Does anybody else feel that passing back to the keeper and watching him launch a long ball is giving away possession too many times? I know having somebody like Drogba up front helps because he can hold off defenders trying to head the ball but why not just pass to an open defender and build the possession up? Same could go for some goal kicks. A team like Chelsea can hold possession through its passing and kicking the long ball gives up our possession quickly. Any thoughts?

On long kicks, what are the chances of retaining possession once the ball crosses midfield? I'd say less than 50%, because the opponent has a back 7 (or 8) facing the incoming kick, while we have maybe 5 on their side of midfield.

A build-up on the pitch should be successful at crossing midfield at least 90% of the time, because of the defensive numerical advantage. Keepers do start build-ups, but more often go with the long kick. The risk is in losing possession on your own half, but defense should be able to manage to hold possession against attackers, and run them ragged in the process.

I'm old-school, but it seems you are onto something. :)

Edited April 6, 201016 yr by ThunderDan

On long kicks, what are the chances of retaining possession once the ball crosses midfield? I'd say less than 50%, because the opponent has a back 7 (or 8) facing the incoming kick, while we have maybe 5 on their side of midfield.

A build-up on the pitch should be successful at crossing midfield at least 90% of the time, because of the defensive numerical advantage. Keepers do start build-ups, but more often go with the long kick. The risk is in losing possession on your own half, but defense should be able to manage to hold possession against attackers, and run them ragged in the process.

I'm old-school, but it seems you are onto something.

I watched the Barcelona v Arsenal game today and I don't think Barcelona played a long ball once. Their keeper even made short passes on goal kicks. Now, I am not saying we should be like Barcelona. I feel we are just as good as they are and I actually really dislike them because of last year, but they never gave possession away and it was much easier for them to control the game. The long ball just ruins things sometimes.

Adopting a tactic doesn't make us like them, because everything's already been tried by someone.

Says "Little Steven" Van Zandt - "You're only as cool as who you steal from."

I've always had a bit of an issue with the amount of time we give away possession seemingly just because we always have done. If Terry has the ball deep in our own half with minimal pressure on him he rarely just whacks it forward hoping Drogba will make something of it, he passes, often short. So why doesn't the keeper play it short, he needs someone to make themselves available but if he's looking for it he'll generally find someone.

Also when a team takes a kick off, not so much the case any more but it always used to go back to centre mid, who would then hoof it forward. Why? What team gets the ball in centre mid and just hoofs it forward when they're not under pressure and have got options.

You can't loose if the opposition don't have the ball!

Depends very much on the opposition and how high up the pitch they play. For instance against Utd in the second half there was no chance of Cech playing a short ball due to the intensive pressure they placed upon us however against the likes of Arsenal it's much easier to have the short ball option because they don't press nearly so much. Having said that, Arsenal are so crap at dealing with the likes of Drogs that it is a better option to play the long ball against them.

Did anyone else notice Cech grimace when he took a free kick early in the 2nd half against Manure? He kicked a few ball into touch after that on goal kicks, and seemed to be in a little pain after those kicks. I have heard nothing about it since then, so I assume that he is OK, but I still worry a bit.

On Cech, his kicking has improved a bit since he signed for Chelsea, but he takes the long option far too regularly.

When teams are attacking strongly against us, Cech's hopeful long kicks are a liability, even with Drogba in attack we are essentially giving the ball back to the opposition. IMO, it's the weakest part of our possession game but no manager has done anything about it.

I watched the Barcelona v Arsenal game today and I don't think Barcelona played a long ball once. Their keeper even made short passes on goal kicks. Now, I am not saying we should be like Barcelona. I feel we are just as good as they are and I actually really dislike them because of last year, but they never gave possession away and it was much easier for them to control the game. The long ball just ruins things sometimes.

For starters I dont think Barcelona had anyone to receive the long ball in the absence of Zlatan. Keeping that aside I dont think it takes a genius to understand that Barca were just playing to their strength. Though I agree with you to an extent that we can mix it around with even Drogba in our ranks.

Actually I liked the way Butt the Munich keeper side footed out back passes pretty accurately to around the half way line

Actually I liked the way Butt the Munich keeper side footed out back passes pretty accurately to around the half way line

anyone else read that initially as "The Butt Muncher"

theres enough players in our squad that can play and keep the ball,i think we should always play from the back never mind hooffing th ball,where betr then that.