When it comes to football, for Csaba Laszlo possession is not just nine-tenths of the law, it’s everything.
Dundee United full-back Stewart Murdoch has revealed that’s one of the big messages the new manager has been hammering home to his players.
And the fact when they’ve done that, the Tangerines have dominated the opposition and created a barrow load of chances has convinced the players the Laszlo way can provide a route back to the Premiership.
“The gaffer has said even if it’s not on to going forward, if we can keep the ball for 20, 25 passes — which we’re capable of doing — then it becomes frustrating for other teams,” said Murdoch.
“If we do that the opportunities will come and being in control like that, and even when we’ve not got the ball, is a big message the manager puts over to us.
“As full-backs, the gaffer has said to Jamie Robson and I even when we get to the by-line, if we look up and there is nothing on in the box, don’t just throw it in, roll it back to someone and keep possession.
“If we do that, we know the chances will come. He is quite happy for us to let the ball go all the way back to Mark Durnan and Tam Scobbie if necessary, so long as we keep the ball.
“Just swinging in balls for the sake of it or hitting long hopeful balls is not what he wants.
“What helps that is, when we’ve listened to him, we’ve seen if we are patient and in control we will create chances.
“We’ve had plenty in the last couple of games and scored a few goals. We should have had more but, if we keep doing as he says, we can keep winning.”
Having done that to stunning effect for 90 minutes against Falkirk, then in the first half at Brechin last Saturday, United dominated the play.
It didn’t happen after the break at Glebe Park and two points slipped away. Murdoch believes the Tangerines have learned a big lesson from that.
“When we were in control so much in the first half, we were happy going in.
“But then their goal coming so early in the second rocked us a bit.
“We never really got back into controlling the ball and moving it the way we had been in the first half.
“It was disappointing but it’s something we move on from quickly and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
“In that kind of situation we have to remember the way we’ve been playing and, if we do lose a goal with so long left to go, remember we have time to get back and win.
“On Saturday it was like we had to get back in front in the next two or three minutes and there was a bit of a rush and we were trying to get the ball forward too quickly.
“It was disappointing but, when we sat down and looked back over the game, the manager reminded us we are on a decent run and in a much better place than we were a few weeks ago.
“We’ve done that by playing good football and controlling games and that’s what we’re working on.”
The aim is to show that kind of control and get back to winning ways when Dunfermline visit Tannadice today.
It’s a game that kicks off what could be a huge December for United, one that will see them face all their promotion rivals.
“Our home form is massive and we have to look to take three points.
“We put in a great performance down at Dunfermline last time we played them and that is also something we can take into the game.
“Then there’s a run of other big games before the end of the year. The month is going to be a chance for someone to go on a run and do themselves a lot of good.
“Our aim is for that to be us.”
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