Everton play like 'Stoke'

[noharmdone]

Because hitting an everton shirt from five yards away is easier than hitting one from eighty yards away.

Jags and Pip will get it right one day mate..

 

[Allezfan]

Ino but everyone just lets Barcelona and Spain play there own game and sit back on them instead of having a go

What do you think is more likely though? That every single manager in the world just gets their tactics wrong when playing posession football or it's simply more effective?

No long ball team has ever dominated at the top level. It's an inefective tactic.

 

[Del]

Ino but everyone just lets Barcelona and Spain play there own game and sit back on them instead of having a go

No they dont

Teams try and press them high up but the players in the Spain/Barca teams have to much quality and keep the ball for long periods

 

[wandyr79]

Long balls aren't the most effective way of playing football, though or Stoke would be winning the champions League rather than Barcelona and Norway rather than Spain would be dominating international football.

One dimensional football is not the best way to play football.

Teams that can mix up their play generally win things whether that is mixing all out attack with counter attacks or a narrow slow build up game with fast attacking wing play. This includes long balls compared to short passes.

Their are exceptions to the rule as in Spain and Barca who simply have amazing talent to get by if they are struggling to create or take chances.

 

[noharmdone]

What do you think is more likely though? That every single manager in the world just gets their tactics wrong when playing posession football or it's simply more effective?

No long ball team has ever dominated at the top level. It's an inefective tactic.

Barca needed a 'plan B' last year against Chelsea though mate ? Im joking earlier on the thread, but I think the ran out of ideas in that game !

 

[Allezfan]

One dimensional football is not the best way to play football.

Teams that can mix up their play whether that is mixing all out attack with counter attacks or a narrow slow build up game with fast attacking wing play. This includes long balls compared to short passes.

Their are exceptions to the rule as in Spain and Barca who simply have amazing talent to get by if they are struggling to create or take chances.

Yeah, I agree with all this.

What I'm really arguing with is that long balls are essentially better than keeping posession. Which is what the original post is saying. You're much less likely to score if you can't keep hold of the ball and much more likely to concede.

 

[ANDYEFC95]

No not every team an I don't mean that u do a long ball every time you have it but I'd rather watch direct football straight up to attack than having your Keeper on 40 passes a game just for the sake of keeping the ball

 

[roydo]

Through the middle lad, the only way to world domination.

 

[Allezfan]

Barca needed a 'plan B' last year against Chelsea though mate ? Im joking earlier on the thread, but I think the ran out of ideas in that game !

Sure but by and large they win more then they lose. If there was one long ball side half as successful as them then fair enough, it's purely personal choice. But no european trophy has ever been won by a proper long ball team.

Greece in 2002 and Stan Cullis' 1950s' Wolves side are the only even half decently successful direct teams.

 

[Allezfan]

No not every team an I don't mean that u do a long ball every time you have it but I'd rather watch direct football straight up to attack than having your Keeper on 40 passes a game just for the sake of keeping the ball

There's a happy medium between just watching the keepers take turns in kicking the ball out of play and watching Houllier's liverpool, though.

Our current style is pretty much perfect in my eyes and that isn't long ball at all.

 

[manxtoffee]

What I'm really arguing with is that long balls are essentially better than keeping posession. Which is what the original post is saying. You're much less likely to score if you can't keep hold of the ball and much more likely to concede.

Not disagreeing with you, but didn't Mourinho tell his Inter players not to keep hold of the ball so they would be better placed, hence his players were in optimal position for the counter? Methink it was CL SF against Barca.

 

[ANDYEFC95]

Your on about barca getting pressed high up the field that means the whole of the opposition team is higher up the pitch so if they had a quick striker standing on the last man a long ball over the top for him to run on too would be ideal for a chance at goal but they would rather give it to the keeper

 

[Allezfan]

Not disagreeing with you, but didn't Mourinho tell his Inter players not to keep hold of the ball so they would be better placed, hence his players were in optimal position for the counter; albeit CL SF against Barca I think.

When they were 3-1 up from the first leg and only had to lose 1-0 to go through, yes. That's not how most games are played.

 

[Elong]

I think we have the balance about right. Having a long ball option in Fellaini in essence acts as a foil and gives us more space to play our short game as defenders track back to cover him and Jelavic. Both styles work together.

 

[wandyr79]

Yeah, I agree with all this.

What I'm really arguing with is that long balls are essentially better than keeping posession. Which is what the original post is saying. You're much less likely to score if you can't keep hold of the ball and much more likely to concede.

Agreed but only if that possession is in the right areas, Swansea and now Liverpool can have all the possession they like at the back, it is not going to win games against teams who play a high line and pressure the ball high up the pitch. Teams that are able to play the long/direct ball (even if it is their only tactic) should have more chance of winning than the former, if they play it well of course.