What is the furthest point from which Boro will pass it back to the 'keeper?

viv_andersons_nana

Well-known member
I mentioned on a thread last week that we should probably try and pack in with passing it back to the 'keeper from the halfway line. We did it a couple of times on Saturday but it was sort of understandable as there was nothing on in terms of a pass to an outfield player. But last night we managed to excel ourselves. Fisher passed it back from inside the Bristol half just before half time. And then Bola went one better by passing it back to the 'keeper from about twenty yards inside Bristol's half in the second half.

Will anyone better Bola's 60 yard effort before the season ends? That's the real quiz.

I don't remember seeing a team so committed to the idea of knocking it backwards and gifting the opposition 50 or 60 yards with such regularity.
 
Pass it back 50 yards for the goalkeeper to smash it forward and us to be aerially dominated and invite pressure. Stupid, awful tactic which needs binning. It won’t though
 
It’s not exactly pressure release when we never win the header from the hoof either. You can expect it on odd occasions but it’s now part of the tactics, It would be called dinosaur football if other managers employed it.
 
It’s not exactly pressure release when we never win the header from the hoof either. You can expect it on odd occasions but it’s now part of the tactics, It would be called dinosaur football if other managers employed it.

It’s poor. Really poor.
 
I didn't mind it at the start of the season to be honest.
We looked so shell-shocked I wanted that ball as far away from our own penalty box as possible!
Remember those home games back end of last season against Swansea/QPR/Bristol/Cardiff where the opposition kept getting behind us so easily?

It worked as an 'emergency brake'. And blimey the new keeper could handle a pass back with his confident wallops downfield.
It was part of some kind of shape/plan.......not the most advanced......but at least something.
It contributed to us staying up.
Almost the old 'if in doubt, get it out'.
It seemed to help the confidence of players like Bola and Djksteele.
Woodgate had thrown these players into a back 4 and expected them to play like wing-backs. WTF.

But totally agree how watching the SAME PLAN week in week out months later is a tough watch.
We still seem to be limping along in this same 'emergency mode'.
Now the players seem a bit more confident I'd hope they could choose the forward option a bit more often.
Why don't they?
 
I mentioned on a thread last week that we should probably try and pack in with passing it back to the 'keeper from the halfway line. We did it a couple of times on Saturday but it was sort of understandable as there was nothing on in terms of a pass to an outfield player. But last night we managed to excel ourselves. Fisher passed it back from inside the Bristol half just before half time. And then Bola went one better by passing it back to the 'keeper from about twenty yards inside Bristol's half in the second half.

Will anyone better Bola's 60 yard effort before the season ends? That's the real quiz.

I don't remember seeing a team so committed to the idea of knocking it backwards and gifting the opposition 50 or 60 yards with such regularity.
I was at Watford v Boro in the Prem, with a mate who is a Watford season ticket holder (Jan 2017). We had a free kick about a yard inside their half. Surely a chance to play a ball forward, maybe long in to the box, given how bad we were?

I can't remember who took it, Friend maybe. Passes it sideways to Gibson. Gibson then looks forward for options, as Watford are closing down. Gibson turns and passes it back to Valdes from a yard inside their half, off our own free kick.

My Watford mate still laughs about it to this day.... and reminisces about the exciting 0-0 draw we saw that day!! :oops:
 
I was at Watford v Boro in the Prem, with a mate who is a Watford season ticket holder (Jan 2017). We had a free kick about a yard inside their half. Surely a chance to play a ball forward, maybe long in to the box, given how bad we were?

I can't remember who took it, Friend maybe. Passes it sideways to Gibson. Gibson then looks forward for options, as Watford are closing down. Gibson turns and passes it back to Valdes from a yard inside their half, off our own free kick.

My Watford mate still laughs about it to this day.... and reminisces about the exciting 0-0 draw we saw that day!! :oops:
I remember that! I probably posted(moaned) on here about it as well. Those were the days, though, weren't they? Focusing on keeping the goal difference down.
 
Not sure why but these small events stick in the mind don't they.
Here's two of my 'favourite' negative plays:
1) Burnley away with Karanka. Massive match for promotion. We were leading 1-0 and had a free kick just inside their half with 20 mins to go. I was desperate to see one of our centre halfs pushed up (probably Ayala). But no, we kept everyone back and the chance to attack petered out. Burnley scored an equaliser and were subsequently promoted.
2) The classic. Home vs Liverpool under McClaren. 0-0 last minute. We won a corner facing the North Stand.
We played the ball back to our own keeper. For me, part of the joy of football died that day.

Later McClaren explained that Liverpool were good on the counter from set pieces. But come on, really????
 
I was at Watford v Boro in the Prem, with a mate who is a Watford season ticket holder (Jan 2017). We had a free kick about a yard inside their half. Surely a chance to play a ball forward, maybe long in to the box, given how bad we were?

I can't remember who took it, Friend maybe. Passes it sideways to Gibson. Gibson then looks forward for options, as Watford are closing down. Gibson turns and passes it back to Valdes from a yard inside their half, off our own free kick.

My Watford mate still laughs about it to this day.... and reminisces about the exciting 0-0 draw we saw that day!! :oops:

I was there too, and remember it was a poor game. But context is everything - we were probably quite happy with a Premier League point at the time!
 
I was at Watford v Boro in the Prem, with a mate who is a Watford season ticket holder (Jan 2017). We had a free kick about a yard inside their half. Surely a chance to play a ball forward, maybe long in to the box, given how bad we were?

I can't remember who took it, Friend maybe. Passes it sideways to Gibson. Gibson then looks forward for options, as Watford are closing down. Gibson turns and passes it back to Valdes from a yard inside their half, off our own free kick.

My Watford mate still laughs about it to this day.... and reminisces about the exciting 0-0 draw we saw that day!! :oops:
There was an even better moment of lunacy in that game. A ball chipped up towards Negredo lurking on the halfway line and with pin point precision and an elegant volleyed strike of the ball pings it back to Valdes on the edge of our box.
 
One of our corners last night ended up back with our keeper, that was pretty impressive.
I remember that one, I think it was commented on at the time.
Perhaps the fact that we haven't a decent striker in the club who is worth his place in our Championship team affects the decision to pass back to the keeper. At least they reckon that way we retain possession for another couple of seconds.
 
Seem to remember the ball going back to the keeper when Bamford had a free kick 10 yards from the box. Under Karanka I think. We may have even bee 1-0 down at the time
 
I mentioned on a thread last week that we should probably try and pack in with passing it back to the 'keeper from the halfway line. We did it a couple of times on Saturday but it was sort of understandable as there was nothing on in terms of a pass to an outfield player. But last night we managed to excel ourselves. Fisher passed it back from inside the Bristol half just before half time. And then Bola went one better by passing it back to the 'keeper from about twenty yards inside Bristol's half in the second half.

Will anyone better Bola's 60 yard effort before the season ends? That's the real quiz.

I don't remember seeing a team so committed to the idea of knocking it backwards and gifting the opposition 50 or 60 yards with such regularity.
Glad you are back regularly posting Viv - a quality cheerer upper.
 
Not sure why but these small events stick in the mind don't they.
Here's two of my 'favourite' negative plays:
1) Burnley away with Karanka. Massive match for promotion. We were leading 1-0 and had a free kick just inside their half with 20 mins to go. I was desperate to see one of our centre halfs pushed up (probably Ayala). But no, we kept everyone back and the chance to attack petered out. Burnley scored an equaliser and were subsequently promoted.
2) The classic. Home vs Liverpool under McClaren. 0-0 last minute. We won a corner facing the North Stand.
We played the ball back to our own keeper. For me, part of the joy of football died that day.

Later McClaren explained that Liverpool were good on the counter from set pieces. But come on, really????
We were down to ten men and getting hammered. We kept it in the corner from what I remember.

Conversely I remember dimi going up v fulham away and I was shouting at him to stay back. I think Karanka went a bit mental that day.
 
Passing back to the keeper is obviously one of NW key tactics, it just doesn't work, is pointless and boring. Yes if for safety, or if no other option or perhaps on occasions to kill some time but not as our main offensive option.

I know the strikers get some stick and justifiably on occasions but they have very little chance with this approach and especially when you add in regular poor crossing from the wings and frequent float balls from McNair. With very little link up play attempted and one man up front I would imagine it must sap away at your confidence.
 
I like Dijksteel but it does anger me every time he has ball at half way line and turns passes it back to keeper. He must of been instructed this by Warnock.
 
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