Football for A Dummy

[Big Ern]

Being a bit of a thicko that I is innit and not being able to attend matches due to where I live, I was wondering somthing.

It seems the general opinion on here is that Guthrie, our creative central midfielder, has been our standout player this year, however we are struggling to score from open play. Quite simply, how does that work?

If you can't help with this question, then maybe you could help me with another question posted on AE...Where do babies come from?

Thanks and Big Hugs to everyone.

[leon]

We don't pass the ball quickly enough. Guthrie sits deep and moves the ball around well but we are a too obvious. Our main threat is still from the wings.

[maffff]

If you ask nicely Brendan Rodgers might lend you his big book of tictacs

[Maguire]

Wouldn't say Guthrie is a creative central midfielder to be honest. Does a good job of keeping the ball moving, getting it out wide, etc etc but he doesn't do what eg. Sigurdsson did.

I think delivery from wide has been a problem this season. I like McCleary but he needs to just concentrate on going at his man in the last third and putting a decent ball in the box. Same with Drenthe. Same with any wide player.

People used to take the piss out of Pardew because he'd say to Salako "right, your aim today is to provide 15 crosses" but he knew what he was talking about. Salako had excellent delivery and crosses get you goals.

It also doesn't help rotating your strikeforce all the time because there's very little interplay between them. Pog and ALF (for example) seem to just play their own games, doing what they do best as individuals, rather than actively look to work off each other.

[Agent Balti]

Guthrie doesn't play high enough up the pitch to provide that threat in the final third. He's entrenched in the second third instead, being the 'Quarterback' (as much as I hate that phrase.) The idea being that he releases the wider players to do their 'magic'.

He is, and has been, our best player, easily. He's just not an assist machine, like an Ozil, he's more of a Carrick-type.

[Handsome Man]

We are not the finished article yet, but what Guthrioe has done this season has been significant. He has encouraged much better passing by the defenders by simply making himself available so often. This will start bearing fruit eventually and must begin to start creating chances soon.

As for the dearth of goals, you have got to look elsewhere: losing MacAnuff and Kebe; LeFondre's unusual goals:influence ratio; Drenthe's weight/fitness/pace problem. There are lots of small things that will probably cure themself over a full season.

[Vision]

He's basically James Harper without the pointing and the gimp shinpads.

[Maguire]

He's basically James Harper without the pointing and the gimp shinpads.

Yep basically a more intelligent version of James Harper.

Hang on, that's not right.

He's basically James Harper.

[Hoop Blah]

He's basically James Harper without the pointing and the gimp shinpads.

I was about to say much the same.

Guthrie has been good this season but, like Harper, he'll create the opportunities to create for other players. The problem is those other players haven't shown enough quality to make the final balls count.

[One8Seven1]

Being a bit of a thicko that I is innit and not being able to attend matches due to where I live, I was wondering somthing.

It seems the general opinion on here is that Guthrie, our creative central midfielder, has been our standout player this year, however we are struggling to score from open play. Quite simply, how does that work?

He pulls the strings from a deep midfield position, not an advanced position. Look to the likes of HRK and McAnuff who's distribution is diabolical for why there's a lack of quality going into the box.

[Hoop Blah]

Being a bit of a thicko that I is innit and not being able to attend matches due to where I live, I was wondering somthing.

It seems the general opinion on here is that Guthrie, our creative central midfielder, has been our standout player this year, however we are struggling to score from open play. Quite simply, how does that work?

He pulls the strings from a deep midfield position, not an advanced position. Look to the likes of HRK and McAnuff who's distribution is diabolical for why there's a lack of quality going into the box.

You were doing ok until the nonesense about McAnuff!

[HoneyRoastHoax]

[NewCorkSeth]

What god is this?

[Big Ern]

Ok so it is not Guthrie's fault, could someone please provide me with a scapegoat so I can vent my anger with a thunderous fury on the internet.

[Royalwaster]

Wouldn't say Guthrie is a creative central midfielder to be honest. Does a good job of keeping the ball moving, getting it out wide, etc etc but he doesn't do what eg. Sigurdsson did.

I think delivery from wide has been a problem this season. I like McCleary but he needs to just concentrate on going at his man in the last third and putting a decent ball in the box. Same with Drenthe. Same with any wide player.

People used to take the piss out of Pardew because he'd say to Salako "right, your aim today is to provide 15 crosses" but he knew what he was talking about. Salako had excellent delivery and crosses get you goals.

It also doesn't help rotating your strikeforce all the time because there's very little interplay between them. Pog and ALF (for example) seem to just play their own games, doing what they do best as individuals, rather than actively look to work off each other.

Problem with Pardew's tactic was that we had no-one in the team who could head the ball ... Cureton, Butler all sucked at heading the ball ... so he'd fizz in some great crosses but no-one would reach them. I remember finding it pretty frustrating to watch and wondering why he didn't cross them in along the floor instead.

[sandman]

Ok so it is not Guthrie's fault.

Ah yes... the HNA? motto.

[MeMeMe]

Christ on a bike... dey get left undur bushis... dint yer muvver tell yer nuffin ?

[Royal91]

We never bought a CAM, I guess the closest thing was going to Drenthe but he's another winger.

I actually fancy Williams to play further forward and get beyond the strikers.

[Handsome Man]

Ok so it is not Guthrie's fault, could someone please provide me with a scapegoat so I can vent my anger with a thunderous fury on the internet.

It was Robson-Kanu, but he scored at Barnsley, when there was was some highly amusing stuff on the match thread about LeFondre being ineffectual, so you could try him.

[Royal Biscuitman]

He's basically James Harper without the pointing and the gimp shinpads.

Yep basically a more intelligent version of James Harper.

Hang on, that's not right.

He's basically James Harper.

A better tackling version of James Harper who can run forwards and backwards, not just sideways. He still does the Harper/Leigerwood pirouette when receiving the ball though.