Creativity in the team

[Karsmakers]

The team is full of industry and hard work but where are we going to get some creativity from? Someone who can pick a decisive pass or beat defenders off the dribble? We do have several players who will go at defenders like Summerville, Gnoto and Aaronson but apart from Gnoto when he is playing well, no one seems capable of creating quality shots from outside the box.. Our midfield seems industrious but completely lacking creative passes or having a go from outside the box. I do see some limited creativity and box to box running from McKennie but it's yet to pay off. I think part of the blame also falls on our wide players and the poor service they continually provide...balls over hit or under hit. Our set plays are horrid. The same pooling of players around the keeper with no movement or momentum arriving in the box. Combine that with the poor deliveries and we've waisted a multitude of oppurtunities. We may as well have a few payers run near post to get on the end of our corners. Roca can play a long diagonal ball or deliver a decent set peice but otherwise provides half the indusrty of Adams and much less going forward than Mckennie. I have seen Mckennie make deep runs from the midfield for Juventus and finish quality balls delivered from wide on the counter,..but we rarely play that way. It seems like most or our counter play is disrupted by a back pass or the ball getting stuck in someones feet. Bamford provides nothing but occasional hold up play and dissapointment. It feels like Bamford and Harrison continue to play because the manager HOPE's they can return to past form, but they continue to prove they can't. In summary, our options are limited but Javi needs to clean up the set plays and offer up prayers for Rodrigo to come back soon. I also believe he can clean up our counter attacks and instruct our midfielders to take more shots instead of trying to force passes in the box, and drill our wide players on their service in the box. It's too late to bring anyone else in so what else can we realistically do to create chances and stay up?

[Cjay]

Creativity is an issue as you say

Especially centrally.

We have wide players who can run and put a cross in (occasionally).

We have nobody who can play those tight through balls Pablo used to.

We clearly hoped Aaronson would but his end product was poor even in Austria.

Adams bless him is a typical energizer bunny with limited technical ability.

Roca is a defensive midfielder.

Mckennie is a more attacking Adams but without the class of a natural creative midfielder.

There is very little creativity in this team and a lot of it is down to Orta and his recruitment.

The obsession with buying players who run a lot in attacking areas is a massive issue.

Our attack is basically made up of that type of player

None of our players shine on the creativity analysis stuff Orta will have done.

He made a conscious decision to ignore that.

[Carrick Dave]

What about Perkins, isn't he supposed to be a creative emerging talent? Needs must when the devil drives....

[Cjay]

What about Perkins, isn't he supposed to be a creative emerging talent? Needs must when the devil drives....

Don't watch the u21s but more of a striker isn't he?

Just checked and he has 0 assists this season.

[Leeds1000]

The team is full of industry and hard work but where are we going to get some creativity from? Someone who can pick a decisive pass or beat defenders off the dribble? We do have several players who will go at defenders like Summerville, Gnoto and Aaronson but apart from Gnoto when he is playing well, no one seems capable of creating quality shots from outside the box.. Our midfield seems industrious but completely lacking creative passes or having a go from outside the box. I do see some limited creativity and box to box running from McKennie but it's yet to pay off. I think part of the blame also falls on our wide players and the poor service they continually provide...balls over hit or under hit. Our set plays are horrid. The same pooling of players around the keeper with no movement or momentum arriving in the box. Combine that with the poor deliveries and we've waisted a multitude of oppurtunities. We may as well have a few payers run near post to get on the end of our corners. Roca can play a long diagonal ball or deliver a decent set peice but otherwise provides half the indusrty of Adams and much less going forward than Mckennie. I have seen Mckennie make deep runs from the midfield for Juventus and finish quality balls delivered from wide on the counter,..but we rarely play that way. It seems like most or our counter play is disrupted by a back pass or the ball getting stuck in someones feet. Bamford provides nothing but occasional hold up play and dissapointment. It feels like Bamford and Harrison continue to play because the manager HOPE's they can return to past form, but they continue to prove they can't. In summary, our options are limited but Javi needs to clean up the set plays and offer up prayers for Rodrigo to come back soon. I also believe he can clean up our counter attacks and instruct our midfielders to take more shots instead of trying to force passes in the box, and drill our wide players on their service in the box. It's too late to bring anyone else in so what else can we realistically do to create chances and stay up?

Good post i think you pretty much sum things up. I think Rutter has played the two best thru balls in the last two games maybe try him in at 10 when we get a fit striker. Its been said a gazillion times we just haven't got a Pablo type to really open things up. Dallas would be a breath of fresh air in this midfield, he can carry the ball and pass well but that's clutching at straws with his current predicament.

We look a little more threatening when we get a decent corner in the box than we used to but its been a problem now for years. Open play seems like the only way we will score and that's not going well is it. I think Willy & Jimmy could maybe draw a few more fouls in the box but again that's clutching at straws. And to top it off players still not marking properly in our box as we have seen today with the set-piece makes things even harder.

Its a bit glum in the garden but when we beat Brighton the Roses will be back in bloom.

[SG90]

Archie Gray

[Irish Ian]

I dont see much early balls into the box or late runs from midfield.

More often than not we are slow in transition and the opposition is back into its shape and it then depends on our guys being better in the one on one battles.

That is a huge ask week in week out and for me one of the changes need to be in the midfield area.

I recall this subject coming up when we promoted and there being articles in the media discussing how in the PL players need to think that bit faster than before.
First season we were doing that because Bielsa had drilled them so well and the transitions were instinctive check back and see the goals we scored away to Leicester and Villa for great examples.
Last season we were doing the same under Bielsa and then this season we were scoring goals using Jesses chaos theory. That is where Rods goals were coming from.

Now Javi will have to find a way to drill them and for me that has to be by finding someone who can cope with the 10.
So far everyone has struggled, perhaps Rutter, or even Sini when he returns.

[Finnatic]

Why not Gnonto as a 10?
He can play precise passes and is skilful and has the vision needed for that role.
He’s got the Maradona build and strength and would win many free kicks - which wouldn’t be converted, obviously .

[WhiteRose]

Archie Gray

Was going to say gray - gracia appears to rate him as he is getting on the bench but maybe thinks it’s a risk to bring him on and would rather turn to the tried and failed more experienced players. I’d like to see him given a go.

[Irish Ian]

Why not Gnonto as a 10?
He can play precise passes and is skilful and has the vision needed for that role.
He’s got the Maradona build and strength and would win many free kicks - which wouldn’t be converted, obviously .

Good shout.

[1964white]

Why not Gnonto as a 10?
He can play precise passes and is skilful and has the vision needed for that role.
He’s got the Maradona build and strength and would win many free kicks - which wouldn’t be converted, obviously .

Would cause havoc to defences if we played Gnonto centrally, CB's are vulnerable when pacy attackers run at them.

[Barlow Boy]

Would cause havoc to defences if we played Gnonto centrally, CB's are vulnerable when pacy attackers run at them.

We’d get plenty of free kicks.

[1964white]

We’d get plenty of free kicks.

Unfortunately, no one to take advantage of the free-kicks, Harrison & Aaronson would stand over the ball whispering to each other prior to skying the ball over the bar.

[SG90]

Unfortunately, no one to take advantage of the free-kicks, Harrison & Aaronson would stand over the ball whispering to each other prior to skying the ball over the bar.

We'd have to start Greenwood then

[Finnatic]

CB's are vulnerable when pacy attackers run at them.

Like Summerville v Chelsea

[weasel]

Why not Gnonto as a 10?
He can play precise passes and is skilful and has the vision needed for that role.
He’s got the Maradona build and strength and would win many free kicks - which wouldn’t be converted, obviously .

I would love to see what he could do in that role. He just seems to have the knack of being able to create that bit of space for himself and then the quick feet to shoot early, with power, or the footballing brain to play a good pass. I can see Gnonto being a 20 goal a season player in the future, hopefully for us.

I love strikers who can leather the sh*t out of the ball.

[mentalcase]

Lets see if the 'savvy one' puts Marc Roca in the creative role, looks like he was nurturing him on saturday on t' bench for a future role.

[Byebyegeegee]

Our set pieces continue to be abysmal, in fact a corner for us very often turns into a good chance for the opposition. Our free kicks from distance into the area invariably either end up hitting the 1st man or going harmlessly over the top of everyone. You always know that a free kick from just outside the box is going wide or high over the bar no matter who takes it.

Crosses into the box in open play from our wingers invariably miss, and usually by a distance, their target of somewhere/anywhere near the penalty spot, Jack Harrison being the main, but not the only, culprit here. His cross in the second half against Chelsea when, in space and under no pressure, he just skied it high and long straight out for a goal kick, missing the target by about 20 yards - talk about frustrating!

It’s amazing to me that professional footballers at this level seem to find this aspect of the game so difficult, they have all day everyday to practice and yet never seem to improve.

It takes a special talent (Pablo) to see instantly and pick a perfectly weighted pass to open up a defence but surely any footballer worth his salt should be able to put in an effective cross or free kick.

[mentalcase]

Our set pieces continue to be abysmal, in fact a corner for us very often turns into a good chance for the opposition. Our free kicks from distance into the area invariably either end up hitting the 1st man or going harmlessly over the top of everyone. You always know that a free kick from just outside the box is going wide or high over the bar no matter who takes it.

Crosses into the box in open play from our wingers invariably miss, and usually by a distance, their target of somewhere/anywhere near the penalty spot, Jack Harrison being the main, but not the only, culprit here. His cross in the second half against Chelsea when, in space and under no pressure, he just skied it high and long straight out for a goal kick, missing the target by about 20 yards - talk about frustrating!

It’s amazing to me that professional footballers at this level seem to find this aspect of the game so difficult, they have all day everyday to practice and yet never seem to improve.

It takes a special talent (Pablo) to see instantly and pick a perfectly weighted pass to open up a defence but surely any footballer worth his salt should be able to put in an effective cross or free kick.

100% if it wasn't our players continually doing the above it really would be laughable, now it's highly embarrassing.
Maybe they just skip any ideas of set-piece work in training !!
It must be great for them to actually beat the plastic cut-outs time and again and come off the training pitch feeling like they've actually beat a real person.

[Rook]

Unfortunately, no one to take advantage of the free-kicks, Harrison & Aaronson would stand over the ball whispering to each other prior to skying the ball over the bar.