Exploiting our lack of pace

aggi · Post by **aggi** » Tue Nov 27, 2018 8:41 am

It's been an issue for a while but we've got round our lack of pace going forwards by a slow build up and hitting the big man. Teams are catching on though, with Chelsea the other week playing a high line against us as they knew we didn't have the pace to hurt them.

It's starting to cost us defensively now though. Both Newcastle goals came from set pieces where they had all of their outfield players in the final third. They were clearly well aware that we didn't have enough pace to be able to hit them on the counter attack and that gave them a real advantage.

ontario claret · Post by **ontario claret** » Tue Nov 27, 2018 8:54 am

Another spot on observation. And who was marking the scorer of their second goal?

DCWat · Post by **DCWat** » Tue Nov 27, 2018 8:55 am

Not to have a man on the edge of the box for their corners was criminal.

beddie · Post by **beddie** » Tue Nov 27, 2018 9:31 am

I agree about the lack of pace we've said that for the last two seasons. Also agree that teams have us sussed us out, the problem is we just don't have an alternative.

Cubanclaret · Post by **Cubanclaret** » Tue Nov 27, 2018 9:32 am

Rafa is a smart boss, his team were well set-up
against us, they defended their box well as they generally have all season. Would have liked to see Vydra off Vokes in more of an attacking midfield role.
Both games we have won this season Vydra has started.
If I could have a pint with SD I’d love to get to the issue of why some players get dropped after one ‘ineffective’ game, whereas others get 4 x the opportunity.

bfccrazy · Post by **bfccrazy** » Tue Nov 27, 2018 9:33 am

DCWat wrote:Not to have a man on the edge of the box for their corners was criminal.

It was an odd one that - the ball seemed to drop in the same space at the edge of their box repeatedly when they were defending balls in and they then got a player into that space who would clear it out. We didn’t seem to click onto it and have a player gamble into that area when we pushed forward.

aggi · Post by **aggi** » Mon Dec 03, 2018 12:24 pm

A similar example on Saturday when Palace were defending a free kick on the half-way line and they pushed their defensive line all the way out to mid-way between the half-way line and edge of the box. It's obviously something that has been identified by the opposition.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Mon Dec 03, 2018 12:49 pm

Don’t disagree with the OP but how many chances did we squander against the superbly? coached Newcastle? Wood missed 6 on his own and that was without Lennon having a single run at Ritchie, until injury time.

claretspice · Post by **claretspice** » Mon Dec 03, 2018 12:55 pm

Don't disagree with the OP, and I assume it is one of the reasons that Vokes was overlooked on Saturday in favour of the much more mobile Wood. If we line up with Wood, Lennon, JBG and Brady, we've got a reasonable amount of pace, albeit not loads. Add Vydra to the mix and we look OK by comparison to other teams in the bottom half of the table.

But at the minute, Vydra is out of favour, Wood simply isn't using his mobility to get in behind down the channels (he's deceptively quick at his best but he's one of these players who when out of form seems to lose two yards), and neither JBG and Brady are at their most decisive whilst Lennon appears to have lost the confidence/appetite to make the sort of runs into space in behind that were always his greatest strength. Put the lot together and its a definite problem.

Belial · Post by **Belial** » Mon Dec 03, 2018 1:01 pm

There are also a few teams that have played it over the top of our defence this year and profited from either our slow running, or dordling with the ball. Not to mention the fact that Lukaku has bullied Ben Mee now for the past 2 seasons and I think others have cottoned on to it so are doing it too in some games

Papabendi · Post by **Papabendi** » Mon Dec 03, 2018 1:03 pm

We managed to negate it last season with energy, work rate and the ability to get to second balls first. so when that goes everything is laid bare.

Roosterbooster · Post by **Roosterbooster** » Mon Dec 03, 2018 2:15 pm

We scored goals on the break in the past, but this season we don’t look close. The wingers are so deep, without Usian Bolt up front it’d be impossible.

I wonder if the wingers are so deep because of Hart’s natural position. Heaton used to like to patrol the 18 yard box box, Hart seems happier with the 6 yard box

CoolClaret · Post by **CoolClaret** » Mon Dec 03, 2018 4:36 pm

I don't necessarily believe we do; JBG, Lennon & Vydra are all quick.
Wood can run onto through balls with pace, it's just the way that we are playing at the moment.

Our movement is dire and our movement of the ball is slow and laboured.

aggi · Post by **aggi** » Thu Dec 06, 2018 3:31 pm

aggi wrote:A similar example on Saturday when Palace were defending a free kick on the half-way line and they pushed their defensive line all the way out to mid-way between the half-way line and edge of the box. It's obviously something that has been identified by the opposition.

Interestingly, Liverpool tried this last night and we nearly sprung it with Barnes being just a bit offside.

Exploiting our lack of pace

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