Crocombe

The touchline kicking comes from the school of Monkhouse !!

That was McKeown's only target for a season - hard to shake off, probably ??

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Just talking about keepers accidentally kicking the ball into touch.

This happens quite a lot, wind or no wind as players congregate to one touchline when a goal kick is taken.

What is the rationale for that?

Would it be better for the players to be spread out more along the front line to stretch their defence which would mean if we do win the header we have players ready to take advantage.   The keeper wouldn't need to kick so close to the touchline then would he?

There must be a footballing reason why so many teams do it.

Never done any coaching courses myself, but I suspect it's all about keeping things compact (us shape) and reducing the risk of being left wide open following a mis-kick or a deflection. When it's windy, it's understandable that a kick is generally going to go to one side of the pitch, but I do agree that it would seem to be a good idea to have a player hanging out wide on the opposite wing on the off-chance the ball comes their way. Would also keep the opposition defence honest as well. If they want to make an error, let them.

McKeown's kicking has never been his strongest asset, but it seems to me that he's lost 10 yards distance over the past year or two. I only watched a few matches on TV last season so not sure if it was the case back then as well, but it is something I mentioned to my Dad near the start of this season.

Quoted from Maringer

Never done any coaching courses myself, but I suspect it's all about keeping things compact (us shape) and reducing the risk of being left wide open following a mis-kick or a deflection. When it's windy, it's understandable that a kick is generally going to go to one side of the pitch, but I do agree that it would seem to be a good idea to have a player hanging out wide on the opposite wing on the off-chance the ball comes their way. Would also keep the opposition defence honest as well. If they want to make an error, let them.

A friend of mine asked a manager of another club this exact question. His answer was: percentages.

I can see the logic in it but what is to stop a player peeling off at the last minute and launching it down the opposite flank every now and then?

It's the same reason teams keep 11 men back at corners but it frustrates the hell out of me. We saw against Wrexham at home what leaving a man up can do when Max scored the third. It was the same on Saturday, Wealdstone had 2 late free kicks just inside our half and sent the keeper up. Someone offered a short option so there were still 2 Wealdstone players well away from the box yet we had nobody near them meaning the ball came straight back.

Crocombe looks a vast improvement on McKeown.

I like McKeown and he's rightly viewed very highly by the fanbase. But his game has slowly deteriorated in recent years.  His kicking and command of his area have always been a weakness and if we're honest, ones he's never really managed to improve significantly on.  At the level we've been at though, he's proved to a fine 'keeper.  In recent seasons his outstanding attribute, his reflexes and shot stopping haven't been as good in my opinion.  He's become suspect to getting beat by easy shots.  Last season, in the main, was a disaster for him - summed up with the lack of concentration when he kicked one in his own net.

Crocombe is better at commanding his area and distributing the ball, both in terms of the speed of it and the accuracy.  He might not be as good as peak McKeown on shot stopping but I'd say he's definitely equal to him at the minute, if not better.

Any blame on him for the goal is absolutely hilarious.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

He's a 5th Division keeper so he's not going to be perfect but, brushing sentiment to one side, I do think he's an improvement on McKeown.

GTFC is 5th Division. When we move up (optimist to the end) we will be 4th Division and require a 4th Divison squad.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

A friend of mine asked a manager of another club this exact question. His answer was: percentages.

I can see the logic in it but what is to stop a player peeling off at the last minute and launching it down the opposite flank every now and then?

It's the same reason teams keep 11 men back at corners but it frustrates the hell out of me. We saw against Wrexham at home what leaving a man up can do when Max scored the third. It was the same on Saturday, Wealdstone had 2 late free kicks just inside our half and sent the keeper up. Someone offered a short option so there were still 2 Wealdstone players well away from the box yet we had nobody near them meaning the ball came straight back.

I think you are right about percentages, but it is very frustrating how coaching teams and managers just cannot get their heads together to come up with a more innovative approach. It just seems a case of we have always done that so why change?

There is absolutely no space when the goal kick is contested at or near the touchline as every player congregates there, so even if you win the header what good will it do? Keeping players more spread out must surely mean their defence has a lot more to worry about especially with a fired-up MacAtee on their case.

I suppose this is why playing out from the back is now much more in vogue instead of launching every goal kick towards the touchline - it gives you more chance of exploiting gaps as you build up the play.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Crocombe looks a vast improvement on McKeown.

I like McKeown and he's rightly viewed very highly by the fanbase. But his game has slowly deteriorated in recent years.  His kicking and command of his area have always been a weakness and if we're honest, ones he's never really managed to improve significantly on.  At the level we've been at though, he's proved to a fine 'keeper.  In recent seasons his outstanding attribute, his reflexes and shot stopping haven't been as good in my opinion.  He's become suspect to getting beat by easy shots.  Last season, in the main, was a disaster for him - summed up with the lack of concentration when he kicked one in his own net.

Crocombe is better at commanding his area and distributing the ball, both in terms of the speed of it and the accuracy.  He might not be as good as peak McKeown on shot stopping but I'd say he's definitely equal to him at the minute, if not better.

Any blame on him for the goal is absolutely hilarious.

I quite agree, at McKeown's best, he was like a cat, and could stop 1 or 2 shots in quick succession on the line.  However, he doesn't command the box at all. Crocombe, who is 2.5 inches taller, puts himself about the box a bit more and snuffs out, or puts opposition off potential goals. It's obvious PH prefers him so it says it all.

Quoted from GrimPol

I quite agree, at McKeown's best, he was like a cat, and could stop 1 or 2 shots in quick succession on the line.  However, he doesn't command the box at all. Crocombe, who is 2.5 inches taller, puts himself about the box a bit more and snuffs out, or puts opposition off potential goals. It's obvious PH prefers him so it says it all.

I fully agree, I won’t even begin to criticise Clifton! Imagine the outcry on here.

Once the team, especially the back four, get used to Crocombe consistently coming out for high balls at set pieces then the more they can allow for this and protect him. It must be very frustrating for a defender being unsure whether the keeper will come out for a high ball.