Josh Key's Footballing Masterclass

[mrploppy]

Just thought I'd post this little gem from yesterday's game. We've just equalised, so you'd think for the next few minutes we'd keep it tight and not do anything stupid - because the last thing you'd want is to concede immediately thereafter.

Josh Key intercepts the ball. He has options - Cullen's giving him a clue.

What happens next? It's an all too familiar story.

 

[Swans Jack]

Just thought I'd post this little gem from yesterday's game. We've just equalised, so you'd think for the next few minutes we'd keep it tight and not do anything stupid - because the last thing you'd want is to concede immediately thereafter.

Josh Key intercepts the ball. He has options - Cullen's giving him a clue.

What happens next? It's an all too familiar story.

View attachment 5075

The issue we have here is, the manager came out a month or so ago and compared him to Gareth Bale. Issue is, Bale knew when to release and wasn't being used to cover and well he was fantastic. Key, is Not Bale level. Not at all. But he has skill. No doubt. But needs to reign it in. If he stopped drifting and know when to release the ball, we will see the key that we did when he came to us. This is bad coaching from Williams. I encourage growth but don't give Key, the idea he is the next Bale it's gone to his head.

 

[mrploppy]

I don't believe for one minute that LW wants Key to carry the ball into the centre circle from that position. It was a simple pass to Grimes - even Cullen could see it. I bet LW regrets the Bale comment now.

I quite liked Key at first but he's now becoming a liability.

 

[Cooperman]

Very good observation, Mr Ploppy.

I didn’t see the Cullen signal in real time.

 

[Swansea93]

Just thought I'd post this little gem from yesterday's game. We've just equalised, so you'd think for the next few minutes we'd keep it tight and not do anything stupid - because the last thing you'd want is to concede immediately thereafter.

Josh Key intercepts the ball. He has options - Cullen's giving him a clue.

What happens next? It's an all too familiar story.

View attachment 5075

He could have even pinged it straight into Ronald’s feet, that’s what a top team would have done.

 

[Cooperman]

He could have even pinged it straight into Ronald’s feet, that’s what a top team would have done.

Where is Ronald? That’s Grimes unmarked, isn’t it?

 

[mrploppy]

Where is Ronald? That’s Grimes unmarked, isn’t it?

Directly behind Grimes.

I was going to list Key's options but thought I'd leave it as an exercise for the reader.

 

[Cooperman]

Directly behind Grimes.

I was going to list Key's options but thought I'd leave it as an exercise for the reader.

Hmm, a relatively easy ball, played with some pace, directed a few yards in front of Ronald. But no, Key chose the option of running into a brick wall.

 

[Swans Jack]

I don't believe for one minute that LW wants Key to carry the ball into the centre circle from that position. It was a simple pass to Grimes - even Cullen could see it. I bet LW regrets the Bale comment now.

I quite liked Key at first but he's now becoming a liability.

I would politely disagree with key not being instructed. Key has drifted into the centre pretty much near every game this season. He wasn't doing it so much last year. Unless he is ignoring instructions and doing what he wants, he clearly has been instructed to go more centre, while Grimes sits back. I still think he is a good player, he is being coached wrong. Cullen has also dropped off and doing his fair share of giving away. Cullen has been really good since his Wales performance and new contract, but has dropped off since the whole Williams West Brom situation. You only have to look at Cullen press conference before Cardiff. And how he kept going on about how he has enjoyed his new number 10 role. Then 2 days later he is central striker and he performs bad. Once again, bad coaching on and off pitch. Wiliams only moved him to a 10 as he Bellamy was getting good results from it. Why does it take a year in Williams case and a few weeks if that for Bellamy. Bad coaching

 

[Cooperman]

I would politely disagree with key not being instructed. Key has drifted into the centre pretty much near every game this season. He wasn't doing it so much last year. Unless he is ignoring instructions and doing what he wants, he clearly has been instructed to go more centre, while Grimes sits back. I still think he is a good player, he is being coached wrong. Cullen has also dropped off and doing his fair share of giving away. Cullen has been really good since his Wales performance and new contract, but has dropped off since the whole Williams West Brom situation. You only have to look at Cullen press conference before Cardiff. And how he kept going on about how he has enjoyed his new number 10 role. Then 2 days later he is central striker and he performs bad. Once again, bad coaching on and off pitch.

I agree S J. The Key push forward is a tactical instruction, RB’s don’t do that naturally.

As for Cullen, it was a diabolical decision to play him as striker at Cardiff.

 

[Swanjaxs]

Very good observation, Mr Ploppy.

I didn’t see the Cullen signal in real time.

Definitely saw Culls shouting "fuck off" towards the away end after scoring though.

 

[Swans Jack]

I agree S J. The Key push forward is a tactical instruction, RB’s don’t do that naturally.

As for Cullen, it was a diabolical decision to play him as striker at Cardiff.

I specially watched Key yesterday and without fail he drifted into centre midfield all the time. This really only starting happening when Ronald and Key was on the wing together a few months ago and they started to get in each other's way. Then they built a relationship and then Bale comments and Key was clearly told to go more central. The issue you have then, not only is the right back but left back is exposed. Tymon has been leaving gaps for months and every team exploits it. Just see first goal yesterday. The team strategy is so predictable even someone as amateur as me can work out how to exploit Swansea.

 

[Cooperman]

I specially watched Key yesterday and without fail he drifted into centre midfield all the time. This really only starting happening when Ronald and Key was on the wing together a few months ago and they started to get in each other's way. Then they built a relationship and then Bale comments and Key was clearly told to go more central. The issue you have then, not only is the right back but left back is exposed. Tymon has been leaving gaps for months and every team exploits it. Just see first goal yesterday. The team strategy is so predictable even someone as amateur as me can work out how to exploit Swansea.

Gaps in the FB position are a throw back to the Russ days, it happened time after time. Perhaps we should be surprised

 

[mrploppy]

I would politely disagree with key not being instructed. Key has drifted into the centre pretty much near every game this season. He wasn't doing it so much last year. Unless he is ignoring instructions and doing what he wants, he clearly has been instructed to go more centre, while Grimes sits back. I still think he is a good player, he is being coached wrong. Cullen has also dropped off and doing his fair share of giving away. Cullen has been really good since his Wales performance and new contract, but has dropped off since the whole Williams West Brom situation. You only have to look at Cullen press conference before Cardiff. And how he kept going on about how he has enjoyed his new number 10 role. Then 2 days later he is central striker and he performs bad. Once again, bad coaching on and off pitch. Wiliams only moved him to a 10 as he Bellamy was getting good results from it. Why does it take a year in Williams case and a few weeks if that for Bellamy. Bad coaching

I think there's a difference here between playing the inverted full-back role, which he's instructed to do in certain games, and carrying the ball from the right back position into a congested midfield, which I'm pretty sure he's not instructed to do. Key has played the former - I first noticed it against Coventry away - and he was very effective. Key's problem is that when he carries the ball into the centre of the field he invariably loses it. In fact, if I was the opposition manager I'd encourage him to do it - it's effectively setting a trap. We've all seen it - once he starts on his meandering run infield you know what's going to happen.

 

[Swans Jack]

I think there's a difference here between playing the inverted full-back role, which he's instructed to do in certain games, and carrying the ball from the right back position into a congested midfield, which I'm pretty sure he's not instructed to do. Key has played the former - I first noticed it against Coventry away - and he was very effective. Key's problem is that when he carries the ball into the centre of the field he invariably loses it. In fact, if I was the opposition manager I'd encourage him to do it - it's effectively setting a trap. We've all seen it - once he starts on his meandering run infield you know what's going to happen.

Defo. Personally I cannot remember a time when Key has kept the ball and did so after a very good movement or skill. He seems to lack the awareness to know when to pass or not. Again, broken record, coaching. Teams will watch matches back. How the hell do they watch the goals given away and then do the same thing week after. It's rumoured that players have been told if you do the same thing it. Will bring results. Add that into training sessions are said to be the same thing and doesn't relate to on pitch. Then once again coaching.