- May 8, 2005
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- #21
But does leave you better set to deal with a counter.pace in the head doesn't catch quick players when you are being counter attacked
But does leave you better set to deal with a counter.pace in the head doesn't catch quick players when you are being counter attacked
We struggle against Liverpool and City, they both have so much pace. It's understandable we yearn for that as an extra weapon.
We struggle against Liverpool and City, they both have so much pace. It's understandable we yearn for that as an extra weapon.
We need attacking players (whose standard position is high up the pitch, so not wing backs or attacking full backs) who are happy to start or run wide, and take the ball down the wing. Everything is too narrow high up the pitch, we don't make the opposition think about their flanks, and it allows them to crowd the central spaces where we are trying to pass the ball through.
Kane is the central striker, so understandable he wants to stay central. Alli, even when on the left of the three behind, doesn't want to attack the byline, he wants to work himself central. Eriksen will cross from wide positions but he wont be hitting the byline, and will tend to move infield, Son wants to play on the left and cut inside but at least is happy to take a starting position that is wide.
It just makes us a bit too predictable, and if teams are of sufficient quality (Chelsea) or just well drilled/organised and play well (Burnley) we struggle to make our dominant possession count. Have that other option and suddenly the opposition have decisions to make.
When we play 3 at the back, we need FBs that offer pace and can attack the opposing fullback one-v-one or even get in behind them while still having the pace to get back. It is hurting us right now in the neither Davies or Trippier have the pace to play FB at the level of Rose/Walker in that system. I know that they can both cross the ball but both are doing it into a packed box because neither offer the threat of beating their man down the outside. (Trippier has had one successful take on since he has been here is a stat I ready earlier this morning.) Speed of play (mental and touch) along with pace is the ideal but we definitely need more pace to stretch teams.
i remember one moment last season when mane scored against us. Davies just couldn't catch him but think Rose would have
Njie
GKN
Sissoko
Failed diao attempt
And 50/50 attempt at aurier
Suggests the coach thinks we need some actual pace in the team
We don't need a player who can run 100m at record pace. We compete within a possession based paradigm, not a sprint paradigm. What we do need though, are players who can run quickly with the ball in their feet, and in other ways move the ball super quickly, which is a whole different sort of pace.