Salah’s goal vs Southampton

I know where your coming from Runcorn and totally agree, I remember when we played Stoke with the Delap throw ins when we where in the greed league, we would put two on the half way line and it would then take 3 to 4 to mark them and it worked very worked well, if we did have players on the half way line it may help dumb and dumber (Dunks&Kipre) at the back as well with less confusion.

Well it isn’t a Cook thing as we have done it for years for some reason

I think (though might be wrong), it started with Jewell in either our first or second season in the premier league. And we have been doing it ever since regardless who our manager is.

The thing is, if you leave 1 man up top, they need 2 defenders. Leave 2 up top, they require 3 defenders. Therefore leaving less opposition players in your box. How many times has our GK (whoever it might be) caught the ball, or it has been cleared by the defence only for no one to give it to & hence, a chance for a break a la Salah.[/quote]

I agree. I put it down to the backroom staff being the same foe years but we still do it now. It has always seemed a negative idea to me.