We're definitely shit at the minute, devoid of all confidence. I think we actually dominated those last two games I played in, but it broke down in the final third. Here's my thoughts from the front:
1) Crossing has to increase and improve. Some areas for consideration:
- Maybe people have manual power and aiming settings switched on.
- Remember to hold L1 when doing an 'early' cross
- Don't wait until you get to the byline to cross
- If you think it might be blocked, try and cut back on to the weaker foot to cross.
- If you're taking corners and aiming for me, try to get it higher than the near post.
It's just frustrating when I'm as tall as I am and I don't think we're exploiting it enough. Unfortunately that one game where I got two headers on target they had a fucking ridiculously good goalkeeper making Banks-esque stops, but it won't always be that way.
2) We're all guilty of holding onto the ball for too long and losing it. We need to distribute it quicker. At the same time however, if you have some time, don't just try and get rid of it straight away if the pass isn't on.
3) The passing is often poor. I think it comes down to decision making, maybe trying to go for the complex when the simpler pass is on offer. I'm guilty of this sometimes with my chipped through balls to try and get people in behind but ground through balls are often cut out.
4) Related to bad passing is that we often group together a lot and run after the ball, losing discipline and our shape. We know that the game does that annoying thing where, if there are two options close together, the pass will go somewhere in between. Therefore it is better to try and keep our distance from one another.
5) When I'm up front do bear in mind that I have no pace, so unless the pass is absolutely on think about whether you really want to play a ball that will get me in behind the defence which requires me chasing after the ball.