Bishop jumping for headers

[89Leader]

Originally Posted by Phils-an-alki

What strengths were they exactly?

Always thought he was a Decent finisher with the ball on the deck, he scored with a few smart finishes here. He was extremely poor in the air though which was plain to see, that made it even more annoying that the tactic was to try and lift the ball up to his head every game. We should have either played to his strengths or not have signed him at all.

[Ooh aah Paskin]

Originally Posted by Jebudo

Think the best I've ever seen for 'jumping early' to head it was Graeme Sharp for Everton, had it off to a tee, Bishop just jumped...

Our own Karl Connolly...won pretty much every ball hoofed to him, but no-one was there to take advantage!

[davewilli]

Originally Posted by Ooh aah Paskin

Our own Karl Connolly...won pretty much every ball hoofed to him, but no-one was there to take advantage!

The long ball to Karl out on the left was a tactic we used, the big advantage on the flank is the defender is less capable of getting touch tight, being able meet the ball straight on and getting a run on the attacker. Full backs are usually a few inches shorter too. Centre forwards are usually at a big disadvantage to the centre half unless they are that bit taller ( a Toshack or a Crouch) or the bulk/strength ( a Parkin or a Rhead) and can claim that yard of space.

[Bigmike]

Originally Posted by Phils-an-alki

If you win the ball it’s effective of course but your argument was that Bishop was doing it deliberately didn’t stack up for reasons already pointed out. You do realise how bad he actually was in the air don’t you? I don’t get why you used him as an example. It makes no sense whatsoever.
At the end of the day he was utter shit. By the time he arrived here he was shot body and mind had given up.

Hi Phil I posted the pieces about Cole and Ferdinand to demonstrate that jumping early is indeed a recognised heading tactic. As you know some time ago I posted that I thought Bishop was "trying" to use this tactic not mistiming his jump. I did not say he was good at it. In fact as you say he had very little success. However I got brassed off with flack from some posters who were unable to understand that jumping early is a valid tactic for a smaller man to use. The subject was recently raised again twice on RP. I decided to use the examples to show that "jumping early" is indeed a valid tactic.

[Phils-an-alki]

Originally Posted by Bigmike

Hi Phil I posted the pieces about Cole and Ferdinand to demonstrate that jumping early is indeed a recognised heading tactic. As you know some time ago I posted that I thought Bishop was "trying" to use this tactic not mistiming his jump. I did not say he was good at it. In fact as you say he had very little success. However I got brassed off with flack from some posters who were unable to understand that jumping early is a valid tactic for a smaller man to use. The subject was recently raised again twice on RP. I decided to use the examples to show that "jumping early" is indeed a valid tactic.

Fair enough, I think everyone knows it’s a valid tactic mind, it's when you and others used it to defend Bishop when he was here that I found bizarre.

[Bigmike]

Thanks for the response phil much appreciated. To be fair I don't remember (not that my memory is brilliant these days) ever claiming that Bishop was a good player.