Fannying is to lumping as stringing 50 passes is to a perfectly drilled 50 yard pass, but when fannying goes wrong the opposition are 20 yards out with at least as many attackers as you have defenders. Logically it is more dangerous to lose the ball 20 yards out than 60 yards away. The diminishing quality of player the further down the divisions you go can only increase the likelihood of things going pear shaped when playing out from the back.