Defenders

This is quite interesting

www.zonalmarking.net/2011/11/25/goalkeeper-short-passing-distribution/

It concludes:

if keeping the ball equals good defending, and if playing the first pass short to a teammate is linked to high possession, then goalkeepers and defences shouldn’t be too worried by the odd calamitous concession of a goal – in the long-term, they’ll benefit from their bravery

Defenders are often blamed when caught out playing the ball near their own goal. But it seems that it is a better strategy than hitting and hoping long balls.

For sure, that is the better strategy but defenders are and should still be blamed for a mis hit pass that results in a goal. I would put my hands up and acknowledge the error if i did it but thats not to say I wont do it again.
Never liked the long ball approach, but dont tell Raj that as he likes it.

Reza, I've moved your post, and Elvin's response from the Discussion & Introductions board to this board, as it about football generally, and not just our games, although it may be relevant to our games.

The Chat board is for broader discussions, not just jokes.

Anyway, on the subject, although quick interchanges of passes enables possession to be kept, being able to switch to a longer ball, or running with the ball, can be very effective when used more sparingly. It's about making the right choice, at the right time. Football is not just about not conceding, it's also about being able to open up your opponents from time to time, and scoring, and for that, against a good defence, being able to vary your game is useful.

And apart from the quantitative measure (how many of the passes out of defence are short passes compared to long passes), there is a qualitative measure (how good was the pass). Not just whether the pass is completed (ie, reaches a team), but finds him in a position from which further progress can be made. And the quality of passing turns a lot on the quality of players, both those making the pass and receiving the pass.

As for defending, it has to be safety first. Passing the ball at the back has to be safe, for if you lose possession there, the risk of conceding a goal is high. When you take risks in your opponent's half, the benefits outweigh the risks, especially if you know you have reliable defenders behind you. If you take risks in your own half, more likely than not, the risk will outweigh the benefit, so best not to. It's not just passing, but the kind of passes.

Like Elvin said, if a defender makes a mistake, or wrong choice of pass, he's responsible, in the same way that a goalkeeper (for example, coming out for a cross when he shouldn't), striker (trying to chip the ball over or bend the ball round the keeper, instead of thumping it) or any other player is responsible for his own wrong choice.

The thing about statistics, useful as a guide maybe, but other variables are often overlooked.

So So true your post Rajiv!!. Not many ppl actually realise how massively important a good pass makes and not just simply a completed pass......it makes world of diff for the one receiving the ball. How the ball comes to the receiver will decide his next action. If a ball is hit too hard, he needs more time to bring it under control and that split second will cause him to lose the advantage he might have had. On the other hand, a well paced ball in the right angle will allow him to 1) turn the player marking him, 2) shoot , 3) make a good one touch pass etc etc......