 20,360]

We’ve absolutely pumped teams that hav came and sat back this season, even today we unlocked Hamilton more than enough times to bury the game but we were striker-less up front 

[Brackley Bluenose 4,479]

2 minutes ago, cushynumber said:

think about this for a second. They were 1 nothing down and still defending like fuck - because they had no other choice. Surely that is a positive.

That’s a good point. Surely if you’re a fan of that club or even a board member, you must look at that and think why isn’t the a manager showing any ambition now that we are behind. You either lose 1-0 or worse or maybe sneak a 2-2 going for it. Especially without Morelos in the team, we aren’t exactly dynamite in an attacking sense at this moment in time. 

[Dazzler 2,428]

They could try a shot from distance once in a while.

They could even try and play through the middle now and again just to see what happens, never know.

[MrMckee 3,420]

I think the forward players need to get themselves into better positions. How many times have we seen us break away in 3v3 situation that looks promising and we end up having to pass it backwards and lose the opportunity.

[Getstiffed 8,863]

8 minutes ago, cushynumber said:

think about this for a second. They were 1 nothing down and still defending like fuck - because they had no other choice. Surely that is a positive.

To me that's how I know we've improved compared to last season. There is a definite fear of giving is time and space to exploit whereas last season we could go ahead early on and teams like Hamilton would still come out and try to play.

[ritchieshearercaldow 22,123]

10 minutes ago, SIRB_72 said:

I mean to be fair today it took us 2 minutes to break Hamilton down.

We caught them cold mate.

Then they got the act together 

[Lloyd 10,756]

Maybe just sign some cunt that can shoot from outside the box.

[BlueAvenger 10,205]

Frustrated too about the number of decent corners we put in and no one on the end of them. 

[BILLYBOY50 1,638]

I think with a more creative midfielder and Alfredo playing today we would of scored 3 or 4 Just look powder puff up front and Lafferty I don't think is the answer.

 

 

[ritchieshearercaldow 22,123]

1 minute ago, BlueAvenger said:

Frustrated too about the number of decent corners we put in and no one on the end of them. 

Would be interesting to know how many corners we’ve had this season and how many resulted in a goal.

From memory we’ve been awful at scoring from them the past few seasons.

[Brackley Bluenose 4,479]

We could help ourselves a little bit by moving the ball quicker, playing with more intensity and looking forwards with our passes as opposed to back and sideways which is a huge preference for our midfielders. 

[jamess 3,407]

16 minutes ago, Siwel said:

Maybe just sign some cunt that can shoot from outside the box.

On target please.

[The Wire 242]

I thought we were a lot better today in terms of getting the ball forward into dangerous positions, but we weren't turning that possession into dangerous chances and goals. 

Hopefully we can keep getting the ball forward and the goals will come. 

[jamess 3,407]

12 minutes ago, Brackley Bluenose said:

We could help ourselves a little bit by moving the ball quicker, playing with more intensity and looking forwards with our passes as opposed to back and sideways which is a huge preference for our midfielders. 

Yes we are very ponderous most of the time.  Don't think its just the strikers or striker singular,  but the service to them.  Slow to get forward and not getting enough players quickly into the box. By the time we get near a penalty area most teams have their entire 11 in there.

[WATPWATP 160]

I'm more concerned that we had over 20 corners and didn't score off any! surely to fuck at least one should've been stuck in,our set pieces are horrendous,and we're guilty of losing a few goals to them too.

katic used to bang some in,but Gerrard keeps him out the team.

[ElBufalo20 7,875]

We are missing something. I’m not sure it’s the no.10 everyone talks about but there is just that spark or drive in the midfield to carry us eg Barry Ferguson.

We’re not far away but just that sort of X factor player we need.

[DrLaudrup 4,563]

1 hour ago, King Jela said:

We’ve absolutely pumped teams that hav came and sat back this season, even today we unlocked Hamilton more than enough times to bury the game but we were striker-less up front 

It requires a lot of discipline to sit and defend for 90 mins. Poorer teams often lack that positional discipline. If we score often they lose the head and the flood gates can open. I think some sides we've faced this season have been pretty well drilled defensively. It's hard and always has been. 

I remember during 9IAR, vital matches against Partick Thistle or similar teams 0-0 with a few mins to go and a moment of magic from Gascoigne or something winning the game for us. Also we often ended up drawing games and just couldn't get the break through. All big teams have the same issue - we don't have any divine right to pump any team. Nobody wants to set up to get beaten. Walter did the same in our run to the UEFA Cup final. We were really well drilled defensively and got criticised for playing anti-football by Barcelona or whoever it was. We did what we had to do.  

Until we have more creative attacking players we will run into these issues. 

 

[bordersbear 1,105]

3 minutes ago, DrLaudrup said:

It requires a lot of discipline to sit and defend for 90 mins. Poorer teams often lack that positional discipline. If we score often they lose the head and the flood gates can open. I think some sides we've faced this season have been pretty well drilled defensively. It's hard and always has been. 

I remember during 9IAR, vital matches against Partick Thistle or similar teams 0-0 with a few mins to go and a moment of magic from Gascoigne or something winning the game for us. Also we often ended up drawing games and just couldn't get the break through. All big teams have the same issue - we don't have any divine right to pump any team. Nobody wants to set up to get beaten. Walter did the same in our run to the UEFA Cup final. We were really well drilled defensively and got criticised for playing anti-football by Barcelona. We did what we had to do.  

Until we have more creative attacking players we will run into these issues. 

 

Good point there. But Lafferty could have easily had at least two today. Hit the post and came back off keeper and then that save second half. If either had gone in or both I think their arses would have collapsed. Luck was on their side today!

[AlCapone 7,678]

1 hour ago, Brackley Bluenose said:

That’s a good point. Surely if you’re a fan of that club or even a board member, you must look at that and think why isn’t the a manager showing any ambition now that we are behind. You either lose 1-0 or worse or maybe sneak a 2-2 going for it. Especially without Morelos in the team, we aren’t exactly dynamite in an attacking sense at this moment in time. 

That’s their choice, and right,  it’s our problem to break them down. No of us were complaining when Smith parked the bus in the 2008 UEFA run. 

[DrLaudrup 4,563]

1 hour ago, Getstiffed said:

To me that's how I know we've improved compared to last season. There is a definite fear of giving is time and space to exploit whereas last season we could go ahead early on and teams like Hamilton would still come out and try to play.

There is no doubt that teams are setting up showing us far more respect than in previous seasons. That plus the general attitude of the SFA, media and opposing managers and fans tells me the perception is that we are back and they are all seething about it.