Post by WeAreTheGas on Sept 7, 2014 9:56:18 GMT
Pace. And a severe lack of it in the team.
I remember starting a thread on the OF 16-months ago before the start of last season saying that we lacked pace in the team (especially in attack) and would struggle as a result. Clarkson, Harrold, Brunt, Beardsley, Gillespie etc. All one-paced and unable to stretch defences. This only changed slightly for the better once Mohamed was brought in on the wing.
And despite DC constantly reiterating over the summer that he wanted more pace in the squad, and that this was something he would prioritise with his recruitment, I see very little improvement in that respect with this season's squad. I fully agree with others that a creative midfielder who can play that final killer ball for the strikers is badly lacking, but where is our pace and our players who have the legs to stretch the opposition's defence?
The only striker we have in the squad with the sort of pace that really unsettles defenders is Ellis Harrison - a bloke who was transfer listed in the summer and was looking unlikely to feature in the team at all this season at one point. He's now a key player for us IMO and a big miss when he's away on international duty, because he offers the pace that very few of our other attackers do.
Martin and Taylor have a bit of pace about them, but the rest of the team is painfully lacking in it. Cunnington & White look no faster than Clarkson or Harrold to me, and as for the rest: Lockyer, McChrystal, Trotman, Mansell, Clarke, Monkhouse etc. All first team regulars. All painfully slow.
I know we probably have bigger problems than this atm, but it beggars belief that this deficiency hasn't been addressed from last season. A fit Turley at CB and Leadbitter actually playing at RB would help add a bit of pace to the defence.
I remember starting a thread on the OF 16-months ago before the start of last season saying that we lacked pace in the team (especially in attack) and would struggle as a result. Clarkson, Harrold, Brunt, Beardsley, Gillespie etc. All one-paced and unable to stretch defences. This only changed slightly for the better once Mohamed was brought in on the wing.
And despite DC constantly reiterating over the summer that he wanted more pace in the squad, and that this was something he would prioritise with his recruitment, I see very little improvement in that respect with this season's squad. I fully agree with others that a creative midfielder who can play that final killer ball for the strikers is badly lacking, but where is our pace and our players who have the legs to stretch the opposition's defence?
The only striker we have in the squad with the sort of pace that really unsettles defenders is Ellis Harrison - a bloke who was transfer listed in the summer and was looking unlikely to feature in the team at all this season at one point. He's now a key player for us IMO and a big miss when he's away on international duty, because he offers the pace that very few of our other attackers do.
Martin and Taylor have a bit of pace about them, but the rest of the team is painfully lacking in it. Cunnington & White look no faster than Clarkson or Harrold to me, and as for the rest: Lockyer, McChrystal, Trotman, Mansell, Clarke, Monkhouse etc. All first team regulars. All painfully slow.
I know we probably have bigger problems than this atm, but it beggars belief that this deficiency hasn't been addressed from last season. A fit Turley at CB and Leadbitter actually playing at RB would help add a bit of pace to the defence.
