I DESPISE writer's block. It is like...well, I can’t really find the words to describe it.

Okay, we all know what writer's block is like, so I searched my brain, and while ruminating over going into detail on the positives of sheep shagging, I realised that I should just admit it - Wellington play some boring football.

Last season the Nix were considered one of the most attractive sides in the competition, and even though we let goals through like a tidal wave, we scored almost as many up the other end.

We finished last but it was fun to watch, and while we’re winning games this year the low crowds could have as much to do with our winning-but-insipid attacking style as the ‘credit crunch’, ‘economic slowdown’, ‘credit/economic crisis’ (Pick one and annoy your friends).

It’s not as if we haven’t seen any nice football from the Nix though. I’ve noticed in the last three games that there have been short periods of a ball on the ground, passing to feet style that also helped retain possession.

They included the first four minutes of the CCM game, around the 10-20 minute marks against the Mew, and fair chunks of the game against the Planes.

The only problem is that it goes straight out the window as soon as the defence feel any pressure (refer to the style of play after going one – nil up in the first two games mentioned).

They revert to ugly, long-ball passing, especially Karl Dodd, who may be a good defender but will never be a good passer of the ball; and whose indiscriminate long passes have been a major reason we have been poor at retaining possession this season. Attack starts in defence, and that includes making sure the midfield get the ball.

We also lose the ball and chances to attack by leaving only one man forward when defending a set piece. I don’t think anyone could keep count of the number of times one of Smeltz, Bertos, and Hearfield have launched a counter-attack, only to slow down and then stop when they see that there is no one up to support them.

Basic logic suggests that the more people we send back to defend, the more the opposition can send to attack. If we have 9 of our 10 outfield players back in defence then the opposition can send 8 or 9 of theirs forward.

The opposite also applies. If we only have 8 back, they can only send 6 or 7. This probably also has something to do with why we concede on set-pieces.

I said on yellowfever.co.nz after our 3-0 loss at Hindmarsh that the side would need to rebuild and it would take to time for them to play attractive football again, I just didn’t think it would take this long.

I’m proud of the way the side has fought back and ground out results, but next season is a big one for the entire league and we’ll need to attract fans on West Island as well as home to ensure our viability and also to a certain extent, the league’s.

We need to play attractive football, and we need our defence to learn to cope with pressure. If anyone knows of any good drills for improving decision-making all over the park, please send them to Ricki Herbert.