Kempstondons6 wrote:
So what is the point of Gilbey dropping back to the edge of the box to take the ball off the feet of a defender? Surely the defenders are capable of bringing the ball forward a few yards and passing thus moving our team further down the field? If all you do is pass it across the back going nowhere ala Robboball you are likely to lose the ball and concede but the one thing that won’t happen is we will score!
I thought the philosophy was 666 and move the ball quickly and productively.?
He's taking it off the goalkeeper, not the defenders. I think there are three advantages of Gilbey (or Upson, whoever) dropping to the edge of the box to pick the ball up:
a) It coaxes the other opposition forward and therefore creates space behind them once we pass through their first line of players.
b) It allows the centre-halves to receive the ball on the touchline and the full-backs to push forward, so there are more options for the next pass.
c) If Gilbey has space to turn and drive forward through his own half, we have a player who is comfortable on the ball acting as the playmaker, rather than a lumbering centre-half (who would also be dribbling out of position).
I agree that is has to be quicker though, and so does Dan. I was watching on iFollow and could hear most of what the benches were saying. He was constantly telling players to speed it up (and coaching McGrandles through the game at No.10).