Long Ball

[lurking]

One thing that I think has to get better for the US is our long passes. No, its not what your thinking about, its not boom ball from the back to the head of a target forward like that. What Im talking about are long diagnol passes.

The first example that comes to mind are cross field switches. We very seldom will hit a good cross field switch to change the point of attack. It seems like when we get to attack up a side, we tend to get locked into that side. Defenses shift to that side and start to clamp down on that side of the field, while space opens up on the other side. We dont do a good job of moving the ball to the other side, hitting that ball across the field that changes the point of attack. When you do that passing lanes, defensive pressure, all of that switches and in that switching I think there is opportunity to create attacking options.

The second kind are high crosses and through balls from the outside and upfield a bit. I think its a better angle at which to try and spring the forwards, and it opens up space in the corners behind the outside defenders. That kind of space can be exploited for our oustide attackers to run by and cross in, or to find our forwards or midfielders making runs outside, pulling defenders with them and really starting to break down the opponets defensive shape. Since we dont hit these balls though I think central defenders can crack down harder on our forwards, since they have fewer worries to get beat, and outside defenders are more efficiently able to keep in line with the other defenders.

Am I right? Or wrong? Discuss.

[pkwin]

i tend to believe that passing in general is problematic for the nats. there are often one touch passes between players in space, but when it comes to the things that you mentioned, linked passes, switching the field, and placing balls in the box, the passes tend to be awkward at best. crossing especially is something that is done with little expertise for whatever reason. while i don't feel that we are so bad that it will cause us to lose games, i'm concerned that it is limiting scoring opportunities. i'll step out here and say that many of the passes that i've seen in the nats games have been those sent into space (namely those passes that result from defensive pressure) without the purpose of creating anything. luckily our guys are generally fit enough to dribble up and down the field to do that *slight sarcasm*.

[RobtheAggie]

This morning I was watching the US-Ecuador pre WC 2002 match in Birmingham. I think that Richard Mulrooney can make those long ball passes that you were alluding to. He also showed it in the match at Safeco Field vs Honduras where Donovan and Mathis scored two goals each. That being said, I am not sure of his overall speed. He is a good play, one like Ralston, who play hard, are skilled, but mabye not quick enough for National Team play.

[appoo]

you right to an extent. US was not very sharp in its long passing game against Poland or Holland. Often misfiring on these passes.

[Woodrow]

One thing that I think is a problem is the technique involved. This relates especially to clearances; but falls under the general category How To Avoid Delivering Hospital Balls. In the so-called 50-50 situations the Polish defenders often won because they had the luxury of better position and a better understanding of how to use brute force to win these duels. However, when starting a transition, for instance after winning a pass or a corner, it is a good idea to hit the open man with a pass he can use. The best technique is not to hit it directly at him, especially a high pass as this tasks him with both controlling the pass and his marker. The advantage goes to the defense as all they have to do is break up the pass to break up the transition. A better technique is to play the ball into space where the recipient take the ball in stride, gaining the advantage of motion, especially motion away from his marker. Clearly this isn't always possible. I've seen us lose to many passes where there was a one-on-one opportunity wasted due to not using the space afforded properly. The players who need to learn this technique most are our defenders, who are even more guilty of playing pinball-soccer; but our one-touch passing in general also tends toward this category. The US needs to utilize more passes that lead into or create space for the recipient.

[lurking]

Well then since most people are agreing here, what do you do about it? I dont think the problem is that we lack the players that can do it, but that we keep playing players who I havent seen that from. Look at the midfield lineup against Poland:

DMB-Mathis(Convey)-Klein
Reyna-(Zavagnin)

Mathis is not really a long passer, DMB and Convey hit a lot of one twos, and Klein wont make long passes either. Reyna tends to hit mid to short range passes although I suspect he could hit longer ones if he wanted to and Zavagnin...

Now, is this because we dont have anyone who can hit long passes? I dont think so, as mentioned Mulrooney has shown he can do it, JOB had some nice ones for us, Brian Mullan is a guy who Ive seen do it, Kyle Beckerman, Mark Lisi all can hit long accurate passes. So I dont think its that we lack anyone who can hit longer passes. What I do think is a problem is an overemphasis on 1 and 2 touch play. That what guys like Convey and DMB do, and there isnt anything wrong with that, but when thats all your team has to rely on the guy takin the first pass and making the second is in a predictable position and can be jumped on if the other team is anticipating that kind of pass.

Asa for backs, well the two that I think you have to look at most from this perspective are the outside backs, who in some ways have the best opportunity to do so. Can they? I havent seen it from Vanney or Cherundolo, but is that part of coaching, or there lack of confidence to hit the ball that switches the field?

[gyr0]

Mulrooney is an excellent player. I watched his general movements against DC United, and he was head and shoulders above the rest of his midfield. He did the simple things well, turning away from preassure, holdingp ossession, and yes, placing an accurate long ball when neccesary. He is a useful linking player for the national side, though I do wish he were a bit younger. I see him as a class above Armas in terms of ball skills, and certainly masteroni, who plays like a caveman, IMO. He deserves to be in the mix in WCQ if nothing else, and is one of the better all around midfielders in MLS.

[Deuteriumoxide]

Carlos Bocanegra can make these accurate long passes. I've seen it several times in his play from fulham.

Clint Mathis can put a ball pretty much where ever he wants.

[appoo]

Carlos Bocanegra can make these accurate long passes. I've seen it several times in his play from fulham.

Clint Mathis can put a ball pretty much where ever he wants.
IMHO we shouldn't really use the long-ball technique much because too many of our players have questionable first touches. Both DMB and Convey will sometimes resort to simply stopping and trapping the ball, getting the ball in the safest manner rather than simply trusting thier own skills in reeling in the ball on the run. Soo many goals by Thierry Henry come about because he can take in a long ball in stride like Randy Moss catching a bomb.

[Scotty]

Carlos Bocanegra can make these accurate long passes. I've seen it several times in his play from fulham.



And don't forget his assist for Klein's goal against Jamaica. With his right foot, no less!

[Deuteriumoxide]

IMHO we shouldn't really use the long-ball technique much because too many of our players have questionable first touches. Both DMB and Convey will sometimes resort to simply stopping and trapping the ball, getting the ball in the safest manner rather than simply trusting thier own skills in reeling in the ball on the run. Soo many goals by Thierry Henry come about because he can take in a long ball in stride like Randy Moss catching a bomb.

Oh I agree, I was just listing players who were fairly accurate at delivering long balls. Since lurking seems to think we dont have enough skill at it.

Yeah, of all the things that I see in these soccer games the thing that impresses me the most is when I see Ruud Van Nistelrooy or somebody take a pass that traveled seventy yards diagonally across the field and about fifty feet in the air and just kill it dead like somebody tossed it to him underhand.

that is amazing.