ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

Tactics or just bad crosses?

In the last two games, Leighton Baines was at left-back; I like Baines and think he and Pienaar are a real threat to other teams on the left. But 9 out of 10 times his crosses are on the ground and against a defender, or out for a corner, which I suppose is good to keep the pressure on the other team.

So here is the question: Is this tactics to keep the ball on the ground and against a defender, which almost every time results in a corner for him, or is it just bad crossings from him?
Machiel Barnard, Johannesburg South Africa Posted 29/12/2008 at 03:43:45

back Return to the Mail Bag

Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Dean Johnson
1 Posted 29/12/2008 at 08:32:52

Report abuse

Tough one, although I think it is just bad crosses.

Maybe he can work on it like Hibbo has done of late. His passing has improved massively, as has Jags pace.

Maybe our management can see things we do too? :-)

Ric Wallace
2 Posted 29/12/2008 at 09:16:22

Report abuse

I?d have to disagree lads. Since the City game, I think it has been a ploy to put in these low crosses, not only because if one sneaks through your almost certain of a goal (Chelsea - Fellaini chance) or you?ll get the corner which allows us to show our greatest threat at set pieces.

At the Boro game Baines also put in some deep crosses and he did so again today but at the minute I like these low crosses as defenders have no other way to deal with them, if they get to them, other than giving away corners.

Jason Lam
3 Posted 29/12/2008 at 09:30:43

Report abuse

I think he needs more match practice.

Peter Bourke
4 Posted 29/12/2008 at 09:47:50

Report abuse

I agree with Ric. You are spot on with your assesment.

Mark Stone
5 Posted 29/12/2008 at 10:46:42

Report abuse

Dean you’re right about Hibbo. I thought he played really well yesterday. Unfortunately that didn’t stop the dickhead next to me moaning about him constantly thoughout the game though.

Ricardo Humphries
6 Posted 29/12/2008 at 12:22:43

Report abuse

I?ve always said that the Baines and Pienaar partership shouldn?t be tampered with early this season. As much as I don?t like admitting this..... Baines is our best leftsided defender and I think Pienaar compliments his game. I really don't if it means playing without "always lucky, but very suspect" Lescott.

I would still like to see Moyes bring in Bryce Moon too assist Arteta on the right.

Mick Simopson
7 Posted 29/12/2008 at 13:00:26

Report abuse

Let's get real, the perfect defender, who can defend, get forward and put a perfect cross in everytime, is hard to find... and if you do ? at what price?

Lynn Thorne
8 Posted 29/12/2008 at 13:32:07

Report abuse

I don?t play football, so judge things by what I see. I like the way Baines whips his crosses in ? anything can happen. Lescott at LB loops his crosses in, which appear easier to defend.

Anthony Millington
9 Posted 29/12/2008 at 14:33:42

Report abuse

I?m really pleased for Leighton Baines, he hasn?t been given much of a chance since we signed him, but he has played really well the last few games when we?ve been without Yobo. He?s got good ability, pace and drive to overlap down the flank and cause teams problems and although we?ve not played great teams the last few games we?ve managed to keep clean sheets which will give confidence to Baines and the rest of the back four.

If Baines can keep playing well, it will be interesting to see who will drop out of the back four once Yobo is back, because Moyes would hve to choose either Jags, Lescott or Yobo. Personally, I?d have to say leave obo out, because we?re getting clean sheets without him at the moment and he is always prone to costly lapses in concentation.

Ray Robinson
10 Posted 29/12/2008 at 17:17:36

Report abuse

Anthony. we were keeping clean sheets with Yobo in the team before Baines came into the side, remember. I?d say it?s horses for courses. Against a team like Stoke or Bolton for instance I?d rather play Yobo. Against a team like Arsenal, West Ham etc, who tend to be less direct, I?d maybe play Baines.

I think this is one of the dilemmas that Moyes will face with a full squad available (if we ever get one!): how to adapt to the opposition. Not that we should be changing a winning team, mind you... but there are times when some players can cope better with what the opposition have to throw at you. An example being that Tony Hibbert seems to come into matches when we expect to be on the back foot.

Chris Matty
11 Posted 29/12/2008 at 20:04:36

Report abuse

I hope that Ric Wallace is right. My main complaint this season (and sorry for boring everyone as I have posted on TW a couple of times) has been our one-dimensional attack. We pass the ball out to the wings then launch a high cross in. Nothing against that tactic, unless it is our only tactic. Putting a few hard, low crosses in varies the approach and keeps the defenders guessing. We could also try to play more along the ground through the middle of course, as with the Gosling goal V Sunderland. But a bit of variation as described by Ric would be a good start.