I was just thinking about something I heard a fellow fan say at yesterdays game and wondered what other Leicester fans thought.
It was during the game and we had just taken a short free kick in a decent position which ended up with the ball going out for an Everton throw in. I heard "Why do we always have to play a passing game? We have a big striker now we should keep kicking hitting balls up to him".
I am not saying there is anything wrong with a long ball game and if played it can be very effective but would many of our fans like to see us play this? Also, do many fans have a problem with us passing the ball and attempting to retain possession looking for a chance when we have free kicks or do you prefer a cross into the box every time?
Long ball game
posted on 17/8/14
We did play the ball long to Ulloa and Wood a few times and they didn't hold it up that well so no to the long ball.
However, we should be putting more balls in to the box for them to get their head on to it!
posted on 17/8/14
Well set pieces are different and we need someone who can swing a cracking delivery into the box. Knocky is good but aside from this we don't really have any free kick experts.
This may explain why we tend to pass from set pieces and build up play rather than swinging the ball jn at every opportunity.
I would like us to use Ulloas height in set pieces but I would hate for us to be a long ball side personally and it would nullify the threat of Knocky and Mahrez to go down this route
posted on 17/8/14
I do believe we need to mix it up a bit, with Ulloa up front (and Wood when he's on) we do now have someone who can score from headers so at least give him a chance occasionally, not all the time but it is frustrating when we have the ball wide and don't at least occasionally put a cross in.
posted on 18/8/14
As Merseyside states, we did play the long ball game rather a lot in the first half yesterday, although that was in no small part down to Everton's tactics: They were pressing us high early on, giving us no time to settle and often that was the only "safe" play. However, we do need to get the passing game going, especially at home, otherwise I can't see us developing in this league. No harm with mixing it up occasionally of course, particularly considering Distin and Jagielka weren't coping the high balls very well, but this shouldn't seriously be considered as a deliberate tactic.
posted on 18/8/14
To be honest I was thinking the same when we started playing short free kicks because we caused them problems when we went long.
I think we should do both because if we have the option of lumping it into the box then why not? If the option is there to play football then play football, if not put them under pressure by sticking balls into the box.
We need to utilise the skills of all the players we have in the squad and the more options we have the more difficult we will be to predict and play against. Time and a place for everything.
posted on 18/8/14
There is a difference as well with long ball clearances to "long ball crosses" when you've got men in the box and a free kick on the wing.