I've said it before, and I'll say it again...
people seem to think that smashing a player into the stands, or hitting potshots from 30 yards, or attempting 40 yard passes means someone is a good player.
The best team in the world (Barca) is full of players who DON'T do those things, especially the passing unless the option is on.
I would like to think we aspire to play the kind of pass and move that Barca do - and that means getting out of this outmoded and outdated mindset that some people seem to have.
In the glory years, we had players whose first concern was to pass and move - yes we had some hard players, but above all else, they could play football, find a team mate, and then move to get the ball back.
They passed the ball back (and back to clemence) sideways and passed it forwards only when it was right to do so.
It might seem boring to some, but possession is the name of the game - if it takes 5, 10, 20 or 30 passes to move the ball forwards, so what?
Possession is the key - and we need players who can do that, combined with good movement, decoy runs, and the general opening up of the opposition.
Keep the pitch small in defence and big in attack - and to keep it big in attack, possession is king.
Yes we need some pace out wide, but our midfield is almost complete - and that's down to keeping the ball.
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