Last season was particularly bad, but over the last two seasons we have had quite a slow squad. With Brandy and others (Cuvelier maybe, though I haven't been to the last two games) in the squad now we should be more capable of those kind of moves. But with an approach seemingly based on controlling possession it seems unlikely we will become any better at counter-attacking.
In 10/11 when we had Yeates, Evans, and Ward as a front three, I felt we were developing under Speed into a side that played on the counter, albeit not very well at that time.
Returning to the debate, full-backs as many others have said is the obvious problem, but central midfield the other. Good teams who play 4-2-3-1 usually have quite flexible players as the 'holding' two, but we rarely see Coady and to an even larger extent Doyle popping up in attacking positions or running into the box from deep. I listened to the first half on commentary at the weekend and it sounded like even though we approached the opposition goal well, it was only Porter in the penalty box to aim at. We should be looking at getting 3/4 minimum in there - the striker, the winger from the opposite side of the pitch, the number 10, and if the number 1o has pulled wide to set up the cross/pass, then one of the central midfield pair has to get up in support.
Alternatively, all of that could be utter tosh.
