DanielS

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...but he hasn't played that often down the right. We look so much more likely to create havoc and proper chances when he does that though. It also means we don't have to rely on getting the ball in at height to beat the first defender as we open up options for pulling the ball back and putting it in flat as well.

Even when we got 37 points from a possible 39 in that amazing run that only ended a couple of weeks ago we were struggling to find the net. Our goalscoring record is more than just part of a blip. Unlike some I don't think it is entirely down to our strikeforce - I think it is where we are taking most of our efforts from.

We cross the ball from 10 yards too far away from the goal line - about 25-30 yards out instead of 15-20 yards out. I don't want paying for this wisdom - can someone just let Rafa know. I've been noticing this season and last that we tend to start crossing the ball in from about 5 - 10 yards from the 18 yard box. Gerrard is brilliant at it on occassion, but we can't expect him to get it right everytime, nor can we expect him to be the one doing the crossing everytime. If we take the ball another 5-10 yards further up the field we'd be placing that much more difficulty on the defending side. As it is now we are asking our strikers to score from the edge of the 18-yard box to 2-3 yards inside it and not from between the penalty spot and the six yard box - a much easier task.

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You answered your own point - its about being mentally stale. Why do you think they have an off season where they all go on holiday and relax? Wouldn't it be easier for them to stay in training so there was no pre-season need to get back to full fitness again? It isn't the physical side of things, its the mental aspect. Teams who enter the inter-two bob experience it too. It is no excuse as we should have a squad to cope, but it is a contributor.

We've played more games already this season that Spurs will play ALL SEASON. They still have three months to complete what we've already done. Its not an excuse, but it is a contributing factor.

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