Should this be our starting forward line?

[dread and might]

Originally posted by barry
I think our midfield dont kick many goals because we play a defensive midfield style.

And there's the rub. i wouldn't mind the midfield attacking more and thus contributing more goals, and having us involved in some more shootouts. seriously how many times did we register a score of 100 or higher last season?

[dread and might]

Originally posted by barry
I like the idea of Saddo sharing FF with Micky. Micky on his own is two injury prone to hold down FF on his own throughout the season. The last two years he has limped into the finals a mere shadow of himself.

Two years ago he didn't limp into the finals at all....

I am not so sure about Saddo at FF. just because he kicked a few goals and showed he can have a good game in the forward line doesn't (to me) indicate that he should occupy that role in more than a pinch hitting role. Are you suggesting saddo line up for FF for the better part of the game, instead of MOL, or that Saddo goes to FF when MOL hits the bench? If it's the second option, what has saddo been doing in the game thus far?? Who covers where he has been?

I hope i don't sound aggro here, it's not my intention.

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by dread and might
seriously how many times did we register a score of 100 or higher last season?

Six times according to this.

[Jeffers1984]

i know this has nothing to do with the topic. but happy 28th birthday to barry hall today.

[dread and might]

thank you for your prompt reply. i love it when others do the thinking for me. Do you find it acceptable that we kicked over 100 only 6 times?

Our average score was 86.2.

There were 12 games when we scored under the average. this was exactly half the games which is to be expected....of these 12 games we won 7 and lost 5 giving rise to the argument that the ends,(winning games) justify the means (a defensive midfield). I disagree with this mindset as a "game plan A", and, as previously stated, would prefer some more attack out of the middle....

[liz]

Originally posted by Nico
Liz, I take your point about the 58% issue, but my point was that we really struggled to kick big scores to put games beyond doubt, and that also, probably the forward contributions were from too few, with the odd spasmodic cameos from a few others.

58% compared with 47%, could in my mind have been 58% of a much lower base than Port's.

You're right - it was 58% of a much lower base than Port's.

In fact, our four top forwards kicked 166 goals in the H&A compared to 167 by Port's.

What kicked off my comments was a suggestion that maybe we over-rate our forward line because we kick so many fewer goals than the other teams in the top half of the ladder - and some in the bottom half.

What I was trying to illustrate is that we don't fall down because our forwards don't deliver, but because our midfield doesn't deliver. Add to my stats NMW's observation that our forward line is one of the most efficient in converting forward 50 entries into goals and it all points to the midfield being our weakness.

I'm not trying to suggest this is a profound observation - it's one many have commented on and discussed here. I was just trying to provide some data to "prove" it.

And yes, overall team tactics do contribute, and these also contribute to why our defence is so effective despite the fact that it is undersized.

But regardless of the somewhat defensive midfield mindset that was in place for most of 2004, I still think some of our midfielders are more than capable of backing themselves to run in and kick goals than they currently deliver. Kirk, Bolton and Crouch may not have the most penetrating kicks in the league but they are all capable of kicking them from 40-50m out, especially on the run. Ablett, Maxfield and Williams definitely have the penetration on their kicking to do it.

It's one of the changes that I'd love to see to the team plan - at least sometimes for them to back themselves to kick rather than try and pinpoint one of those dinky passes to O'Loughlin or O'Keefe hemmed in in the pockets.

[footyhead]

Extreamly good attacking midfielders often have a defensive sense drilled into them by modern coaches and mentors.
One can only hope that this has been Pauls endeavor over the last year or so, and that 2005 will be the year when the Swans get some real grunt back into the middle. Without it we will not pinch a flag- that much is certain.

[liz]

Originally posted by footyhead
Extreamly good attacking midfielders often have a defensive sense drilled into them by modern coaches and mentors.
One can only hope that this has been Pauls endeavor over the last year or so, and that 2005 will be the year when the Swans get some real grunt back into the middle. Without it we will not pinch a flag- that much is certain.

But we already have the grunt - we just need to add the flair.

The balance that Roos needs to strike is giving his defensive midfielders the licence and conviction to be just slightly more attacking at times.

Brett Kirk provides a great case-study. In 2005 he was fighting for his football career and achieved it by single-minded pursuit of shutting down the opposition's key midfielder. He showed he was rather good at it.

Last year he then showed he was able to switch the focus just slightly and increased his own ball-winning ability, while sacrificing very little on the defensive side.

It's all just a matter of balance - no major changes needed, just a little tweak here and there.

The other aspect that would great improve the offensive potential of our midfield is if they can find a clearance master - a Simon Black (though doesn't have to be quite as good) or a Sam Mitchell. If a team can get clean possession at centre bounces and move the ball quickly forward, with a forward line as varied and potent as ours, it should be easy to score. Kirk showed some skill in this area last year, and Monty showed a few signs too. If we can find another one or two it could turn around the perceptions of our centre team.

[Rushed Behind]

maxfeilds disposal was ordinery last seeson. Neether bolten or Kirk are long kicks. Bolten is ok at goal but Kirk looks ordinery in front of goal if 25m or more out. Wiiliams is a grate kick but is getting older and more injery prown. I rekon its a big test for Ablett and mcVey this seeson. If kirk/bolten is getting it out to them and they dont dliver give the rookies a go.

[bigdaz]

Try this one on for size

HF: O'Keefe Hall Schneider

FF : Davis O'Loughlin Saddington

Speed & strength on the HF Line and height on the FF line covers all bases and interchangeable depending on the opposition plus plenty of goalscoring ability to boot.

[Bleed Red Blood]

If Davis is fully fit he should be spending 80% of the time in the midfield, imo.