Kyle Walker - Cross Completion

[JonnySpurs]

Yesterday's win against Everton proved a significant point for me with regard to our young right back.

Kyle tends to split the fan base from what I've seen on here. Some think he's not good enough and other's, myself included, think he has the potential to be great. I said as much in a comment on a story on the front page last week where I defended him quite strongly.

However.....

What Walker did yesterday is prove to me why we still need to have some concerns about him and moreover, showed what he needs to work on to improve.

I don't have the official stats, and so would be interested if someone can find them - especially for yesterdays game - his crossing was absolutely woeful. We all know that he is superb at supporting the attack and gets himself into brilliant positions to cross but I actually found myself screaming at my TV yesterday because he must have hit the first defender on 90% of his attempted crosses. It was absolutely infuriating.

Of course, his quick thinking led to a good chipped pass into Ade to score the goal and get him an assist which proves he has the vision (at least to an extent) and the ability to hit a weighted ball into the box. What I find baffling is how often he will get to the wing but then totally blow his cross. I can't tell if this is technique or just over exuberance because of where he finds himself.

Defensively I think he has the speed and strength to deal with the best wingers. My worry is his concentration levels. I fear that he is not switched on for 90 mins and as a result he can make crazy decisions.

What were other people's views of his game yesterday? Is Kyle the long term answer at RB or should we be thinking about upgrading?

 

[Lufti]

I don't have the official stats, and so would be interested if someone can find them - especially for yesterdays game - his crossing was absolutely woeful. We all know that he is superb at supporting the attack and gets himself into brilliant positions to cross but I actually found myself screaming at my TV yesterday because he must have hit the first defender on 90% of his attempted crosses. It was absolutely infuriating

0 out of 6 successful yesterday

 

[Stoof]

Assists: 1.

Shut your Mum.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

He needs to put them in first time more, I think he's thinking about it too much. Just get it into the danger area quickly, it can cause panic to defenses even if its not a pin point accurate cross.

 

[Lufti]

He needs to put them in first time more, I think he's thinking about it too much. Just get it into the danger area quickly, it can cause panic to defenses even if its not a pin point accurate cross.

Yeah, I think he's trying to pick out individuals when sometimes it's better to just put it into a dangerous area

 

[nidge]

Walker isn't the only one who struggles with his crossing. Rose hit the first man at least 3 times that I can remember and had 4 unsuccessful crosses in the game.

Considering our FB's are the players that are meant to give us width they really need to improve their crossing.

 

[Yid-ol]

We move up the pitch quick and then stop and go out wide, any cross put in from that would need to be pin point to get to the man and the defence is back and facing the right way instead of running back to goal.

He was poor yesterday, but then his quick thinking and great free kick won us the game with Ade's good touch and finish.

 

[mpickard2087]

Its the same on the other side and with full backs in general. The players that offer quality on a consistent basis from that position is a relatively small pool of players. They should both be looking to do better though.

 

[nidge]

Its the same on the other side and with full backs in general. The players that offer quality on a consistent basis from that position is a relatively small pool of players. They should both be looking to do better though.

They should be out on the training pitch after training practicing those skills. (Maybe I am doing them a disservice and they are already doing this.) If they're not then they will never see any significant level of improvement.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

At least we're not United

 

[mpickard2087]

They should be out on the training pitch after training practicing those skills. (Maybe I am doing them a disservice and they are already doing this.) If they're not then they will never see any significant level of improvement.

Indeed.

I have long given up hope of us doing anything of note on the training ground though. When you here of Redknapp barely training them, AVB doing 90 min sessions (and anyone with any comments that go 'well that's how long a match lasts, its clever' I'm going to pre-empt you with a massive FUCK OFF. There are a million things you can and should do on the training pitch, crossing being one example here) and now I hardly imagine Sherwood is running a set-up that is training them rigorously... I believe its reflected in our disjointed performances on the pitch. I know the players should want to improve and take it upon themselves, but you need someone to set standards at the very top and get tough with these guys and really drill them into a coherent team.

 

[Third Kit '87]

He has more assists than Lennon this season....(not exactly an achievement of huge merit in itself) ... Walker's delivery isn't always great and he makes some frankly idiotic decisions at times (needlessly conceding stupid freekicks, lacking composure at times) but IMO he has been one of our better players this season. He is far from perfect, but I feel he is made a scapegoat far more often than he deserves.

 

[Kiedis]

Maybe he should just go for a simpler solution sometimes.

A chip to the far post or a flat cut back instead of being so hell bent on delivering the perfect curled 100 miles per hour cross every single time.

 

[TottenhamLegend]

If you combine Walker's ability to get in positions to cross, and Rose's ability to cross, you have a perfect attacking full back.

 

[dudu]

Indeed.

I have long given up hope of us doing anything of note on the training ground though. When you here of Redknapp barely training them, AVB doing 90 min sessions (and anyone with any comments that go 'well that's how long a match lasts, its clever' I'm going to pre-empt you with a massive FUCK OFF. There are a million things you can and should do on the training pitch, crossing being one example here) and now I hardly imagine Sherwood is running a set-up that is training them rigorously... I believe its reflected in our disjointed performances on the pitch. I know the players should want to improve and take it upon themselves, but you need someone to set standards at the very top and get tough with these guys and really drill them into a coherent team.

why?

Who knows precisely what they have or have not been training. I thought we looked solid at the back after about 30 mins yesterday. Perhaps they had been working on defending better.

I would expect, with them coming from training the Development team, that there would be elements of the daily training that cover players improving their general football rather than just fitness etc.

Like you say though, players need to be putting in the extra time too. TS, LF and CR have still only been in charge 2 and a bit months. I still think the players are learning the new formations and new playing style. We have seen 2/3 different formations in that time.

Peligrini's first 11 games in charge of Man City this season, with 1 or 2 new players and most of a pre season.

P11 W6 L4 D1

Mourinho's

P11 W7 L2 D3

TS's first 9 coming in after the previous manager was sacked with half an injured team and a huge amount of games in quick succession.

P9 W6 L1 D2

OK the football is not there yet either - but surely it will take him x or y longer than Peligrini or Mourinho purely because he has nowhere near their experience.

That being said, his first 11 games in charge, even if we lost the next two, would have earned him more or a little less points than the managers of the top two teams.

I think we are progressing as a team slowly but surely, perhaps the openly way they know how to train.....

 

[chinaman]

He was much better last season in his crosses and shots at goal.

 

[JonnySpurs]

Don't get me wrong. Last thing I want to do is blame Walker for any poor performances or make him some kind of scapegoat. Quite the opposite. As I've said, I rate the player but he's frustrating me because I think he can be the best RB in the country if he puts his mind to it.

I don't expect him to put in great cross after great cross but 0 out of 6 tells you what you need to know in terms of completions. If he can get half of those into the danger area then it could lead to more attempts and inevitably more goals. That's more assists for him and a confidence boost to go with it.

 

[JimmyG2]

Gets forward well and has the pace to get back.
Often hesitates on the ball for too long
before inaccurately crossing.
Not entirely his fault though
Needs inside support or more players ahead to cross to.
Quick free kick gives the lie to the
'lacks a football brain' accusation.

 

[mpickard2087]

why?

Who knows precisely what they have or have not been training. I thought we looked solid at the back after about 30 mins yesterday. Perhaps they had been working on defending better.

I would expect, with them coming from training the Development team, that there would be elements of the daily training that cover players improving their general football rather than just fitness etc.

Like you say though, players need to be putting in the extra time too. TS, LF and CR have still only been in charge 2 and a bit months. I still think the players are learning the new formations and new playing style. We have seen 2/3 different formations in that time.

Peligrini's first 11 games in charge of Man City this season, with 1 or 2 new players and most of a pre season.

P11 W6 L4 D1

Mourinho's

P11 W7 L2 D3

TS's first 9 coming in after the previous manager was sacked with half an injured team and a huge amount of games in quick succession.

P9 W6 L1 D2

OK the football is not there yet either - but surely it will take him x or y longer than Peligrini or Mourinho purely because he has nowhere near their experience.

That being said, his first 11 games in charge, even if we lost the next two, would have earned him more or a little less points than the managers of the top two teams.

I think we are progressing as a team slowly but surely, perhaps the openly way they know how to train.....

My comments on Sherwood were probably harsh, and it is early days. To be honest I'm fed up of the large amount of barely competent play that we put together and am just impatient for change... We have players that have enough talent to show it in flashes to win games and the poor standard of the league helps us, but we wont get any higher until we have a mentality change and set some higher standards at the club. Is Tim that man, hope so... He talks a good game, but it is still to be seen whether he can walk the walk.

 

[dagraham]

I thought Walker played quite well second half and has been on of our best players this season.

Totally agree with the OP about his crossing though. He needs to work overtime on the training ground and simply practice. He should also study Sagna's game. The best crosser from a full back position in the league.