Every Premier Team Must Have Pace Upfront

[Mouldy Coat]

Without stating the obvious around shaky defence, conceed too many goals, etc etc I think the one missing ingredient is pace up front. Clearly this is why Jayrod is preferred to Lambo by Adkins because he gives us a bit more energy, but in my view we need to start with real pace. Obviously Mayuka can't play up front on his own due to his size, but he needs to be accommodated and a formation change to start the game should be considered to give us the real pace we need to get behind them.

[JustMike]

Stoke / West Ham have managed without it, albeit boring

[Graffito]

Mayuka did well on the right against Spurs.

 

If all PL teams must have pace up front then all must have it at the back as well. Some in midfield wouldn't go amiss.

[Thedelldays]

Stoke / West Ham have managed without it, albeit boring

 

West ham have vaz te as a right forward and stoke have Jonathan Walters

[Turkish]

There is only any point having pace if they can play as well.

[sandwichsaint]

Bring back Jonno Quick innitt?

[dubai_phil]

There is only any point having pace if they can play as well.

 

And if someone can actually pass the ball to them at the right time.

[Dig Dig]

West ham have vaz te as a right forward and stoke have Jonathan Walters

 

Wow, that's searing pace right there

[shurlock]

Wow, that's searing pace right there

 

And why Stoke are one of the lowest scorers in the division. Funnily I read somewhere that Andy Carroll is one of the fastest players in the division -no sh*tting.

 

http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/football/west-ham/west_ham_shocker_who_is_the_fastest_hammer_1_1660790

Edited 3 November, 2012 by shurlock

[Doctoroncall]

And if someone can actually pass the ball to them at the right time.

 

Indeed, pace isn't an asset if others aren't quick of thought or have an understanding of each other. Besides I think it would be better to have the acceleration over a few yards and see a pass than pure pace.

[Thedelldays]

And why Stoke are one of the lowest scorers in the division. Funnily I read somewhere that Andy Carroll is one of the fastest players in the division -no sh*tting.

 

http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/football/west-ham/west_ham_shocker_who_is_the_fastest_hammer_1_1660790

 

It's not all about going forward. It's also defending from the front and getting back

 

So many time we see lallana an puncheon running back trying to catch the player that has left them. Leaving our fullbacks utterly exposed

 

The CM (we only usually play 2) are pulled all over the place

 

IMO. Mayuka is good for a start or of not, just stop the gung ho formations/selections

[derry]

Pace should always be a criteria when signing players. In the top teams hardly any players lack pace. Being slow is a massive weakness unless the other considerations, control, anticipation, accuracy, change of pace balance that. Eg Lambert lacks pace but he has all the other attributes.

[eurosaint]

It was very noticeable against Spurs that they were pacier throughout the team especially on the wings (Bale and Lennon) and at the back (Walker and Caulker) !

For sure it is not the only attribute required but it does help !!

[S-Clarke]

Stoke / West Ham have managed without it, albeit boring

 

Stoke were actually very effective when they had the pace of Etherington and Pennent on either flank. Not sure why they have fallen down the pecking order though, as they look less effective this year.

 

Pace is very important, and it's why we sometimes grind to a halt as we get to the final third, it's all well and good keeping the ball in the middle but we sometimes lack that killer punch. Without pace the attack can become very predictable and easy to setup against

[RobM]

Pace is important, but equally important is having players elsewhere in the team who can make the most of the pace, with intelligent and well-timed passing. It's no good having pace up front if they have to suffer rubbish service into them, they'll just be offside every time or will have to drop back so far their pace is wasted.

[Turkish]

De Ridder and Antonio both had pace. A classic example of how players with pace can deceive people into thinking they are actually any good. Remember th hero worship given to De Ridder when he arrived, despite the fact that he is an average championship player. When it was pointed out this time last year anyone that dare say he wasn't amazing was told they were wrong and they couldn't beleive Nige wasn't playing him more, over the course of the season it became apparent why that was.

[Dangermouth]

And why Stoke are one of the lowest scorers in the division. Funnily I read somewhere that Andy Carroll is one of the fastest players in the division -no sh*tting.

 

http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/football/west-ham/west_ham_shocker_who_is_the_fastest_hammer_1_1660790

 

That was probably jumping speed. And did it take him 3 hours to get up to speed? Just another example of how meaningful 'statistics' is. Statistics now means quoting a number and treating that as a 'fact', apparently. The Mark Noble figure has more meaning. Newham = a shthole in East London, for those lucky enough not to have been / lived around there.

[sandwichsaint]

Remember watching a TV series a while ago about Ajax's academy. They assessed and recruited on TIPP - Technique, Intelligence, Pace, Personality with those four factors given broadly equal weighting. Guess players need to meet basic standards in all four areas and some weaknesses can be countered by strengths in others. Not all players can be the same speed and not every player can be the quickest but there are few genuinely 'slow' players nowadays.

 

Also clearly depends on what you are measuring etc. Surprised to see from one of our early games this season (can't remember which one it was) that our fastest player over 10yds in the game was Lambert (!), not something you would necessarily pick up from the stands.

 

'Your lost at International level without some sort of pace' Mick Channon, only he didn't say 'lost'.

[shurlock]

That was probably jumping speed. And did it take him 3 hours to get up to speed? Just another example of how meaningful 'statistics' is. Statistics now means quoting a number and treating that as a 'fact', apparently. The Mark Noble figure has more meaning. Newham = a shthole in East London, for those lucky enough not to have been / lived around there.

 

Never got as far as Newham - tops was living in Surrey Quays (good times there, though).

 

FWIW, I think horse-lungs Carroll is quick. At the very least, he does a job of moving defenders around with his ability/willingness to work the channels - obviously you then need creative players to exploit the space it creates.

 

Clyne has looked our paciest player -and we've looked dangerous when he's been able to drive at players or the space in front of him. With our defensive frailties, its not something we really want to rely on, though.

Edited 3 November, 2012 by shurlock

[SNOWY]

Doesn't matter who plays upfront when we are conceding 3 goals per game.