What needs to happen over the summer then?

B_G said:
I agree. Pace is useful but it's not the be all and end all.
Ball retention is key if we are going to play out from the back. Players who can receive the ball under pressure and retain it.
Click to expand...
I agree with both of you, but we have proven to be unable to break down stoically defensive teams fairly often, especially 'lesser' teams who sit in and don't press us. Purely retaining the ball hasn't helped us much in those games, we need someone to do something for us to create scoring opportunities when our plan A fails.

Whether that is someone who is very quick who can help with that, or a player who is very skilful, very tall and powerful, someone who is a worldie at set-plays, or even someone who is good at the darker arts, winning penalty kicks or free kicks around the box.

We need a quite a bit more flair/pace/power/goals/technical ability in the squad in all those attacking positions, other than Forss I don't think we have had enough goal threat from any of the 'three' this season. The constant swapping and changing primarily due to injuries hasn't helped obviously, but I don't think any team claiming to want to have a tilt at the autos or even upper play-offs can be happy with the goals and assists returns from the likes of Jones, Greenwood and Azaz. It is mental that Ayling as an aging RB, who was pretty poor in his first four games is the leading assister in the match day squad after arriving in January.
 
Caesium137 said:
I agree with both of you, but we have proven to be unable to break down stoically defensive teams fairly often, especially 'lesser' teams who sit in and don't press us. Purely retaining the ball hasn't helped us much in those games, we need someone to do something for us to create scoring opportunities when our plan A fails.
Click to expand...

Pace isn't your friend there though. Such teams will sit deep and deny any flyers the space in behind. If all a player offers is pace, he's easy to defend against.
I think the big centre forward is a better counter to the deep lying defence than a fast one. He does his damage in the penalty area, not running in behind.

I do think we lack that extra bit of guile, craft and creativity, and I'd be targeting that in the Summer.
 
Caesium137 said:
I agree with both of you, but we have proven to be unable to break down stoically defensive teams fairly often, especially 'lesser' teams who sit in and don't press us. Purely retaining the ball hasn't helped us much in those games, we need someone to do something for us to create scoring opportunities when our plan A fails.

Whether that is someone who is very quick who can help with that, or a player who is very skilful, very tall and powerful, someone who is a worldie at set-plays, or even someone who is good at the darker arts, winning penalty kicks or free kicks around the box.

We need a quite a bit more flair/pace/power/goals/technical ability in the squad in all those attacking positions, other than Forss I don't think we have had enough goal threat from any of the 'three' this season. The constant swapping and changing primarily due to injuries hasn't helped obviously, but I don't think any team claiming to want to have a tilt at the autos or even upper play-offs can be happy with the goals and assists returns from the likes of Jones, Greenwood and Azaz. It is mental that Ayling as an aging RB, who was pretty poor in his first four games is the leading assister in the match day squad after arriving in January.
Click to expand...
Yes I'd agree. Our options behind hte striker haven't quite been high enough quality this year, they've all got strengths but maybe too many weaknesses to push us on.

McGree, great technical ability and tactical awareness, but maybe lacking in the physical quadrant with no real pace or strength
Silvera good pace, has a step over, but lacks the ability to know when to do it and when to pass and move
Azaz great technical ability, learning tactically, but weak and one paced
Rogers (before he left) great strength, good pace, excellent technique, lacked a bit of tactical awareness that saw him run into traffic and lose the ball
Jones top notch pace, technique sometimes lets him down with a bad first touch or execution of the cross.
Forss superb strike, good tactical player, maybe lacks a bit of pace in that role or skill to create his own space

I guess the position we are in, we need 2 out of pace, skill, tactical and work on the third until they become a more complete player. We probably need to up the quality of what we have had available in the wingers and 10 roles. Maybe Azaz will settle and improve, maybe McGree/Forss will stay and get fit, maybe Jones/Silvera/Greenwood will find more consistency.

I do think we need 2 players in the summer in those roles, probably LW and 10, to add more quality in those positions. With the possession we had in the two games against Rotherham we should have had 6 points and at least 6 goals. Those games told you a lot about our strengths and weaknesses as a squad.
 
Last edited:
Frozen Horse said:
Pace isn't your friend there though. Such teams will sit deep and deny any flyers the space in behind. If all a player offers is pace, he's easy to defend against.
I think the big centre forward is a better counter to the deep lying defence than a fast one. He does his damage in the penalty area, not running in behind.

I do think we lack that extra bit of guile, craft and creativity, and I'd be targeting that in the Summer.
Click to expand...
Yes pace will get the opposition to sit deep and compact. To beat that you need, to move the ball quickly around the box to create space, which needs great technique in the accuracy of the pass, the first touch, and getting good shots away before being closed down. Or you need someone that can beat a man 1-vs-1 , or someone with vision to play a precise quick pass. Lots of ways to break it down, but you need to be top notch at something to do it. Ideally you have all those options on the pitch or at least in the squad.
 
morrissey said:
If we are really serious about promotion ambitions, we need a handful of 1st teamers, not squad players. Easier said than done I know, but clearly lacking in 2/3 positions.
Click to expand...
I guess our weakest positions this year have been LB, CDM, LW.

After that we've struggled with a second choice striker and getting the new 10 integrated.

Improve LB, CDM and LW and that third choice CF, then I think we should have enough to get play offs. This season has definitely been a transitional one, took too long to get the players in and assimilated, and we lacked another key CF option
 
BoroMart said:
I guess our weakest positions this year have been LB, CDM, LW.

After that we've struggled with a second choice striker and getting the new 10 integrated.

Improve LB, CDM and LW and that third choice CF, then I think we should have enough to get play offs. This season has definitely been a transitional one, took too long to get the players in and assimilated, and we lacked another key CF option
Click to expand...
RB has been a problem for much of the season as well although Ayling is temporarily doing a good job right now.

I agree LB, CM and LW are three priority positions.

If we don't sign Ayling then RB becomes just as vital.

If we don't re-sign Howson or we lose Hackney then another CM is critical also. We could potentially need 3 CMs.

I'm not totally convinced that Azaz is the man for first choice no10. He's doing OK but isn't influential enough.
 
Frozen Horse said:
Pace isn't your friend there though. Such teams will sit deep and deny any flyers the space in behind. If all a player offers is pace, he's easy to defend against.
I think the big centre forward is a better counter to the deep lying defence than a fast one. He does his damage in the penalty area, not running in behind.

I do think we lack that extra bit of guile, craft and creativity, and I'd be targeting that in the Summer.
Click to expand...
Modern football is all about pace look at every fullback in the premier league its a prerequisite to have pace. When jones was out it was so easy for teams to defend against us. You don't have to have pace in every position but you will find the teams that have more pace tend to finish higher in this division
 
Glover_elbow said:
Modern football is all about pace look at every fullback in the premier league its a prerequisite to have pace. When jones was out it was so easy for teams to defend against us. You don't have to have pace in every position but you will find the teams that have more pace tend to finish higher in this division
Click to expand...

You'll find a stronger correlation between skill and league position.
Pace is never a bad thing to have, but the teams at the top are there because they have the most skilful players, not the best athletes.

The modern game is about moving the ball quickly. Even Traore running at full speed is slow compared sharp, accurate passing.
Timing beats pace too. I look at Jordan Rhodes. Not a quick player; maybe a little above average, but not as quick as, say, Forss. One of the bet players I've seen at getting 1 on 1 chances, not through pace, but through intelligent movement and timing of the run. I'd have liked him to be better at taking them, but that's a different issue.
 
Pace is essential. When we lost it we were in relegation form. We had no outlet or threat when we lost Lath, Jones, Coburn, Bangura and couldn't stretch teams to allow players like Hackney and Barlasar to pass the ball under less pressure which led to us conceding when playing out from the back. For that reason I would love us to bring Archer back.
 
Johngannonsunderpants said:
Pace is essential. When we lost it we were in relegation form. We had no outlet or threat when we lost Lath, Jones, Coburn, Bangura and couldn't stretch teams to allow players like Hackney and Barlasar to pass the ball under less pressure which led to us conceding when playing out from the back. For that reason I would love us to bring Archer back.
Click to expand...
I don't think Barlaser is suitable to playing the central role in our preferred style. He can't take the ball under pressure and move it quickly. He gets targeted, the trap set, then they swarm him. He just about got away with it this week. Hackney and Howson are much better at it, even O'Brien is better, we need to sell Barlaser and get a more suitable option if we're gonna play out from the back next year
 
Johngannonsunderpants said:
Pace is essential. When we lost it we were in relegation form. We had no outlet or threat when we lost Lath, Jones, Coburn, Bangura and couldn't stretch teams to allow players like Hackney and Barlasar to pass the ball under less pressure which led to us conceding when playing out from the back. For that reason I would love us to bring Archer back.
Click to expand...

It might be essential but it's not enough.
Loading your team with pace will not guarantee a good team.
Yes, we need 3-4 players in a team who are quick, but it should not be the first thing we look for in each new signing. Maybe the 5th or 6th thing we look for.
 
I would like to see the investment in the attacking areas.
Plenty of GKs and one very good one in Dieng.
RB Ayling has done enough to earn a 1/2 year deal and will be the starter. Smith if his recovery is good, as backup.
LE. Engel and Bangura.
CB RVB and Clarke with fry and lenihan as backup. Maybe another young CB who could also play RB
CM Hackney and new starting midfielder. Ideally someone in the boateng mould . Another year for howson, barlaser/obrien
AM Jones is probably the only one that I would consider a definite starter, although azaz has shown flashes and is still adjusting to the new system. Silvera is ok for a backup and if McGree and forss are off. That’s 3 quality replacements needed.
CF ELL with coburn and one other new signing. Ideally someone similar to ELL, so we don’t change greatly if they swap out and Josh is the something different from the bench.
 
Simply red said:
Never played it , but know my players .
You come across as a smart aris , but don't give anything positive back , so , here's your chance mews , who do you want us to sign ? 8-10 going out so do your home work . ( like I have ) 😉
Click to expand...

I don’t really follow football, sorry 😕
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top