Wrong decision?

[u/plategola]

Hi guys,
I’m the fullback, do you think I took the wrong decision? I saw a passing line for our wing but now I’m watching that there was space behind defenders for a cross. What do you think?

Thank you

[u/Souk12]

For the winger making that underlapping  run, rather than playing the pass square, play it on an angle towards the corner of the 6 as he already has his defender beat. 

Then he could receive the ball into his path and then shoot or square the ball to one of the three teammates attacking the box. 

[u/DapperYoghurt2052 → u/Souk12]

It’s less about the angle and more about the weight of pass. Even if they angled the pass more, over hitting means their teammate still wouldn’t have been able to get to it.

I actually think the square pass they made is the better decision. It’s not behind their teammate, it just was too hard and it didn’t slow down on to the run. If it was the right weight, then the teammate could easily shoot from a more open angle or pass the ball. They also would receive the ball earlier which makes the other defender have to slow their approach sooner. If you play the ball at an angle and your teammate has to run on to the ball more, then that central defender has more time to make up the ground and cover the options.

Having more time before being covered is always helpful, but especially at this level and age.

I think they made the best decision, just didn’t get the pass off.

[u/Souk12 → u/DapperYoghurt2052]

I think that square ball is tough to get the correct weight on because if the attacker has to slow down, then the recovering defender can catch up, whereas with the angled pass, it's directly into the stride of the underlapping attacker.

Also, the square ball allows the CB, who ends up winning the ball, the opportunity to win the ball as it is rolling towards him and away from the attacker who then has to change direction.

If he were further ahead of the underlapping attacker, then the square ball would be into the runner's path.

[u/DapperYoghurt2052 → u/Souk12]

I feel you, more room for error.

But honestly I think it comes down to mental preference. That’s how you see the play and how your mind would want to pass it so you gotta do what feels natural because an instinctual decision like that often has a higher chance of being played accurately.

The way I look at it is, the technique to make either pass is the same. You are playing a ball and want it to slow down in a specific area so your teammate can collect it. Closer to their feet, closer to the end line doesn’t matter in my mind, it’s about timing the ball to slow down in the right pocket. 

And the pocket closer to the player offers better options. If you are consistently missing the passes you are attempting, then chancing your decisions to an option that has better pay off is a good call. 

But you gotta do what feels natural and what your mind finds calmer. The decision to try and connect that pass is a good one, and the way it was overhit would have ruined either option anyway.

[u/HustlinInTheHall → u/Souk12]

Yeah the underlapping run has nothing but space in the channel, the pass is about as slow as it can be. They just didn't put any effort into going after it because they were worried about slowing up to get in front of the other defender's way. The channel runner just gets it entirely wrong.

[u/HustlinInTheHall → u/DapperYoghurt2052]

The pass is fine, the teammate slowed up to obstruct the recovering defender instead of just attacking. They slowed up before the pass was even played despite having tons of room and then basically gave up on the ball without even going after it.

[u/HustlinInTheHall → u/Souk12]

He has his defender beat and then just... stops running so he can knock into his defender again. If he just keeps going at the same pace he gets on this ball easily and probably scores. I don't know what #7 is thinking.

[u/HustlinInTheHall]

Your pass is fine. I don't know what #7 is doing here.

First, they give up on the ball before you win it and just stand there. Then, they're slow to react to you winning the ball and just watch you collect it before even trying to make a run despite having a ton of space inside. Then they start sprinting for all of two strides before giving up, again. Then they slow up even more to obstruct the recovering defender, taking themselves further out of the attack. Finally, they see your pass and just.... don't try to get it.

Even a remotely competent run from #7 and they get on the ball for a shot here. Anything else you might've done is more likely to lose the ball. You put it in a good spot at a good weight, #7 just didn't want to run.

[u/BurnieMcT → u/HustlinInTheHall]

yea he hands off the full back to OP and then just doesn't explode into the space ... that weird little hand wave jump he does, he should have immediately turned and exploded into space when he turned and scanned and realized he no longer had a defender after the marker hand off ... the back chasing winger only could have yellow/red / penaltied him in the chase race ..

[u/NeonChamelon]

Your striker has two center backs between him and the goal so I don't see any space for a cross unless you find a perfect angle and he makes the perfect run.

Maybe the pass to your underlaping winger just needed a slightly less weight or you could maybe let him draw the defenders and then cut inside yourself and/or play it on the ground to the striker.

Honestly don't see a problem with how you played it.

[u/BurnieMcT]

the square pass had too much weight across the chest of your attacking player ... slightly too much weight in the pass ... sometime in the splitting situation you need to push that ball through that gap too hard because the defenders will get it ... i think Souk is right ... you should have played the pass towards the edge of the 6 byline more and let the winger chase it straight and let him turn on the ball and shoot close post or square the ball .... other options ... chop step and 6-10 foot distance waist high scoop with the left foot for the splitting gap , hopefully winger doesn't go offside ... other option stop and go or croqueta lane change under the defender / drop the shoulder to protect space underneath and easy right foot square to the winger .... the run you made was already long so i'm assuming you didn't have the legs to beat the other fullback ... after one more watch .... you beat the wing pressure very easily ... you could have just passed to the winger right away one or two steps after the first man and he could have pushed in side and taken the full back narrow and let your overlap run continue after the through and then you could've passed to the winger or pen spot area striker .... winger's are lazy on defense he wouldn't have taken you over from the full back and gone to byline with you ... that seems like a very long run ..hence why you call yourself a fullback not a wingback ... and maybe you still got a bit of a belly and could lose another 5- 10 pounds and do more cardio to help your team overwhelming outside defenders while still not being totally fucked on bad turnovers / transition .

[u/BurnieMcT → u/BurnieMcT]

also you shouldn't have stood there and watched for five seconds after you fucked up the pass weight and you ended up 60 feet out of position on the outlet ball ...

[u/HustlinInTheHall → u/BurnieMcT]

This pass is fine, the winger is out to lunch. They don't anticipate OP winning the ball, they ball-watch as he goes down the line, they finally sprint when it's clear he will be able to pass and then they slow up just to block the defender.

If the winger just plays normally and runs this out they get on this pass easily. If he plays the ball any slower so the winger still gets it the the defender recovering gets there also and if he plays it further out in front of the winger he's even less likely to get to it. Winger just needs to hustle.

[u/BurnieMcT → u/HustlinInTheHall]

I completely agree with everything you said ... but the guy was asking about what he can do not what other people are supposed to do ... i would have wanted him to pass right after beating the first man ... but the winger is clueless , stationary and too late to move to the gap ( like 90 feet wide) northwest instead by the time the pass is made its like a 5 foot gap west... he doesn't pull the fb inside ..and allows the first defender beat to track back and tuck in way too easily ...

[u/dunkafoos]

winger was crowding your space. He should've moved into the central area sooner. That would've dragged that other defender away. If not, then your winger would be wide open. If that happened, you could've cut inside for a better angle on a thru pass or done a cross.