• sensei_sharpy@alien.topB
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    11 months ago

    For all the anger over this, rightly or wrongly. A better defender just heads the ball forwards instead of trying to be cute and flick it on.

    He (and White for switching off and not being in a position to stop the cross) is at fault for the goal more than anyone else.

    • bradleycjw@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      That’s fair. I’m more annoyed about White stopping completely, and didn’t close Willock down immediately despite Jorginho screaming at home to do so.

      That and how Raya flopped and completely missed the ball. Any one of those variables change and they probably don’t score.

    • Putrid_Loquat_4357@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      The best thing to do is flick it backwards for a throw in or corner, not head it forwards right into the danger zone. I just doubt he expected a 6 foot 3 giant made of muscle to shove into his back with all of his weight.

      • sensei_sharpy@alien.topB
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        11 months ago

        The danger zone is the centre of the pitch, not the touchline.

        So, between the area you can see and are moving towards and the one you can’t see, I will always head it forwards as did every central defender from my era. Flicking the ball onwards is much harder than just smacking your head into it forwards.

        Plus, I’m not even 6ft tall and I can head the ball over the byline from the centre for the Goal. Gabriel is a lot more powerful than me so would have zero issues heading that out for a throw in.

        Unfortunately he made the wrong decision there and it cost them. I think he will be watching that footage mid week and learning from it.