Super_Ally 0 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 I'm asking you guys. That's what I'm thinking,let's not get too excited by '' friendlies '',let's see how we perform in the SPL & CL, not trying to put a downer on what seems to have been a good performance tonight against an EPL team full of big money buys, and having not seen the game I am just interested in why all of a sudden we are playing at a level that we haven't for years, maybe it was just a daft question There were signs of a more expansive, exciting passing game against both PSG and Arsenal. Hopefully that's not just because of the lack of pressure on a pre-season game. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 I'm asking you guys. That's what I'm thinking,let's not get too excited by '' friendlies '',let's see how we perform in the SPL & CL, not trying to put a downer on what seems to have been a good performance tonight against an EPL team full of big money buys, and having not seen the game I am just interested in why all of a sudden we are playing at a level that we haven't for years, maybe it was just a daft question The major differences for me Ian (even though we have the same players) were : 1. Better movement off the ball by far 2. Neater, crisper passing 3. The use of triangles for the passing, passing around the opposition 4. Much higher tempo 5. Looking to keep the ball on the deck 6. Good use of one touch passing 7. Passing and moving, looking for the return ball 8. Decent possession, for the most part I thought we had City on the back foot for large spells and we played better than they did. They scored in the 1nd half, hit post with last kick and we had a great defensive tackle but other than that didn't really trouble us. meanwhile we had lots of possession, some very good play and a few decent chances of our own. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 There were signs of a more expansive, exciting passing game against both PSG and Arsenal. Hopefully that's not just because of the lack of pressure on a pre-season game. Yep, that was where we were far better tonight (you put it more succinctly than I do). The signs were there against PSG & Arsenal that we wanted to get the ball on the deck. Tonight it simply appeared to come off for for us. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,826 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 The major differences for me Ian (even though we have the same players) were : 1. Better movement off the ball by far 2. Neater, crisper passing 3. The use of triangles for the passing, passing around the opposition 4. Much higher tempo 5. Looking to keep the ball on the deck 6. Good use of one touch passing 7. Passing and moving, looking for the return ball 8. Decent possession, for the most part I thought we had City on the back foot for large spells and we played better than they did. They scored in the 1nd half, hit post with last kick and we had a great defensive tackle but other than that didn't really trouble us. meanwhile we had lots of possession, some very good play and a few decent chances of our own. You mean we played football ? , as I said we will see how we approach the bead & butter games in the SPL 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 You mean we played football ? , as I said we will see how we approach the bead & butter games in the SPL It isnt football the way we have been used to the last couple of years Ian - but what I saw tonight far more resembled the type of football I want to watch (however...... I will still take shitty performances and winning trophies over simply pretty football. Hopefully we get attractive football AND trophies this year). 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,826 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 It isnt football the way we have been used to the last couple of years Ian - but what I saw tonight far more resembled the type of football I want to watch (however...... I will still take shitty performances and winning trophies over simply pretty football. Hopefully we get attractive football AND trophies this year). Oh how Barry Ferguson would shine in a team that had lots of movement from players around him 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gisabeer 409 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Ill pass my judgement when the season starts folks but i am happy that we are at least trying to play football. We created chances tonight and put some passes together which is very pleasing to see. Im am bothered by the fact though that boyd has only played a bit part in the season build up so far. novo and miller missed glaring chances tonight that only strengthens the need to have a recognised striker up front. Take not walter. I also feel that whittaker will be a weak link in the CL. He looked like a fish out of water tonight and struggled for the most part. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,826 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Ill pass my judgement when the season starts folks but i am happy that we are at least trying to play football. We created chances tonight and put some passes together which is very pleasing to see. Im am bothered by the fact though that boyd has only played a bit part in the season build up so far. novo and miller missed glaring chances tonight that only strengthens the need to have a recognised striker up front. Take not walter. I also feel that whittaker will be a weak link in the CL. He looked like a fish out of water tonight and struggled for the most part. Me thinks Boyd will be away at the first decent offer 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Yep, the signs are at least encouraging gisabeer. Hopefully we play like that in the regular season. I cant see us playing this way pre-season and then reverting to type during the season. Surely the point of pre-season games (aside from fitness) is to have your players play the type of game you want when the real action begins. Boyd doesn't suit the way we played tonight. I said earlier, if we persist with the 4-5-1/4-3-3 approach then Boyd is no more than a squad player. Novo and Miller did indeed miss decent chances (in Miller's defence it looked like he didnt expect the ball to reach him, Naismith should have finished that chance before it got to Miller). If Boyd could give us the movement that Miller does and retain his predatory instincts he would be quite the player. But Boyd needs someone else up top with him. It isnt that he isnt trying because he is, but he is so slow and cumbersome that play leaves him behind. In a 4-4-2 Boyd would be 1st striker on my teamsheet but in this current formation I dont think it suits him. Re Whittaker he got found out defensively far too often (I have had that criticism of him since before he signed for us - decent going forward but his positional sense is poor when defending). When Petrov got his goal tonight it was Whittaker that was found wanting and on one other occasion he gave Petrov about 20-25 yards of space to break into. Not necessarily all Whittaker's fault though - if, as I suspect, he is being asked to get forward then he needs someone to cover for him when he does. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Me thinks Boyd will be away at the first decent offer If we are going to continue with this formation then he ie effectively a 3-4 million pound player wasted on the bench. So I suspect you could be right. That isnt me hounding him out though as he IS prolific, but needs a 4-4-2 to be effective. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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