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I've been on about this for years, slating the team as the worst crossers in Britain; well it's only fair to mention how much quality we are now getting into the 6 yard box & from lots of different players. It's early days of course but so far I would put us amongst the best crossers in the country rather than like last season, amongst the worst. Nasri's off to a pretty good start in that regard.

Would you say it's 'crosses' or more 'passes' into the front man?

if it's whipped in with the outside foot from distance I'd call it a cross. Plenty of both this afternoon though.

Big improvement in todays game. Just wish we had abit more clout on corners.We have some big guys to aim for and its a valuable asset to have when we might have an off day and score the winner from one.
Im sure DH will let us know if its going to be worked on in training this season.

Good balls into the penalty box from wide areas don't have to be "whipped" in or have back- or side-spin or any of that crap. A simple roll into space in the centre (somewhere between the six yard box and the penalty spot is a good target) from a wide position is often just as hard to defend as the brazil-esque extravagances, though these too have their place.

For reference see the goal in the 1969 Cup Final, from a simple sidefoot pull-back from the bye-line. In contrast see Kevin Horlock's curler across the Blackburn box to The Goat in the promotion decider in 2000. Both really effective and very hard to defend against.

As I see it, mixing things up is the way forward, getting to the bye-line or crossing from deeper, using left and right foot to cross, taking the full-back on or making just enough space to get the ball in. Defenders have got no idea what is coming next. It isn't that complicated really.

I am very pleased indeed with the work being done at the moment in this respect. It doesn't do to get complacent though and it still needs work.

Beefymcfc wrote:Would you say it's 'crosses' or more 'passes' into the front man?

I count any kind of ball behind the defence from the sides of the penalty area as a cross. The rags have won titles by getting that right & we were getting it wrong 90% of the time. We haven't got anyone who hits many balls like the one Bale played to Crouch, but if you do what Toure & Nasri did often enough you don't need it. Of course you can't always get those balls in, but so long as we're trying to do it right, that's all you can ask. We're also playing the ball around the front edge of the box, getting players inrto shooting positions, much better & being much more aware.

I suppose the 'behind the defence' bit is slightly wrong as you could do it with the other foot but getting quality into the danger area is what I'm talking about really.

It is getting better and if it is being targeted in training then presumably the player will learn from the best of each other. Nasri i think we know about, Clichy also, but in theory those two plus Micah, Silva, Milner, AJ, Kun, Yaya, Barry... could and should all be excellent, Zabba, Kolarov should also be more than competent.

oh and Tevez too. Ha!

tbh though it really does help knowing someone is likely to be there.. ie looking to see what comes across and darting in accordingly, both Edin and Kun ( and Mario ) look like they have that skill to wait and get it right to attack the ball. That takes some pressure off the crosser to pick out the player exactly and just concentrate on putting it between the keeper and defenders in that who's going to get it land.