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by HitchinBoro exCalling 22/5 11:10Thu May 22 11:10:15 2025
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Are Stevenage really a long ball side?
Views: 392
I am a firm believer in play to your strengths and do whatever is best for your side to achieve results. That said, we constantly hear about how ‘big, strong and physical’ our side is. In fact we hear it just about every week.
Look at Luton yesterday. They were by far the ‘bigger’ of the two sides. I might even go as far as saying that Stevenage are one of the smaller sides we see. In terms of ‘long ball’, a scan of the stats for the season so far shows that in only 3 of 11 games have Stevenage played more long balls than the opposition. 2 of those 3 games were lost (Huddersfield and Charlton), and the third could so easily ended in defeat were it not for 2 late goals (Port Vale).
Draw you own conclusions, although they might not fall in line with the lazy narrative!
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Re: Are Stevenage really a long ball side?
Views: 245
Sometimes we are. Sometimes we aren’t.
Because our manager is a tactical genius and does his homework on the opposition.
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Re: Are Stevenage really a long ball side?
Views: 348
Funnily enough I was discussing this exact point with various other Boro fans while queueing (!) to get into the ground yesterday.
With it being extremely windy, a long ball game was not going to be effective & we saw the ball hanging in the air or flying too long on numerous occasions. If we WERE a long-ball team, it would have been a disaster yesterday.
Thankfully the tactics are much more varied, especially with two tricky wingers & a very short forward line! I lose count of the amount of comments I read from opposing fans saying we’re just a big, physical team that lumps the ball but I’m pleased they think that because we can catch them unprepared!
The games have been so much more enjoyable this season & we are playing every match with a new found confidence. Long may it continue!
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Re: Are Stevenage really a long ball side?
Views: 318
Sadly, apart from the idiot Wellens (and his very large, physical side) I'm not sure any managers will be as easily misled as their fanbase. But yes, it's funny that they don't recognise the change in our approach. It makes them angry and confused when we cut them open: must be due to their own poor performance!
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Re: Are Stevenage really a long ball side?
Views: 304
Exactly this. The more the narrative in the wider media is we're just big strong and lump it team, the more we can win by surprising them with passing football. Dont worry about what is written
Edited by AndyC at 08:45:04 on 5th October 2025
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Re: Are Stevenage really a long ball side?
Views: 391
I like B,S&P. It suits a smaller club.
Let's face it we can never compete financially for the best technical players at our level, sometimes we unearth a good one or a young one.
So we must compete on other fronts to level the playing field firstly with our tactics, motivation and organisation which is down to the coaches and gaffer.
Secondly though, we can make sure our players are stronger and fitter than the opposition through good strength and conditioning work, something that is in our DNA and was way back in the Conference under Graham.
You can be B,S&P and still mix up your style of play. We can be direct but that's not a bad thing. You can only score if you get the ball into the final third.
Leeds and Sunderland in the PL have both used the summer window to secure B,S&P players to try and survive in the top flight, not necessarily tried to secure great technicians.
Even the great Pep has started to play a bit more direct, and the team with the most set piece and corner goals, using their centre-backs to great effect is currently top of the pile in Arsenal.
Edited by BALDOCKBORO at 11:12:12 on 5th October 2025
Edited by BALDOCKBORO at 11:25:18 on 5th October 2025
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Re: Are Stevenage really a long ball side?
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No, we can be direct but that’s not the same thing as long ball/senselessly hoofing it.
Things are done with intention now, all credit to Revs and the coaching staff for that.
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