Why don't we score early goals anymore?

Number7

Ret's Slave
Joined
Aug 17, 2003
Messages
28,031
One of our big problems imo is that we are not taking games by the scruff of the neck right from the start, rather, we invite pressure on ourselves, and recently it has taken a goal to go against us to kick us into gear (Dinamo away, Blackburn, arguably Chelsea, although we didn’t start too bad that game) An early goal here and there, opens up the opposition defensively as they try to seek an equaliser, which then makes it easier for our attackers to capitalise at spaces left at the back.
It's not a lack of quality, if we can push teams in the last 20 minutes, why can't we start like that in the first place? Instead we end up with a frantic last 20 minutes, that has cost us dearly in the 2 games. Games by all accounts that we should, with our squad, be winning.
Everton last week being a prime example, you would have thought we were the away side. I'm not saying we should go out and try and score early on in every game, just that we need to start playing as well in the first 20 minutes, as we have done the last 20 minutes so far.
Playing it safe for so long, then being hit relatively late on in the game last season, is one of the main reasons we lost so many games 1-0 imo.
Southampton away, Liverpool home, Chelsea away, Wolves away, Pompey away, Blackburn away we all lost 1-0.
 
It's a valid point.

Recently we seem to pick things up towards the end of the first half and then towards the end of the second.

A bit more urgency from the start would be nice.

This sitting back early could be a Fergie tactic, as I've heard him moan about us scoring goals early and then switching off (Away at Rangers last season).

Although, I think it's more likely we need a good kick up the arse!
 
Number7 said:
One of our big problems imo is that we are not taking games by the scruff of the neck right from the start, rather, we invite pressure on ourselves, and recently it has taken a goal to go against us to kick us into gear (Dinamo away, Blackburn, arguably Chelsea, although we didn’t start too bad that game) An early goal here and there, opens up the opposition defensively as they try to seek an equaliser, which then makes it easier for our attackers to capitalise at spaces left at the back.
It's not a lack of quality, if we can push teams in the last 20 minutes, why can't we start like that in the first place? Instead we end up with a frantic last 20 minutes, that has cost us dearly in the 2 games. Games by all accounts that we should, with our squad, be winning.
Everton last week being a prime example, you would have thought we were the away side. I'm not saying we should go out and try and score early on in every game, just that we need to start playing as well in the first 20 minutes, as we have done the last 20 minutes so far.
Playing it safe for so long, then being hit relatively late on in the game last season, is one of the main reasons we lost so many games 1-0 imo.
Southampton away, Liverpool home, Chelsea away, Wolves away, Pompey away, Blackburn away we all lost 1-0.
Click to expand...




over 60% possession in every game so far suggests we take control of the game ok but are not scoring the goals which we should with that much of the ball, the fact we are having to play a different side every game again might well have somthing to do with that. Smith and Saha played 1 full game together now we are back to Smith with Scholes supporting, then Ruud might come on for 20......it is giving the players no chance to get a good understanding.
 
I don't think it's the out and out strikers that are the problem, its more to do with our build up play towards and around the box.

We don't seem to put teams on the back foot anymore and our movement and passing has been woefully sloppy and predictable for a while.

You almost feel that no matter what we do thesedays that we are going to have trouble breaking teams down.

I reckon Rooney will make a huge difference here to be honest, as we'll actually have someone who'll pick the ball up and run at defenders causing havoc!

This should hopefully open up a few cracks in oposing defences again. :D
 
I think it is because we have played with a makeshift, unsettled, strikeforce for our opening couple of games, Ruud, Rooney and Saha will soon all be scoring for fun, and Smith has already done much more than asked of him.
 
I think it's more to do with the whole team, we just seem to play deep in our own half and almost ask to get pinned back.
 
Good point... due to a number of reasons probabily.. but iv noticed for all the possession we usually have.. we take time to settle down.. that possession usually comes when were well into the game... it could also be becos we arent scoring that many goals in general...so early goals is irrelevant.. also we seem to dwel on the ball too much in attack
 
With the new players we got we've yet to find the rthymn in attack. Sometimes our attack was just not quick and direct enough. This will improve once the team settle down.
 
It was the same all last year though. Granted, we hardly had a settled team all last year but I still think tactically , even with the players on the pitch, we should be doing better. I'm sure someone will correct me if i'm wrong but I think we only scored within 20 minutes in the second half of the last season, in the league, in 1 game, Villa away.
 
Kinky Melinky said:
That's been the United way for ages mate :confused:
Click to expand...


Granted they normally like to put us through hell before they kick into gear, but we've not normally played as poor at the start of games as we did second half of last season and have started much of this season. Early days yet in course of the season, but I just hope it's something we address. If not scoring, just to start the games well. It has cost us so far this seaspn, and will probably cost us again.
 
early goals. late goals. any-time-in-between goals. i'll take any of them right now, preferably in abundance.
 
Number7 said:
Granted they normally like to put us through hell before they kick into gear, but we've not normally played as poor at the start of games as we did second half of last season
Click to expand...

That wasn't my point - my point was that United never seem to kick into gear until the opposition score.

However, I agree; United's poor form between Kick off and Half time period this season has been abysmal so far.
 
we havent been scoring goals at all this season... when we do im sure some of them will be early...so thats one reason. Obviously you could start another thread abt how we start games poorly...now that does have some relevance
 
We haven't scored early goals for bloody ages

3 seasons ago we weren't scoring early goals

And quite often we woke up only after opponents scored early goals

So why bring this up now?
 
good point,we don't score early goals and very late goals anymore(except blackburn)..shite....i remember the times when we would score in injury time......guess they are all gone now
 
our offensive play needs to up its tempo ie quicker passing and movement to keep the opposition on the backfoot and off balance. We are a tad static and stale at the moment, devoid of creativity and sharpness. Once we get Ruud running in tandem with Smith/Rooney, flanked by Giggsy and Ronnie with Scholesy probing from deep, we will fare MUCH MUCH better. Although Arse and Chelski are looking very good...at the moment, 85 points from the remaining 34 games (say W26 D7 L1) could possibly be sufficient to clinch the title. A high order but not impossible. Afterall we did overhaul a 8 pts gap in March, no irrefutable reason why we can't do the same with a 7 pts gap after only 4 games
 
uranushk1 said:
With the new players we got we've yet to find the rthymn in attack. Sometimes our attack was just not quick and direct enough. This will improve once the team settle down.
Click to expand...

Good point! Our team needs to settle more, and the best way to do that is by playing a more or less unchanged side from game to game.....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.