How do we counter stuffy football?

Papasmurf

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It’s clear we struggle when teams sit in to frustrate us and become ‘smart’ with fouls etc.

Given the tools at our disposal, how do we counter it?

Is it just a case of hoping we get the first goal and making them come out?
 
Sometimes putting a centre half and hoofing it might work better than passing sideways and not shooting.

Not that im suggesting we play that way however sometimes needs must
 
I think until we are able to buy more creative players, a good start would be to drop the extra midfielder and get another winger/striker on. Always have 4 of Candeias/Middleton/Grezda/Kent/Morelos/Lafferty on the pitch from the start.
 
A strong midfield for a start.

The lack of players we have capable of taking a risk, means we are pushed back. The balls that should be getting played to a winger at 25 years, are being played at 45 yards due to this. When we play poorly, we even bypass our own central midfield causing this problem.

It's also how we have fared well in Europe when teams have given us space, we have players who can in theory make it happen.
 
Pass, move, raise the tempo, balls with authority, mix it up, constantly on the move, be smart and accurate with a ball.

You've got to remain patient, we don't. If there isn't a forward ball we go side to side, back the way then lamp it. Either that or we surrender possession.

When there is a player in space, you've got to hit them with a ball.

Some times you can actually sit that bit deeper, allow the opposition to push slightly forward then pick them apart.

It doesn't help when your midfield trio has next to no creativity and their accuracy of passing is poor, especially with a forward ball.

Jack goes side to side or back the way, Coulibaly miss places or forgets to take the ball with him and Ejaria likes to do an extra turn or 7 before releasing it at a snail's pace.
 
More creativity in the centre of midfield.

Teams know if you can snuff us out down the flanks (Tav, Candeias, Middleton) and stop us getting service into the box we're basically relying on Morelos producing a moment of magic to score.

Arfield was a big loss last night with his runs from midfield into the box.

But we need a #10 badly. Steven Davis would help but I feel we need more even.

Hate saying it but we could do with a Rogic.
 
Trying to play the ball on the ground like we do won't work against teams like Aberdeen. We need to move the ball quickly and have someone who can make a killer pass. Kind of thing that Arfield can do. We missed him. However, the biggest thing for me is we need to make quick changes - not subs but changes to the setup. Not just watch it not work for so long.

The midfield wasn't working and needed to be changed earlier. We might have been lacking options but Gerrard had to try something.

It also doesn't work to be play a defensive left back when you're playing a very defensive team. Utterly pointless.
 
Barisic being out is killing us, absolutely killing us.

Teams are blocking off Tav and just letting us go to the left back. Flanagan is like just kicking the ball of a brick wall, Halliday has been a bit better but lacks the ability to carry the ball.

When we have 2 full backs that are capable of causing havoc down the flanks it will stretch the opposition a lot more.

There is also of course the midfield issue but everyone can see that, we have to look for solutions now rather than the transfer window in January and getting Barisic in the starting 11 on Sunday should be priority number 1.
 
It’s clear we struggle when teams sit in to frustrate us and become ‘smart’ with fouls etc.

Given the tools at our disposal, how do we counter it?

Is it just a case of hoping we get the first goal and making them come out?

We don’t without the appropriate tools of the trade, good footballers!
 
Shooting from distance. Not passing the ball out wide and pumping high balls into a packed penalty area.
 
Shots from outside the box that test the keeper thus bringing players out to close down rather than a block of 8, midfielders that take the central space in front of the box instead of either side meaning they can attack any headed clearances and follow up loose balls in the danger area, and hit earlier crosses, from 25 yrds rather than the bye-line, bypassing the full back and leaving the centre halves watching over their shoulder for the striker, but meaning the crossing full back isn’t too far from his defence.
 
If we had a Rogic who could hit in shots from 25 yards
It means teams can’t defend their box, they need to come out. Teams know we will not shoot from distance so can camp in their box and we will do very little against it
 
Last night was too predictable - need to play into space and know the player's movements ahead of time - constantly shifting personnel in midfield and LB not helped create this understanding.

Also let the other team have the ball and break them on the counter - Guardiola did this to devastating effect at Barcelona
 
Shooting from distance. Not passing the ball out wide and pumping high balls into a packed penalty area.

This is the simple truth - midfield aside - we are predictable and opposition's are comfortable parking the big bus because they know we have no Albertz or Mendes - someone capable of blootering a long range squiggler. If we had that then their entire team would be spread further forward to counter it.

Giving them 2 smaller buses that our wingers could take on with ease. :(
 
Centre halves need to be prepared to carry the ball deep into the opposition half. Goldson did this to good effect in the semi final

Do not aimlessly lump the ball forwards
 
Centre halves need to be prepared to carry the ball deep into the opposition half. Goldson did this to good effect in the semi final

Do not aimlessly lump the ball forwards

Agreed. We were talking about that last night at the game.

Goldson didn't press forward with the ball as much and I suggested to my son who was going ballistic at him that Stevie Gee had instructed Goldson to hold back it was so obvious.

He was up for every set piece and supporting all our attacks well as he usually does - he just never once carried the ball forward like he's done in the past.

Last night was an ENTIRE TEAM aberration for me. Still smarting from the thought of Derek McInnes lording it over the Gaffer. Humph.
 
As previous posters have mentioned above, better midfielders. Our goalkeeper is one of the best in world football, our strikeforce is fine as Gerrard only plays 1 forward with two wingers, our defence is ok except Tav who is a good player, he just can't defend (contradicting, I know) whereas our three midfielders, just start again please. Can't expect to beat Celtic with bang average midfielders. We need to sign three quality midfielders in the summer, think January will be too early in terms of big spending.
 
We need more players like Kent who are two footed skillful and not one dimensional obviously id like more goals and assists but if we get more of a similer ilk we will break down the hammer throwers
 
Strong referees would help.

Compare Madden at the weekend to the clown last night. Madden let the rough stuff go and let the game flow. Didnt get drawn into any debates with Hearts players so the ball was in play again quickly and Hearts couldnt get settled back into their shape.

That diddy last night totally spoiled the game.

Outwith that an early goal is usually what we need. We were far better to start then they scored from a set play and that was that.
 
Play and win ugly.

Load the box and look for knockdowns / keeper spills / penalties/ set pieces. Same as the cnts that play that way, we do it too, but better. Once they lose a goal or a player, watch them slip on their own shite.
 
The pass & move has to be accurate and with pace. That means instant control by the receiver and a strong accurate pass from the passer. Last night there was too many bad first touches, passes behind the player and far too many soft passes lacking enough pace to reach the target.
 
High tempo, quick passing!

Ejaria for example almost always takes 4-5 touches of the ball before releasing it. Totally killing any momentum!
 
Play and win ugly.

Load the box and look for knockdowns / keeper spills / penalties/ set pieces. Same as the cnts that play that way, we do it too, but better. Once they lose a goal or a player, watch them slip on their own shite.

The problem us we dont have the money to sign 6 foot 5 players who can also play football to compete like that against guys like McKenna etc.
 
It’s clear we struggle when teams sit in to frustrate us and become ‘smart’ with fouls etc.

Given the tools at our disposal, how do we counter it?

Is it just a case of hoping we get the first goal and making them come out?
Put the Air con on :D


We keep 11 men on the park and batter them. We do what they do, go down easy, get in the refs face and claim everything.
 
Having brave players.

Wide men taking on players 1 v 1, central midfielders actually demanding the ball and driving forward.

We had 3 centre mids last night all happy to just float about the middle of the park and play possession with our defence.
 
Quick, accurate passing and forward movement. Last nite we were so devoid of creativity and ideas it was a real wake up call that our midfield is nowhere near good enough to challenge this season.
 
We are crying out for a midfielder or two who can get on the half turn/ get between the lines. We play everything in front of defensively minded better teams .
 
Shoot more. Aberdeen sat in last night without any concern that we’d take a pop from distance. If we shoot a bit more from distance, even if it’s not successful, it puts doubt in the defenders mind the next time that maybe they should step out, creating space in behind.

This wasn’t just a problem last night, nor this season. We don’t shoot from distance anywhere near enough.
 
A change of tactics 4-4-2,playing the same system is predictable,horses for courses but when teams sit in at Ibrox having one up front it's hard to break them down,big man little man upfront,mix up the play.football and long ball,
 
One thing that drives me absolutely insane is when say McAuley (right sided CB) has the ball and Halliday is in space on the left, instead of missing out Goldson and getting it there quicker we always play the extra pass to Goldson then out to Halliday.

Happens countless times every game and its honestly just laziness, it slows our play doen so much gives the opposition time to get back into position.
 
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We need more quality in the wide areas and start stretching teams more to create more space in the middle of the park.

We need to be more ruthless in possession, and as someone said, take risks.
 
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