Hoof Ball

[Hazey]

With the signings we've bought in so blatantly clashing with Sturrocks preferred style of play, would it be possible they aren't "his" signings per say and more Tara's suggestions? This is probably highly unlikely but it's just incredibly confusing as to why we would bring in some very technically gifted players and then force them into playing a long ball tactic.

 

[ooh-andy-ansah]

If we win football matches it'll be tolerated.

Not by everybody it won't, people want to be entertained for £21

I can see us getting very low crowds if this doesn't improve quickly.

 

[Winkle]

I can only judge things by what I saw yesterday and that was a total lack of any creativity in our side whatsoever. Surely as a manager"Luggy" can see that all "Gilbert" did in the first half was clip ball up front totally bypassing "Grant" who looks a shadow of the player we all Know leaving scraps for "Harris & Dickinson" to chase, which is Not there game. Once clohessy started bombing on in the second half we had a good spell of crosses and corners and put them under a bit of pressure but why did it take 45 mins to notice that our ball in and upto the final third was cack? Its alright luggy coming out and saying he got his tactics wrong but he is a proven manager who should be able to change things quickly instead of just leaving it as it was for 45 mins? I dont like the way he sometimes blames the players for his tactics even though yesterday quite a few of our players looked very ordinary.

 

[Cricko]

If we win football matches it'll be tolerated.

I can assure you it won't. I would rather sit at home than watch clueless hoofball.

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

I can assure you it won't. I would rather sit at home than watch clueless hoofball.

Indeed and besides it hasnt won the last two football matches.

 

[sufc_tom]

Just reading yesterday's programme at the 'who are you?' with Harris.
One question was:
"R - Rate who do you consider the best player you have played with and against?"

"Dennis Wise is the best I have played with. Where ever I ran he put the ball ten yards in front of me."

Hopefully sturrock reads this and sees Harris likes the ball TO FEET!!

 

[Angell Delight]

Not by everybody it won't, people want to be entertained for £21

I can see us getting very low crowds if this doesn't improve quickly.

Spot on. Blues fans are a fickle but at least knowledgeable crowd. When we were doing well in this league under Tilson we would attract a 7-8,000 average.....I'd be very interested to see what that figure would be if we were excelling under Sturrock - one thing's for sure, it would certainly be lower. When we won under Tilson it was exciting, when we win under Sturrock the only feeling I have is a sense of satisfaction. In my opinion that's not enough.

 

[Cricko]

If this is the "Sturrock" way then albeit the 2nd home game of the season, he will be a lonely man soon enough.

 

[Bluepen]

I dont think he will change his way unless its forced apon by suspension or injuries then the bench players will have to play
his way and be expected to be 90 min match fit....dont matter what you do in training its not the same adrenaline buzz you get when you cross the white line ...already there are some players with a 4 match start in midfield who havent done the buisness yet
but can still expect to keep there place where as others like JJ and Sawyer and to some degree Leonard probably feel unless they played out of there skin are not gonna keep there place its so very hard to find your form like that dont matter who you are.....just an opinion but what do i know

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Just reading yesterday's programme at the 'who are you?' with Harris.
One question was:
"R - Rate who do you consider the best player you have played with and against?"

"Dennis Wise is the best I have played with. Where ever I ran he put the ball ten yards in front of me."

Hopefully sturrock reads this and sees Harris likes the ball TO FEET!!

Sounds more like he prefers the ball played into the space in front of him to me.:winking:

 

[Maidstone Shrimper]

We have 2 strikers who prefer a ball passed to them rather than lobbed in the air in their general direction but a "first choice" midfield of Grant, Ferdinand and Kalala who are ball winners and grafters but no great shakes in the passing department. Our only midfielder with a bit of vision and abilty to pick a pass is Sawyer and until he gets a start we'll get the hoofball that frustrates the fans and our forwards. Yes he fades after about an hour but I'd rather he started than be brought on for the last 15 mins or so when we're desperately chasing the match.

 

[Wise Head]

I used to have a season ticket, I now pay my £19 before match day. I don't expect us to win every match I attend, but when I spend money I want to be entertained. For this I expect the team to play football on the ground and not hoof ball. The tactics are dire & too many players are playing out of their natural positions despite have a large squad. If we don't change tactics fast it will be a long hard season financially with adults reluctant to spend £19/£21 every home game to be poorly entertained. How long will it be before we have non payment of staff issues for the third season on the trot?

For everyone's sake get this sorted out now.

 

[ooh-andy-ansah]

We have 2 strikers who prefer a ball passed to them rather than lobbed in the air in their general direction but a "first choice" midfield of Grant, Ferdinand and Kalala who are ball winners and grafters but no great shakes in the passing department. Our only midfielder with a bit of vision and abilty to pick a pass is Sawyer and until he gets a start we'll get the hoofball that frustrates the fans and our forwards. Yes he fades after about an hour but I'd rather he started than be brought on for the last 15 mins or so when we're desperately chasing the match.

He only fades because he hasn't been given a chance to build his fitness, no amount of training can replicate a full 90 minutes of competitive football.

 

[ooh-andy-ansah]

I dont think he will change his way unless its forced apon by suspension or injuries then the bench players will have to play
his way and be expected to be 90 min match fit....dont matter what you do in training its not the same adrenaline buzz you get when you cross the white line ...already there are some players with a 4 match start in midfield who havent done the buisness yet
but can still expect to keep there place where as others like JJ and Sawyer and to some degree Leonard probably feel unless they played out of there skin are not gonna keep there place its so very hard to find your form like that dont matter who you are.....just an opinion but what do i know

Spot on ! Never underestimate the mental side of things, I know a thing or two about developing elite athletes and the one thing they MUST be allowed to do is perform at the highest possible level with the full support and backing of a coach if they are to improve and we have a number of younger players who would benefit greatly from someone showing belief in them and allowing them to express themselves. Yes they will make mistakes but as we can see from how many people are commenting on Saturday's performance it's not the defeat it's the manner of the defeat that grates.

 

[tommy tucker]

I have said this once before .Sturrock needs an assistant .Coughlan cant do three jobs .Res manager coaching at the training ground and playing games in the first team .He is a nice guy but Paul Sturrock need someone that can share the training that has coaching badges and can sit in the stands an watch the game and can see the problems and relate them to Sturrock .I know we had one in witherington but and it didnt work .But Sturrock needs a man he has worked with before and can trust .I know this costs money but somrtimes you have to give a little to get something in return .

 

[ooh-andy-ansah]

I have said this once before .Sturrock needs an assistant .Coughlan cant do three jobs .Res manager coaching at the training ground and playing games in the first team .He is a nice guy but Paul Sturrock need someone that can share the training that has coaching badges and can sit in the stands an watch the game and can see the problems and relate them to Sturrock .I know we had one in witherington but and it didnt work .But Sturrock needs a man he has worked with before and can trust .I know this costs money but somrtimes you have to give a little to get something in return .

Why someone he has worked with before ? We need a different style not more of the same.

 

[Ricky Otto]

I was happy with Sturrocks appointment as manager because we needed a proven manager to steady the ship, and he certainly did that. I knew we would not play attractive football under him but at the time we were a desperate club with little option. The relationship between Tilson and Martin meant it were impossible for us to keep ST, I was gutted to see him go but knew it had to happen. Even in our relegation season we were playing good football, it were the 2 or 3 stupid defensive mistakes we made every week that put us in that position IMO.
League 2 is dire and hard to get out of, even harder playing football. Sturrock knows how to get out of this league and I think we will see an improvement sooner rather than later. I just hope once we are out of this league Sturrock gets poached by a bigger club and we can install someone who trys to play football!

 

[sufc_tom]

Sounds more like he prefers the ball played into the space in front of him to me.:winking:

Which will end up to feet ;) tch #barnabluegetsitwrongagain :D

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

I don't recall anyone complaining about the style of football when we went from 20th to 8th last season losing just 3 in 14.

Was this because we were winning or because we were playing better football?

 

[Onion_Bag_Dave]

I don't recall anyone complaining about the style of football when we went from 20th to 8th last season losing just 3 in 14.

Was this because we were winning or because we were playing better football?

Both.

We didn't play hoofball at Accrington the other week.
Sturrock has signed footballers that like the ball at their feet it just hasn't clicked as of late. It will soon though, we will then tear apart some of these teams!