05-22-2017, 04:07 AM
(05-22-2017, 03:41 AM)sydneybluesfan link Wrote:Too add to that, it also appears that it works quite well when moving the ball from defence thru to the centre of the ground, but we really struggled after quarter time to move the ball forward of centre. Opposition sides have plenty of time to man up and flood back, so finding a target is almost impossible. So we bomb it in, and the opposition [Johnson yesterday] just take intercept marks.
You still need fast link players who can carry the ball through the midfield to put the backmen out of position and make this plan work, otherwise we will continue to score 10 goals at best per week like we have for 3 years and we will win 5-6 games at best. We are struggling to fill these roles at the moment, as the kids don't have the tank to play that role consistently.
I am optimistic about the ability of the last 2 draft crops, but until we can turn at least one into a genuine, consistent goal kicking forward threat, and we trade in at least 1 established forward, we will keep bouncing along the bottom like we have for 3.5 years.
Yes, Nick Riewoldt was a guest commentator on one of the televised games this weekend, and mentioned that all teams these days are spending lots of time at training practicing the fast break, chain-of-handballs from a stoppage / congested area. I would assume because players are so fit and well drilled these days that catching them off guard or on the fast break gives the best chance of scoring.
Every game plan / style has its strengths and weaknesses, and with the right players and right coaching, they can all be made to work and be successful. Every team needs to be able to play a few different ways, and needs to be able to change things up to suit the circumstances.
Whatever "educational" motivation might be behind Bolton's ideas, my concern is that he coaches this way because that's what he feels comfortable with and that's what he learned from Clarko, and that it's not the best way going forward. I hope I'm wrong, but I do get worried sometimes that we will be left behind.