Height/aerial ability

[Bergen Blade]

Is it something to consider regarding which players we bring in this summer?

In the current squad the following players have some height or above average aerial ability, at least enough to do a decent marking job on defensive set pieces:

• Maguire - Let's hope he stays, he's great in the air and a threat at set pieces
• Collins - Also tall and good in the air. Nine goals (most after set pieces) the past three seasons. Will he remain first choice?
• Brayford - Decent height and a good athlete. But will he return?
• Hill - Small, but very strong and good in the air. Not an attacking threat though - 2 goals the past decade. Probably leaving?
• Kennedy - Small for a centre back, though he's got a good leap. Could struggle against big target men. Not likely first choice
• Coady - 6'1, though not dominant in the air. Will he return?
• Porter - Good aerial ability and can help out marking tall playersr at defensive set pieces too. But is he staying?
• Ironside - Surely leaving this summer
• Paynter - Surely not returning after a disappointing loan spell

So a lot of the players who are currently making sure we're ok physically, coping at defensive set pieces as well as offering a threat at attacking set pieces may not be regulars, or here at all, next season.

Looking at the youngsters coming through, none of them are going to add anything in terms of height/aerial ability. In fact, most of them are tiny and may be especially required to have some physical teammates around them who make sure they don't get bullied.

The rumoured summer signings - Billy Sharp, Ched Evans, Ben Davies, Bobby Harris - will not be helping much in this matter.

Should we look to add height/aerial ability in specific positions, and if yes, in which positions?

 

[Bladesway]

Probably too early to draw conclusions as to who is leaving/staying. Some of the above will leave and some won't. If Coady comes back, Harry and Porter stay (for instance) then you have the tall spine to your team. You may wish to add some height/strength into the squad which at this level in particular is important. I'm less concerned about height in the midfield and more about outright strength. If you had a couple of strong centre midfielders then you can always drop a forward back like Porter to bridge the height gap if you are losing long balls up.

I've always been ok so long as we have height as an option rather than the only option.

 

[stannyblade]

Tall quick centre half to play with Harry (hopefully)

 

[blade too long]

someone that can do this is whats needed

 

[Bergen Blade]

someone that can do this is whats needed
View attachment 8340

So, it's a no from you?

 

[boo radley]

I have it all on a star 10.

 

[SandyMcBlade]

I don't think height is essential to score goals, but it is if you want a plan B.
Taking off Baxter to bring on Porter has proved a winner this season more than once...

 

[JohnDenver]

I don't think height is essential to score goals, but it is if you want a plan B.
Taking off Baxter to bring on Porter has proved a winner this season more than once...

Agree with that, but not so long ago Bradford City bombed us into a 2-2 draw in a match where we played all the football. And they were really quite bobbins.

I'd be much less worried if we had a couple more strong lads in the squad.

 

[SandyMcBlade]

Nobody is saying we're Brazil, and there is bound to be exceptions in every season, but on the whole we've got to be pleased with the way they have played second half of the season.
If NC can build next season on what he has achieved this even if it's not perfect ,I for one will be chuffed to little apples

 

[Punk Blade]

someone that can do this is whats needed
View attachment 8340

We need a photographer?

 

[Grecian2000]

Bloody hell Bergs. Give it up.

Yes he's nice and tall, yes, he's a force in both boxes, but whilstever Stoke are in the top flight he's not coming. Live with it (and the photos).

 

[Trigger Blade]

I don't think height is essential to score goals, but it is if you want a plan B.
Taking off Baxter to bring on Porter has proved a winner this season more than once...

But none of Porter's sub goals have been headers. In that sense, it's a pretty unusual Plan B.

 

[cooperblade]

Looking at the photo of our 7 new scholars on Twitter, we've got one lad who will help add some height to the side.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Looking at the photo of our 7 new scholars on Twitter, we've got one lad who will help add some height to the side.

Can anyone name the players?

I think I saw the big lad for the U16s at Shirecliffe two months ago, played at centre half.

 

[Silent Blade]

Can anyone name the players?

I think I saw the big lad for the U16s at Shirecliffe two months ago, played at centre half.

Danny Ramsey is to the tall lad's left. Jerome Slew is next to the player who is to the tall lad's right. Both Slew and Ramsey are local. Dont know the other 5. I didnt see the tall lad when I watched the u16s v QPR last November so I assume we snapped him up from a Category A Academy (ours is Category B). Been told today that SWFC have brought in 4 new scholars (to add to the 9 already awarded before Xmas- two of them are at my son's school) and all are from Man City

 

[TonyAgana]

The chap far-left looks to have got a weight advantage.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

It's a no from me, we don't need to go for a default "big man". Anyone at 6ft, who's quick and is technically sound would do for me.
We don't need a giant to hoof it up to, completely the wrong way to go. As I posted a couple of weeks ago I think Delfouneso would be a good choice for one of the forwards and he's 6ft 1, which is more than tall enough.

 

[Silent Blade]

The chap far-left looks to have got a weight advantage.

The three on the far left are Academy staff. Nigel Clough on the far right and John Dungworth is next to him

 

[SandyMcBlade]

Is that Gary Barlow in the middle ?

 

[Foxy]

Can anyone name the players?

I think I saw the big lad for the U16s at Shirecliffe two months ago, played at centre half.

Left to right:

Aaron Ramsdale - Goalkeeper
Jorome Slew - Striker
Graham Kelly - Central Midfielder, represented Ireland youth teams.
Emmanuel Adebowale - Centre Back?
Danny Ramsey - Midfield/Winger
O’Shaye Giraud Hutchinson - Midfielder, ex-Charlton.
Shea Gordon - Striker, played for Northern Ireland youth teams

 

[Silent Blade]

Left to right:

Aaron Ramsdale - Goalkeeper
Jorome Slew - Striker
Graham Kelly - Central Midfielder, represented Ireland youth teams.
Emmanuel Adebowale - Centre Back?
Danny Ramsey -
O’Shaye Giraud Hutchinson - Midfielder, ex-Charlton.
Shea Gordon - Striker, played for Northern Ireland youth teams

Cheers Foxy, it looks like that only Slew and Ramsey (played in midfield when I watched the u16s match against QPR last November) are the only two of the u16s at the beginning of last season that have gained scholarship and probably the only two that is local. Looks like Simon Clough has brought in 5 players that he has known from his network of scouts. Had Nige stayed at Derby then the 5 might have joined Derby. If Simon has brought in players of real potential, then I am happy with that

 

[TonyAgana]

The three on the far left are Academy staff. Nigel Clough on the far right and John Dungworth is next to him

Thanks. I wasn't being serious.

 

[Bergen Blade]

It's a no from me, we don't need to go for a default "big man". Anyone at 6ft, who's quick and is technically sound would do for me.
We don't need a giant to hoof it up to, completely the wrong way to go. As I posted a couple of weeks ago I think Delfouneso would be a good choice for one of the forwards and he's 6ft 1, which is more than tall enough.

That main point was about the squad's general height/aerial ability though. For example it's just been confirmed that Matt Hill is leaving. Hill played 39 games for us this season, mostly at left back. Despite not being tall, Hill was very good in the air, and was one of those who did a good marking job at set pieces, rarely lost headers at the back post, generally cleared it well. I remember a couple of seasons ago when Tranmere had put a six footer at right wing and played a few long balls towards him, but Hill won them all.

I like Bob Harris and would be happy to see him as our regular left back next season. But we can't expect him to be as good in the air as the departed Hill, and thus the question is if we've generally got enough aerial ability in the team, or squad, to get by. Is it not important, or do we need to keep it in mind when deciding which players we sign this summer?

 

[Rossb123]

Is it something to consider regarding which players we bring in this summer?

In the current squad the following players have some height or above average aerial ability, at least enough to do a decent marking job on defensive set pieces:

• Maguire - Let's hope he stays, he's great in the air and a threat at set pieces
• Collins - Also tall and good in the air. Nine goals (most after set pieces) the past three seasons. Will he remain first choice?
• Brayford - Decent height and a good athlete. But will he return?
• Hill - Small, but very strong and good in the air. Not an attacking threat though - 2 goals the past decade. Probably leaving?
• Kennedy - Small for a centre back, though he's got a good leap. Could struggle against big target men. Not likely first choice
• Coady - 6'1, though not dominant in the air. Will he return?
• Porter - Good aerial ability and can help out marking tall playersr at defensive set pieces too. But is he staying?
• Ironside - Surely leaving this summer
• Paynter - Surely not returning after a disappointing loan spell

So a lot of the players who are currently making sure we're ok physically, coping at defensive set pieces as well as offering a threat at attacking set pieces may not be regulars, or here at all, next season.

Looking at the youngsters coming through, none of them are going to add anything in terms of height/aerial ability. In fact, most of them are tiny and may be especially required to have some physical teammates around them who make sure they don't get bullied.

The rumoured summer signings - Billy Sharp, Ched Evans, Ben Davies, Bobby Harris - will not be helping much in this matter.

Should we look to add height/aerial ability in specific positions, and if yes, in which positions?

Will Kennedy be released? Recent interviews by Clough have made me feel he isn't 100% convinced he can handle the demand of playing two/three times a week. Although his aerial ability is obvious for us all to see Clough again mentioned he needs to improve his decision making with his feet.

I would like to see him given a years extension.

 

[Gavlar]

someone that can do this is whats needed
View attachment 8340

i can take photos of the back of a goal aswell, where do i sign? )