Have we really missed Gray's pace in the three games so far this season?

[Spijed]

The Chelsea game plan was executed to perfection and we didn't miss him as all. Greedy to expect more from that game.

WBA sat deep, and like us against Liverpool at home last season, tended to mean any faster players having no room to run into.

Wood had no problem getting in front of the defenders at Spurs showing that he has more speed than Vokes at least.

[BabylonClaret]

Probably not but it's handy to have some if you want to shift tactics. At Chelsea if we'd had a pacey outlet for the 2nd half we might have made them worried more about the counter.

[DCWat]

It's the lack of it as an option for me. No disputing we've done well so far and played well, but we need an extra dimension.

[BabylonClaret]

Agreed. If Wells is nippy enough (and I'll be honest that I've not seen enough of him to judge either way) then at 5m he's a good option to have to mix it up.

[bobinho]

Trouble with having Gray in the team was that everyone understood before a ball was kicked what we were trying to do. Especially the opposition. We were one dimensional WITH Gray. Now we are difficult to read. I think letting Gray go may well have improved us as a team.

Missing pace is one thing. It's what that pace got us. 9 goals. I'd suggest no, we aren't.

[brigante]

I think people are trapped in thinking that we are building a squad to play in the same way as last season where we were arguably forced to play in a reasonably predictable fashion based on the squad at our disposal. The squad we have now with a couple of re-invigorated players offers a great deal more flexibility and tactical option.

[KefkaClaret]

Thought the first half against Tottenham showed how badly we lacked pace. Once we actually won the ball from Spurs there was nothing we could do to counter attack.

[superdimitri]

Someone with less pace but more intelligent with space will do me, as long as they are more mobile. Pace is good but not if you can't exploit it. I found Gray a very single minded player and even with his pace that makes it a bit easier to play against him.

[NRC]

We're playing wider and with both Defour and Cork in the team we're getting the ball through better than any time I've seen on the PL. it doesn't need pace, we're creating more than we've done each season in this league

[Vegas Claret]

Someone with less pace but more intelligent with space will do me, as long as they are more mobile. Pace is good but not if you can't exploit it. I found Gray a very single minded player and even with his pace that makes it a bit easier to play against him.

When you watch the Nakhi Wells youtube clip (on his thread) that's the one thing he does seem to be good at - sniffing out the space.

[agreenwood]

Second half vs West Brom when we barely registered an attack of note?

[bartons baggage]

No i don't think so.
Anticipation from a striker can just be as potent as speed.

[BleedingClaret]

Wood showed a bit of pace with guile and anticipation is far more dangerous

[Godalmingclaret]

No but we have missed his first touch. Imagine Gray latching onto a Brady through ball.

[NRC]

Second half vs West Brom when we barely registered an attack of note?

this must have been going on in a parallel universe then

Second half ends
90+3Jonathan Walters misses attempt (18-yard box, Big Chance, Head, Open play)
90 Sam Vokes misses attempt (18-yard box, Head, From corner)
89 Jeff Hendrick misses attempt (High, 18-yard box, Right footed, Open play)
82 Ashley Barnes misses attempt (High to the right, 18-yard box, Right footed, Open play)
81 Matthew Lowton misses attempt (High, Out of box, Right footed, Set piece)
66 Stephen Ward misses attempt (To the right, Out of box, Left footed, Set piece)
65 Robbie Brady has shot blocked (Out of box, Left footed, Free kick)
63 Robbie Brady misses attempt (To the right, Out of box, Left footed, Open play)
62 Sam Vokes has shot blocked (18-yard box, Head, Open play)
57 Jack Cork has shot blocked (Out of box, Right footed, Open play)
55 Jeff Hendrick misses attempt (18-yard box, Head, From corner)
55 Steven Defour misses attempt (Out of box, Key pass, Right footed, From corner)
46 Sam Vokes misses attempt (High, 18-yard box, Right footed, Open play)

[Quickenthetempo]

I'm trying to remember an instance where Gray used his pace to get in a one on one situation for a goal. Palace away maybe.

Any others?

[Ric_C]

I'm trying to remember an instance where Gray used his pace to get in a one on one situation for a goal. Palace away maybe.

Any others?

Liverpool (H)
Sunderland (H) -first goal

[South West Claret.]

No we have no missed him.

[claretspice]

I wasn't at Spurs, but a friend who supports them and who was at the game felt we missed it badly until Spurs hot nervous late on, because when we were under pressure we just couldnt get out and Spurs weren't bothered about our threat on the counter attack.

Chelsea is an anomaly because we had a man advantage for 80 minutes of playing time.

Pace is important to any team. Not at the expense of technical skill, but as a compliment for it. We could be a better team for letting Gray go, but if teams arent concerned about the ability of our midfielders to make runs beyond the striker(s), or our ability to attack space in behind generally, or our ability to carry a threat on the counter attack, then we'll be a less effective team as a result. That just is what it is.

[claretspice]

Liverpool (H)
Sunderland (H) -first goal

Three times against Sunderland too. Did it lots against Bournemouth at Burnley too. Others too. Apart from the actual threat, the fact teams are conscious of guarding against it creates more opportunity for other players to play in. Put simply, teams can squeeze way up the pitch against a team with no pace because they have no potential negative consequences to fear.

[Quickenthetempo]

Andre's positioning got him the goal against Liverpool. Nothing to do with pace.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ronXvx2zrFI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Devils_Advocate]

If there are any builders knocking around the Gawthorpe area there's some Burnley training gear up for grabs that isnt needed now Gray has moved on

[Jimscho]

No.Its no good having pace if you can't control the football when you get it.

[KRBFC]

No, not sure why we need 5 strikers to cover one position. I think the one area we need to strengthen is wide right, JBG doesn't have the pace to worry defenders so when he has a bad game hes pretty ineffective.