The ball over the top

[Kladze]

I think we're starting to do all this stuff. Now the actual quality of crosses has started to improve, forwards & midfielders will think it's worth making the runs & gamble that a cross will come in. That goal Yaya scored was very different to most of our goals in recent years. I expect they'll want to try it again & mix the odd one in with the passing game & the low crosses.

Similarly, Mario & Aguero are happy to try & get on the end of the [highlight]occasional[/highlight] 'ball over the top' mentioned in the o.p. It will all come together as time moves on & the squad learns its capabilities.

Spot on Ted ........ and the key word is "occasional".

[Mikhail Chigorin]

From time to time, we do play the longer, diagonal pass from deep, up to the flanks where (usually) the full backs have advanced upfield into a bit of space.

We did it a couple of times against Villareal away, where the ball was played from the right, over to Kolarov who was well forward, but a nice example was Milner's goal against Aston Vanilla where he received the ball deep on the left and played a long, flighted pass to Johnson on the far side of the pitch, in an advanced position and in a bit of space.

If we're playing our normal, short passing game and teams are crowding the middle, mixing it up with the occasional long pass to the flanks is a good way to take advantage of their narrower defending and to stretch play.

At the very least, it keeps the opposition having to work to contain us and to be unsure of what we're going to do next.

[Tokyo Blue]

The second goal against Fulham. Big boot, knock down, shot, goal. Simple.

[Slim]

The second goal against Fulham. Big boot, knock down, shot, goal. Simple.

Second goal against Villa, long diagonal from halfway, Collins falls on arse, Johnson passes it into the net.

[brite blu sky]

Not sure how many but we have had a few also from going down the wing looking like going behind to cross and cut back to a player standing all alone in the middle because the defence has all run on to try and defend the expected cross. Mario's first v rags ? Milner's beaut v Villa, although that had Barry to pass after the cut back.

[sheblue]

If we're playing our normal, short passing game and teams are crowding the middle, mixing it up with the occasional long pass to the flanks is a good way to take advantage of their narrower defending and to stretch play.

i agree, variety is the spice of life........

[Slim]

If we're playing our normal, short passing game and teams are crowding the middle, mixing it up with the occasional long pass to the flanks is a good way to take advantage of their narrower defending and to stretch play.

i agree, variety is the spice of life........

Don't be ridiculous.

Cinnamon is the spice of life.

[dazby]

I thought it was coriander?

[Kladze]

I thought it was coriander?

That's coriandrea.

Fool!

[Slim]

I thought it was coriander?

That's coriandrea.

Fool!

I thought his name was Corradi.

[Kladze]

I thought it was coriander?

That's coriandrea.

Fool!

I thought his name was Corradi.

www.corradidellosport.it ?