Rugby kick offs

[Matthew Le God]

Anyone else noticed (or got annoyed by ) Saint's tendency in recent games to use a "Rugby" style kick offs?

 

By this I mean two players in the centre circle pass to each other then a "hoof" to the opposition's full back position where Lambert and one other player has made a run to challenge for a header.

 

Normally this either ends in the hoof going straight out of play or the opposition get the ball.

 

I wish they would stop doing this and just retain the ball and build an attack.

[RedAndWhite91]

It's quite frustrating, very amateurish and it's what we used to do in U.15's football.

[alpine_saint]

Havent we done this forever ?

 

I seem to recall we always did this during the early 90s under the likes of Alan Ball.

[RonManager]

Havent we done this forever ?

 

I seem to recall we always did this during the early 90s under the likes of Alan Ball.

 

It's a common practice imo, which normally results in losing possession!

[saint_stevo]

Yes it is utter crap. But i guess the alternative would be give it to the fullback to lump at Lambo and hope for the best from there......

 

Glad Rickie has stopped taking corners now as well...........

[Matthew Le God]

Havent we done this forever ?

 

I seem to recall we always did this during the early 90s under the likes of Alan Ball.

 

It was stupid then and is stupid now.

 

Mr Pardew if you are reading, please stop it!

[Smirking_Saint]

It's quite frustrating, very amateurish and it's what we used to do in U.15's football.

 

Lol i was going to say this.

 

TBH, 75% of our game is a hoof to rickie and 100% of woodens is an ametuerish one.

[saint_stevo]

Lol i was going to say this.

 

TBH, 75% of our game is a hoof to rickie and 100% of woodens is an ametuerish one.

 

Post of the day!

[CitySaint]

It got really embarrassing against Poopey, but at least we then are playing in the opposition teams half.

[Block 5]

Makes no sense to me.

[Window Cleaner]

It's a common practice imo, which normally results in losing possession!

 

 

 

When I'm watching ASM Clermont the much advised commentator assures me it's for "occupation de terrain".Still I suppose Brock James is better at it than whoever kicks off for us. Bet he'd be a better hoofer than Wotton, probably tackle better as well.

[sadoldgit]

I used to tap the ball to one side and our centre forward used to have a pop from the half way line. He scored a couple like that and it certainly got the match off to an interesting start!

[ericofarabia]

I preferred the old cross field pass to Mick Channon who was hugging the touch line (so that he could keep updated by the fans on who was winning the 3 o clock at Ascot or where ever )

 

Spread betting on the time of the first throw in wasn't really an issue in those days

[macthesaint]

Based on last night's pitch,I would say it was a very apt way to start a match!

Bring back Sir Clive. (well for Exeter,Wycombe,Stockport,Bristol,Millwall and Brentford.

All carp pitches as people said last night,fit for spuds and rugger.

[Saint_clark]

To be completely honest 90% of teams I see do this. Absolutely no idea why.

[The9]

Because it allows you to get players forward to press the ball from the throw-in. The alternative being faffing about with it in your own half until the strikers get forward, risking giving it away in your own half (albeit to opponents who are equally short in attacking numbers at that point).

 

Makes sense on bad pitches especially.

[ST Randy]

We did it last night - as did Wycombe.

[Matthew Le God]

Makes sense on bad pitches especially.

 

They do it at St Mary's which is one of the best surfaces in the country.

[Causer]

It makes no sense when at St Marys to hoof the ball forward like we do from the kickoff. The defence and midfield of the opposition will start off in a solid rigid formation and will not be fully prepared for fluid attacking play. There will be gaps to exploit and gain a far more productive outcome than the current tactic which at best wins a throw in. By passing it our players they get an early touch of the ball and can settle in to the game.

 

If possible I think we should aim to get it to Waigo/Antonio/Puncheon/Lallana to run at the defence.

[woodsaint]

Its an attempt to put immediate pressure on the opposing defence and try and get a position high up the pitch, ok it may not be working too effectively but what we do with the first ball played up the pitch will not make or break a game.

Many times youve seen balls go back, defences make a hash of it and its 1-0 inside the first minute lol. Best to push forward from the kickoff me thinks but not a big issue.

 

Pointless thread

[Matthew Le God]

Pointless thread

 

It isn't a pointless thread. The whole point of this forum is for Saints fans to discuss things related to Saints. Others have clearly indicated that they agree with the opening post, others haven't. What comes then is a hopefully friendly discussion. What doesn't help is people declaring their view and that the thread is "pointless".

[St.Jeweller]

wasn't this a Brandfoot tactic?

[Tokyo-Saint]

This has been a running joke between me and my mate since we used to do it to neil Heaney. It's like every manager has been instructed that saints must start this way or the world will end.

[CitySaint]

Who's Brandfoot? Related to Ian Branfoot? Apologies for my pedantry.

[rolosfc]

Havent we done this forever ?

 

I seem to recall we always did this during the early 90s under the likes of Alan Ball.

 

We used to do it under Alan Ball so MLT could try to win his spread bets on when the ball goes out of play!

[Iowsaintsfan]

We used to do it under Alan Ball so MLT could try to win his spread bets on when the ball goes out of play!

 

i was reading the thread and thinking that too, wonder whos doing the spread betting this time

[Lets B Avenue]

You could always have the back 4 pass it between themselves. Lose it and concede within 9 secs like WBA did against Reading last week.

[supersonic]

Based on last night's pitch,I would say it was a very apt way to start a match!

 

Although Hammond completely fooked it up and ended up being a pass back to their keeper.

 

Complete waste of time in my opinion.

 

If you're going to hoof it long, at least pass it back to one of the full backs, thus allowing our attackers to get up to the end of the pitch.

[JackFrost]

I don't like this either, and it does remind me of the Branfoot days.

 

The team IMO has to keep possession better, and learn to dominate and thread balls through when necessary, keeping possession in the process. In AP's defence the reason why we resort to hoofball so much is because Lambert is so dangerous in the air and is exceptionally good at creating something out of a flick-on.

 

That's good for a time until it becomes one dimensional, which we have been far too guilty of in recent games.

[oxfordshire_saint]

I've never really understood the idea of almost certainly giving the ball away from the off.

 

A former manager of mine at non-league level used to justify it by asking us to hit it into a corner from the centre and let the wingers chase the full back down, hopefully resulting in a throw in deep in their half, as we had a lad with a long throw and could put teams under instant pressure, but rarely did it actually work out like that.

 

I don't see what's so wrong with passing back to the defence and moving up the field as a unit with the ball, pushing the opposition back into their own half whilst retaining possession? That said, you argue that if you pass it backwards then lose it, you could potentially put yourself under pressure.

[The9]

They do it at St Mary's which is one of the best surfaces in the country.

 

And how exactly does that detract from the point that it works better on bad pitches ?

[The9]

I've never really understood the idea of almost certainly giving the ball away from the off.

 

A former manager of mine at non-league level used to justify it by asking us to hit it into a corner from the centre and let the wingers chase the full back down, hopefully resulting in a throw in deep in their half, as we had a lad with a long throw and could put teams under instant pressure, but rarely did it actually work out like that.

 

I don't see what's so wrong with passing back to the defence and moving up the field as a unit with the ball, pushing the opposition back into their own half whilst retaining possession? That said, you argue that if you pass it backwards then lose it, you could potentially put yourself under pressure.

 

Pretty much what I already said. Percentage game, neither team has the players in position to attack conventionally at kick off, so you get it somewhere where you can't concede due to an individual mistake and try to build from there.