First touch

This topic contains 12 replies, has 9 voices, and was last updated by  bofa 5 years, 3 months ago.

Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)
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  • #1703899

    Kickass23
    Participant
    • :

    I think we need a coach for our players to have better control of the ball. We need this badly, many time we have the opportunity to create something but the players first touch/ controlling the ball are not that great. We need players to control the ball like BERGKHAMP,ZIDANE, MATT LE TESSIER in their prime.

    #1704180
    mwake
    mwake
    Participant
    • :

    I not sure I agree with you, relative to other teams we have players with good ball control but I do agree that this season the final pass has sometimes been lacking. Could be Klopps tactics means players are exhausted by the time they get to the final third or confidence issues other some other reasons but in general I think we have some good players with good ball control. We just need to fine tune our tactics I think.

    #1704206
    Davinci
    Davinci
    Participant
    • :

    Kickass, I agree 100% with you. But many posters will just ignore your comments.
    Our front 3 are good at scoring goals but give them time on the ball and they aren’t very effective with it. If people actually watch how often our front 3 lose the ball cheaply, they’d be shocked. Firmino is probably the biggest culprit due to his very laid back style. He tries first time passes and flicks, when there is often no need to. Now he’s also off form and it is even more noticeable.

    Somehow, esp last season, we still managed to carve teams up. But if people actually focussed on the individual on-the-ball technique of the front 3, they may be unpleasantly surprised – esp if we compare them to the best players around (which we’re supposed to do, right?)…

    Anyway, we’re still racking up the points, so not too much to complain about…Peace

    #1704215
    mwake
    mwake
    Participant
    • :

    DaVinci didn’t you think the ball control thing is relative somewhat? How many teams have better forwards players with better ball control. Sure man city maybe but apart from that our front three have ball control which is comparable i would say. Sure I would have say one player from each of the top teams, Hazard, Sanchez, Son, (can’t think for arsenal Ozil?), Sane – is it safe to like Sterling lol considering many called steering out for having terrible ball control but seems like he is doing well.

    What I’m trying to say is that yes team has some good players but I don’t think we are that bad. I think Klopps tactics and descision not to replace Coutinho means players have less time and space on the ball.

    #1704218
    Scouser in exile
    Scouser in exile
    Participant
    • :

    Funny I didn’t see anyone suggesting anything like this last season when some of our “one touch” passing was instrumental in lots of goalscoring, with mostly the same players!

    YNWA RIP the 96

    #1704220

    Mikus
    Participant
    • :

    Hopefully Keita will start breaking into the team soon and perform. His dribbling close control is one of his strengths. As regards our front 3, perhaps they’re trying to force things too much this year in the absence of a midfielder creator.

    #1704233
    j c
    j c
    Participant
    • :

    I don’t think you can really coach this kind of stuff, it just takes practice, practice and more practice.

    I’ve defended Firmino a fair bit, but he had some poor moments against PSG and I think he’s lacking in confidence at the moment. His problem is more psychological if you ask me. Still a gifted player. But has too much responsibility on his shoulders at the moment.
    We need another striker to share the burden.

    #1704241
    mwake
    mwake
    Participant
    • :

    Agreed JC also I think against Everton Firmino was employed in a Attacking Midfield position, which he hasn’t played like that for some years now. We can’t expect players to be like Gerrard/Milner and adapt quickly every time they are asked to play in a new role.

    #1704260

    bofa
    Participant
    • :

    Technical ability is built when you’re a kid, not when you’re playing professional football. A lot of it’s natural but it can be taught…. surely not when you’re in your mid 20’s though! A coach brought in to teach players how to have a better touch would be a waste of time.

    Coaching kids how to be technical comes from playing small sided games and drills, particularly 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3 etc where the players get huge amounts of touches on the ball in tight spaces i.e. 10 x 10, 20 x 20 areas on the training ground.

    In addition, we don’t throw as many players forward as we did last year and we have less options around the box and in tight areas so we lose the ball more often as we don’t have as many out balls. We’re also dealing with a scenario where our attacking players aren’t in as good form as they were last year so that doesn’t help.

    #1704269

    hairyharry
    Participant
    • :

    I agree with bofa on this. First touch and technical ability comes out when you are a kid. I was fortunate enough to play football for my school team, college team, university team and work team in a sunday league. I always had a very good touch and close control because i remember playing footy with my mates on a concrete playground which was sometimes icy with a flattened plastic bottle or with a small stone (yes we actually didnt have a ball ) or with tennis balls etc all the way through junior school (back in the 80s). Once we got to senior school and we actually got our hands on a football, loads of us had real good technical ability and we used to win the schools’ league titles etc. First touch is something that comes naturally. I think klopp, when he identifies players to buy, his order of priorities are most likely stamina, pace, strength, mental ability, flair and technical ability roughly in that order. Whereas teams like city and arsenal are more after flair, creativity etc

    #1704290

    Paxman
    Participant
    • :

    You have a choice to make, you play fast attacking one touch football that when it comes off opens up defences, and you mis-control or mis-place passes sometimes, but when it comes off it is great. Or you play safe slow football and you bring in Mourinho as manager 🙂 The thing is if you play the fast attacking one touch football having a couple of players off form or tired magnifies the mistakes. It is still the way to play in my book.

    #1704451

    Kickass23
    Participant
    • :

    I still remember BERGKHAMP goal against Argentina, and goals in BPL when he ball control so well that create an opportunity to himself. This is what we need, not say that our players are bad but sometimes you just need bit of spark.

    #1705515

    bofa
    Participant
    • :

    Kickass, when it gets to this level, the touch and movement is natural. I’m not saying it can’t improve but it won’t improve by bringing in someone who thinks he can improve a first touch, that’s simply natural. Players continue improve as they get older but it’s more down to tactical as opposed to technical.

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