We need more pace...

[kitchen]

City - Aguero, Navas, Toure etc.
Liverpool - Sterling, Suarez, Sturridge
Chelsea - Schurrle, Hazard, Eto'o, Torres
Arsenal - considerably weaker now Walcott is injured.

Football is a simple game, make runs in behind, find the runner with a pass. Create space through runs behind opponents.

Problem is that we don't have enough runners with the pace to get in behind any more. Bale is gone. Lennon has lost the pace and confidence he used to have. Townsend hasn't learnt to run in behind off the ball and instead always looks to pick it up from deep and beat a man on the dribble. Nobody else has the searing pace that made us so formidable in 2011-12. That makes us easier to defend against because the ball is always in front of the opposition centre halves.

Liverpool have shown what a weapon pace can be this season. Their front three is the quickest in the league, and they have a range of passers in behind to find them. Coutinho's goal today was the result of him outpacing our midfield, and then our CBs petrified to close him down because of the space left in behind and the runners either side. They got behind us many times today, particularly Sterling. I can't remember us getting in behind them once… They have a superbly balanced team of fast runners and passers behind them. Their pace also means they press the ball quicker and give opposition less time on the ball.

Even Walcott, who essentially is more of an athlete than a footballer, a sprinter who can shoot if you like, consistently scores 15+ goals a season when fit. It was noticeable how much Arsenal missed him against City last night.

We're not pedestrian, but we lack the really searing pace combined with simple direct runs that we had when we were good. A priority this Summer ought to be a quick wide man and a striker with pace. Remy and Konoplyanka for example.

 

[LiamJM10]

We have two of the fastest players in the league. But neither have brains. Pace isn't all you need.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

We need more everything.

 

[kitchen]

We have two of the fastest players in the league. But neither have brains. Pace isn't all you need.

Lennon is certainly no longer one of the fastest players in the league, and has reduced the number of runs in behind he makes considerably from a few years ago. Townsend (presumably the other) I have spoken about above.

 

[only1waddle]

Townsend has pace but thinks all you need to do is run fast with the ball, hardly, if ever see him lay it off and make that run in behind.

 

[kitchen]

Townsend has pace but thinks all you need to do is run fast with the ball, hardly, if ever see him lay it off and make that run in behind.

Exactly, he is great dribbling form deep, but his movement off the ball needs coaching...

 

[SlickMongoose]

Yes. Pacy, skillful players are what it's all about.

 

[chrissivad]

i would be happy with just better movement off the ball.

We have to many players that are static when they dont have the ball and it puts pressure on the player with the ball as they have limited or no options to them.

Pace is great when you play on the break

 

[walworthyid]

It isn't pace as such it is movement generally. Under avb the players weren't allowed to move and we essentially ended up with 3 centre mids standing next to eachother, 2 wingers 30 yards away and Soldado stood waiting for the ball even further away. Now we have players who are bereft of confidence who don't know where to run because they are confused about what is going on.

Lamela may not have pulled up any trees but watch him play, he gets it and tries to move it quickly and run into space to get it back. Even soldado looks to move the ball on and make space, as does eriksen. Our problem is that our players just stand there waiting for the ball. It's actually ridiculous.

 

[only1waddle]

Exactly, he is great dribbling form deep, but his movement off the ball needs coaching...

His whole game needs some direction.

 

[walworthyid]

i would be happy with just better movement off the ball.

We have to many players that are static when they dont have the ball and it puts pressure on the player with the ball as they have limited or no options to them.

Pace is great when you play on the break

See my post above. Our players simply aren't coached properly. I watch chelsea trainees playing futsal at my school and they all pass the ball and move. Even the kids playing with a tennis ball move after they pass the ball. It isn't even about great ability on the ball, it's about the fact that the players clearly aren't coached to play that way.

 

[only1waddle]

It isn't pace as such it is movement generally. Under avb the players weren't allowed to move and we essentially ended up with 3 centre mids standing next to eachother, 2 wingers 30 yards away and Soldado stood waiting for the ball even further away. Now we have players who are bereft of confidence who don't know where to run because they are confused about what is going on.

Lamela may not have pulled up any trees but watch him play, he gets it and tries to move it quickly and run into space to get it back. Even soldado looks to move the ball on and make space, as does eriksen. Our problem is that our players just stand there waiting for the ball. It's actually ridiculous.

Chadli tried this today too but without everyone doing it like Liverpool do the whole thing just breaks down, we simply don't give each other options, simple triangles, anticipate the next move, run into space, run in behind etc, Rodgers is coaching them on this constantly, it's plain to see.
Liverpool players today helped each other out, made themselves available, we just give the ball to someone and let them get on with it.

 

[TheGreenLily]

Chadli tried this today too but without everyone doing it like Liverpool do the whole thing just breaks down, we simply don't give each other options, simple triangles, anticipate the next move, run into space, run in behind etc, Rodgers is coaching them on this constantly, it's plain to see.
Liverpool players today helped each other out, made themselves available, we just give the ball to someone and let them get on with it.

That is why I think we should sack TS and the entire coaching staff and then get a team together that knows what the fuck they are doing.

It is clear that we have not been coaching this for years.

 

[walworthyid]

Chadli tried this today too but without everyone doing it like Liverpool do the whole thing just breaks down, we simply don't give each other options, simple triangles, anticipate the next move, run into space, run in behind etc, Rodgers is coaching them on this constantly, it's plain to see.
Liverpool players today helped each other out, made themselves available, we just give the ball to someone and let them get on with it.

Spot on. You can put a below par player in a well coached team and not notice because the collective approach will compensate and not rely on individual ability as much. Fergie did it for years with players like Phil neville, o'shea, wes brown etc
Our new players must wonder what the hell is going on. Paulinho has a good chance of lifting the early cup in the summer yet he is supposedly not good enough to play for us? No wonder when our players don't even move.

 

[kitchen]

It isn't pace as such it is movement generally. Under avb the players weren't allowed to move and we essentially ended up with 3 centre mids standing next to eachother, 2 wingers 30 yards away and Soldado stood waiting for the ball even further away. Now we have players who are bereft of confidence who don't know where to run because they are confused about what is going on.

Lamela may not have pulled up any trees but watch him play, he gets it and tries to move it quickly and run into space to get it back. Even soldado looks to move the ball on and make space, as does eriksen. Our problem is that our players just stand there waiting for the ball. It's actually ridiculous.

Whilst I agree that the movement also needs improvement, Arsenal's movement is great, and yet it's noticeable how much they miss Walcott when he's not playing. 1st half last night against City for example (if you watched the game?) The opposition need to have to look out for the run in behind, and if the player isn't fast enough to get away from the fullback or centre half then the threat is easily countered.

Soldado is actually a prime example here. His movement can be good - he tries to make the run in behind, but is too easily caught. However, without others doing it too, he can't get the space to check his run and receive a cut-back.

Point I'm making is that we become more balanced with fast players that make runs in behind. Every top team in football has them.

 

[g_harry]

We need players that give a f**k.

 

[Tit&Ham]

Exactly, he is great dribbling form deep, but his movement off the ball needs coaching...

To bad we're short in the coaching department...

 

[walworthyid]

Whilst I agree that the movement also needs improvement, Arsenal's movement is great, and yet it's noticeable how much they miss Walcott when he's not playing. 1st half last night against City for example (if you watched the game?) The opposition need to have to look out for the run in behind, and if the player isn't fast enough to get away from the fullback or centre half then the threat is easily countered.

Soldado is actually a prime example here. His movement can be good - he tries to make the run in behind, but is too easily caught. However, without others doing it too, he can't get the space to check his run and receive a cut-back.

Point I'm making is that we become more balanced with fast players that make runs in behind. Every top team in football has them.

I don't disagree but I think we have quick players. I don't think Aguero is particularly faster than say eriksen or even Chadli, he is certainly stronger, but he also receives more precise supply with players close to him. Soldado has made so many good runs and never gets the bloody ball.

 

[dagraham]

Agree. I would like us to target Remy too.

We definitely lack pace, movement and intelligence. As has been said, the only real pacey players we have are Lennon, Townsend and Walker, who lack intelligence.

Unfortunately, we also lack basic passing ability. Notice how almost all our passes are behind the man. It's not only about movement.

 

[idontgetit]

City - Aguero, Navas, Toure etc.
Liverpool - Sterling, Suarez, Sturridge
Chelsea - Schurrle, Hazard, Eto'o, Torres
Arsenal - considerably weaker now Walcott is injured.

Football is a simple game, make runs in behind, find the runner with a pass. Create space through runs behind opponents.

Problem is that we don't have enough runners with the pace to get in behind any more. Bale is gone. Lennon has lost the pace and confidence he used to have. Townsend hasn't learnt to run in behind off the ball and instead always looks to pick it up from deep and beat a man on the dribble. Nobody else has the searing pace that made us so formidable in 2011-12. That makes us easier to defend against because the ball is always in front of the opposition centre halves.

Liverpool have shown what a weapon pace can be this season. Their front three is the quickest in the league, and they have a range of passers in behind to find them. Coutinho's goal today was the result of him outpacing our midfield, and then our CBs petrified to close him down because of the space left in behind and the runners either side. They got behind us many times today, particularly Sterling. I can't remember us getting in behind them once… They have a superbly balanced team of fast runners and passers behind them. Their pace also means they press the ball quicker and give opposition less time on the ball.

Even Walcott, who essentially is more of an athlete than a footballer, a sprinter who can shoot if you like, consistently scores 15+ goals a season when fit. It was noticeable how much Arsenal missed him against City last night.

We're not pedestrian, but we lack the really searing pace combined with simple direct runs that we had when we were good. A priority this Summer ought to be a quick wide man and a striker with pace. Remy and Konoplyanka for example.

Walker, Rose, Townsend, Lennon, Adebayor. There's plenty of pace in our side. The problem is the pace at which we move the ball, not how fast we run. By the way whilst sharp, most of the players you mentioned are not lightning fast as far as top flight football goes. Pace certainly isn't the key feature in their game

We move the ball too slow to the forwards and the wide forwards play way too deep. Too much picking the ball up short and running at defences or shooting rather than running in behind defences

Also we play Lennon at RWF which is like not playing with a RWF

Silva, Aguero, Negredo, Nasri for city is a sharp line-up but it's not a lightning fast front line. It's more that their movement is excellent, their passing and crossing perfect and they can all finish like motherfuckers