31-08-2016, 16:36
I always had problems with left and right so perhaps that is why I always favour reversing the usual logic. I positively like the left central defender to be right footed. The goal and thus the danger is inside him and thus on his stronger foot. If I had to see my centre back or full back beaten by an opponent I was always happier if it was on the outside. The only thing that would stop Hird playing successfully with Raglan is inside his head.
Dancing's observation about the full backs covering in behind is exactly what full backs are coached to do. It's right, but if they have to over-commit in the centre they can't be in two places at once. Okay a midfielder or winger should help them out, but if they're permanently doing that how does the team get forward?
I'm not sure about keeper coaches. When they first appeared I expected them to revolutionise goalkeeping - they've taken us back from having some of the best keepers in the world to many of the worst. Tommy should need no more than occasional advice at this late stage in his career. When he played behind a defence that was functioning moderately well he was fine, but no keeper can constantly get it right behind a defence that sells him short. Last season he saved their bacon often enough for everyone to overlook his errors ..... otherwise why was he on the field at Bradford?
Matt Duke was a moderate keeper. He might be a brilliant coach. Great coaches weren't always excellent players .....
What Dancing says about Fulton's distribution is very astute because that is often a sign that a keeper is mentally not with it. There's too much running through his head to react quickly when somebody shouts for the ball. You can be thinking about the cross you dropped, a piece of mishandling, worrying whether you are up to this level, thinking about the bollocking the captain gave you, remembering what the manager said ........ In goal there's time to focus and get everything right, but that same amount of time can jumble your thoughts into disorder. You can convince yourself you are crap ..... and that cross, shall I go, shall I stay, what if I drop it, should I punch? Oh shit 0-3. IT IS HARD FOR THE LAD! When a mentally strong keeper like Joe Hart can turn himself into the jibbering wreck of the Euros, it shows you how hard it can be. It doesn't surprise me Fulton is seeking the solace of the aimless hoof. Every keeper will know how he is feeling.
Dancing's observation about the full backs covering in behind is exactly what full backs are coached to do. It's right, but if they have to over-commit in the centre they can't be in two places at once. Okay a midfielder or winger should help them out, but if they're permanently doing that how does the team get forward?
I'm not sure about keeper coaches. When they first appeared I expected them to revolutionise goalkeeping - they've taken us back from having some of the best keepers in the world to many of the worst. Tommy should need no more than occasional advice at this late stage in his career. When he played behind a defence that was functioning moderately well he was fine, but no keeper can constantly get it right behind a defence that sells him short. Last season he saved their bacon often enough for everyone to overlook his errors ..... otherwise why was he on the field at Bradford?
Matt Duke was a moderate keeper. He might be a brilliant coach. Great coaches weren't always excellent players .....
What Dancing says about Fulton's distribution is very astute because that is often a sign that a keeper is mentally not with it. There's too much running through his head to react quickly when somebody shouts for the ball. You can be thinking about the cross you dropped, a piece of mishandling, worrying whether you are up to this level, thinking about the bollocking the captain gave you, remembering what the manager said ........ In goal there's time to focus and get everything right, but that same amount of time can jumble your thoughts into disorder. You can convince yourself you are crap ..... and that cross, shall I go, shall I stay, what if I drop it, should I punch? Oh shit 0-3. IT IS HARD FOR THE LAD! When a mentally strong keeper like Joe Hart can turn himself into the jibbering wreck of the Euros, it shows you how hard it can be. It doesn't surprise me Fulton is seeking the solace of the aimless hoof. Every keeper will know how he is feeling.