djk2g09 Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 It makes painful viewing how slow our front line is bar SDR... and most of the time he seems to run around like a headless chicken. It really cries out to me how much we are in need of a quick striker and I don't see that Tadanari Lee is going to be blistering (judging by YouTube footage). We also seem to come unstuck by teams that have a bit of pace in their front line... Leicester twice and Bristol City twice, and IMO we were lucky to beat Hull at home who were nippy. Perhaps a pacey striker (with a brain, not Jonathan Forte), and learning how to deal with pace is needed if we are to continue what has been a great season so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Who? Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 Leeds have lots of pace and we took them apart. We are 2nd in the league, so have been doing something right, but cannot seem to get that swagger back at the moment. Confidence is an amazing thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lighthouse Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 Last night really made me want to sign Sordell more than any of the other names being spread around. Need some pace up front badly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toofarnorth Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 If we give away possession so easily to teams with pace then we'll be in trouble (or do get in trouble). When we retain the ball well like we did earlier in the season then the pace of the opposition becomes less of an issue. Just need to pass it better and quicker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 Doesn't help when you have Harding in defence, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 I don't think pace is all that useful when you're using it to chase 40 yard hoofs off the pitch all the time... we're missing 4 or 5 starters and there was a tangible lack of confidence as soon as Leicester started pressurising - we were actually competing and passing quite well in the period when we went 2 goals behind, it was after that we looked short of ideas - probably because Leicester stopped slinging Konchesky past us and left him to defend, and most of the time all they had to defend were long balls at Connolly. It was the lack of cohesion and confidence through the middle of the park and the inability to pass the ball short in there that cost us, allied to the failure to attempt to do so - earlier in the season we'd have persisted with the passing until the opposition ran out of steam, it was never on the agenda yesterday, we whacked and their midfield just mopped up the knock-downs from their positions sitting in front of their defence. No-one tried to get them out of their by changing things. I'll spare a mention for Fox constantly whacking 45 yard crossfield balls to marked shortarses when he had half a pitch to run into in front of him as well - why would you keep doing that ? Falque will take time, which he is unlikely to get, and looked lost and unimpressive - but it's only one match for him. Good job it was half a reserve team or I'd be really cheesed off - unless we make some key signings in the next few days to build on what we've achieved so far and plug the gaps in the squad, I think we're going to have to accept a few poorly-timed defeats to promotion rivals with a weakened squad until mid-Feb and push on from there when our opponents are a bit easier. The lack of support for the man on the ball at points yesterday was ridiculous, time and again Harding ended up with the ball with Cork marked in front of him and no-one else within 20 yards for the pass. Where were the midfielders there ? How many times did we have defensive throw-ins and we just didn't have an option ? At least Richardson coming back and Lambert's suspension ending are plus points, even if most teams have worked out that little combo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beavis17 Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 I know we have Chaplow to come back but last night really showed that we need an attacking central midfielder that can score goals. Hammond, Cork and Schneiderlin are far too defensive. Keith Andrews is back at Blackburn at the moment but looks set to be shipped out and I think he would be a fantastic signing, even on loan for the rest of the season. Add a new striker, the return of players from injury and possibly CB cover if Hooiveld has a nasty injury and I think we'l be set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saints 6 Derby 4 Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 Doesn't help when you have Harding in defence, Harding is a reasonable quality (Championship) LEFT back who performs best when given cover from his mid-field partner and is able to get to get forward to put in crosses with his favoured left foot. Puzzling that he was played at right back last night when you consider that we had Richardson on the bench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 Harding is a reasonable quality (Championship) LEFT back who performs best when given cover from his mid-field partner and is able to get to get forward to put in crosses with his favoured left foot. Puzzling that he was played at right back last night when you consider that we had Richardson on the bench. Fairly sure Richardson was touch and go and wouldn't have been on the bench if we'd had more depth. Even then Richardson was only chucked on only because Hooiveld got injured and he was the only defender left on the bench (aside from one-time left back Ben Reeves, who's been playing much further forward for a while now). I think Harding is at competent Championship left back, having to cut inside at right back isn't going to help anyone, but isn't Butterfield injured at the moment too ? Jack Stephens might be worth the gamble in that situation, but if there's one thing I'm not going to criticise the manager for it's his record in developing kids and younger professionals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 We lack any attacking pace. It's so laboured and static on nights like last night. Teams who close us down quickly have pretty much got a point at least if we're without Lambert. Lambert gives us another out. His movement off the ball opens up space and the players move into the space and get onto his flick ons. He's more than just a goal scorer for us, he's our attacking linchpin - more so than Lallana in some aspects. But pace over the top would make such a different on nights like last night. We need another option for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beavis17 Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 We lack any attacking pace. It's so laboured and static on nights like last night. Teams who close us down quickly have pretty much got a point at least if we're without Lambert. Lambert gives us another out. His movement off the ball opens up space and the players move into the space and get onto his flick ons. He's more than just a goal scorer for us, he's our attacking linchpin - more so than Lallana in some aspects. But pace over the top would make such a different on nights like last night. We need another option for sure. If the rumours are true would you say Sharp would be that man? I'm not convinced... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 If the rumours are true would you say Sharp would be that man? I'm not convinced... He's not pacey for sure, but his movement is clever and he's a little nippy. Someone like Sordell is the sort of forward we could do with pace wise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Bald_Si Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 We've played against plenty of teams this season that might consider themselves to have "bags of pace". We've come unstuck against teams that have pressed us all game and not allowed us to play. This, rather than a lack of pace, or being able to deal with pace, is the reason we've lost these games. Home against Brizzle, and having seen the Leciester game last night, both teams pressed us all game, gave us zero space, and that's why they've come away with victories. We need to learn to be able to beat teams that press us, rather than against teams that have pace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkeith Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 To beat teams that press, you need to move the ball quickly, or be ultra confident of keeping possesion when surrounded, like Swansea against Arsenal. For example : - One touch passing so the chasing pack can't keep up. Switching the ball accurately and quickly from side to side, so the chasing pack can't keep up. Having someone who can keep the ball glued to his feet under presure (AL) Having outlets up front that you can hit early ( Lambert) Having someone quick who will chase up the channels ( as long as they stay onside). Pace on its own is not going to do it, although I do agree that we are short of it. Last night, once we started slwing down the passing and taking extra touches, we had no chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpturner Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 So we need to buy a pacy striker with a brain and an ability to finish at Championship level and above - in the January window.......should be simple. I cannot imagine why haven't done it already! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verlaine1979 Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 Almost all team ball games ultimately turn out to be decided by turnovers of possession. You give the ball away close to your goal more than they give the ball away close to their goal, and you'll be very lucky to win the game. Last night we gave the ball away within 30 yards of our goal more times than I can remember us doing in years. If the other team happen to be faster than you, conceding possession there is even more likely to hurt, as they'll be in the box by the time your lumbering players have completed their turning circle and attempted to catch up. It was painful watching, and the pace with which Leicester attacked was a big factor, but the major factor in us losing the game was how carelessly we looked after the ball when we had it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 To be fair, if a player is very quick, and has good techincal ability (which is clearly what we're after) then they'll be playing in the Premiership. Therefore we've had to just go for players who are either very quick, but not great with the ball, or players who are good on the ball but not quick. We just need to find out the best formula for us to win games. We have 2 players who are quick but with limited ability (SDR + Forte) but i'm not sure they fit in the quick short passing game in which Adkins wants to play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 Surely what we need is a big targetman to pressure Lambert's position or replace him if he's injured? Once the opposition have figured out how to stop us playing out from the back, there's no plan B if Lambert is not playing and we get caught time and time again because Davis is too damn slow with his distribution (although to be fair quite often none of the team are racing ahead looking for a fast ball out). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 24 January, 2012 Share Posted 24 January, 2012 Without pace you need the passes forward to stick to the front players which then gives time for the midfield to get up and provide support. Last night Connolly was always trying to dummy or flick the ball on whilst Guly always seemed to have three players pounce on him whenever he got given the ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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