Height

[robbiez666]

One of the most noticeable things this season is our lack of height against some of the more physical teams. PH has countered this by seemingly picking players who are better suited to defend set pieces. It's why I think Berge starts more than Doyle (no, Berge is terrible in the air but more of a distracting presence than Doyle) and explains why Stevens and Baldock might get starts over Bogle and Lowe. Without McBurnie or Berge, we're a small side (outside of the 3 CBs).

The fact we do so well defending corners has to be testament to the amount of drilling they've had as a unit.

This is one of the things we need to address next season, regardless of what league we're in.

 

[SwissBlade]

One of the most noticeable things this season is our lack of height against some of the more physical teams. PH has countered this by seemingly picking players who are better suited to defend set pieces. It's why I think Berge starts more than Doyle (no, Berge is terrible in the air but more of a distracting presence than Doyle) and explains why Stevens and Baldock might get starts over Bogle and Lowe. Without McBurnie or Berge, we're a small side (outside of the 3 CBs).

The fact we do so well defending corners has to be testament to the amount of drilling they've had as a unit.

This is one of the things we need to address next season, regardless of what league we're in.

Strange. I thought the opposite this season. There are outliers in teams like Stoke who had lurch playing but mostly we seem to be better equipped than opposition.

And don’t we also have the most goals scored from corners as well?

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

I don’t see this as an issue at all. Against a big team yesterday we won most of the battles in the air & we’ve scored more than most teams from set pieces

Being a big team in the premiership isn’t really a blueprint for success. It’s skill, speed & goals

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

Our first choice 11 would be excellent physically at this level

What a shame we'll never see it

But yes we defend set pieces well regardless. Punch above our weight

 

[mattbianco1]

Strange. I thought the opposite this season

Same. Signing Clark and Anel gave us noticeable increased height at the back. We lacked that last season big time.
Helps at both ends of the pitch from set pieces too

 

[Broomhall Blade]

I don’t see this as an issue at all. Against a big team yesterday we won most of the battles in the air & we’ve scored more than most teams from set pieces

Being a big team in the premiership isn’t really a blueprint for success. It’s skill, speed & goals

We did but I noticed what Stoke where doing, they didn't seem interested in winning the headers more jumping into our players to put them off and then looking to pick the second ball up.
We then got sucked into playing the long ball which we are not very good at.
When we did actually got it down on the floor and passed it about we mulled them. I feel for any Stoke fan having a season ticket and having to watch that every other week, it was good for the Championship about 10 years ago but I think the Championship has changed in that time with the successful clubs playing more football on the ground.

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

We did but I noticed what Stoke where doing, they didn't seem interested in winning the headers more jumping into our players to put them off and then looking to pick the second ball up.
We then got sucked into playing the long ball which we are not very good at.
When we did actually got it down on the floor and passed it about we mulled them. I feel for any Stoke fan having a season ticket and having to watch that every other week, it was good for the Championship about 10 years ago but I think the Championship has changed in that time with the successful clubs playing more football on the ground.

Yep, Burnley are probably one of the weakest teams in the air I’ve seen this season & they’re doing pretty well.

Fulham wasn’t physical last season or this either (albeit Mitrovic was a bit too good for our league) Playing on the floor sets us up better if we’re promoted, I just worry so much about Norwood & Egan mistake when they’re pressed by high quality

 

[Frank the tank]

We did but I noticed what Stoke where doing, they didn't seem interested in winning the headers more jumping into our players to put them off and then looking to pick the second ball up.
We then got sucked into playing the long ball which we are not very good at.
When we did actually got it down on the floor and passed it about we mulled them. I feel for any Stoke fan having a season ticket and having to watch that every other week, it was good for the Championship about 10 years ago but I think the Championship has changed in that time with the successful clubs playing more football on the ground.

Yeah I noticed that it's difficult for us at home to get it down and play against teams that just want to reduce a game to that
But in the moments we do we tend to make it count
Think we might get to play a bit more against some of the better sides

 

[originaltrueblade]

It’s not an issue

 

[shorehamview]

Play it into feet and it doesn’t matter if the opponents are the Harlem Globetrotters or eleven Smurfs.

 

[BLADES1988]

This is why we should have signed the legendary Dan Burn about ten year ago when we had the chance

 

[nopigfansintown]

Baldock and Stevens have been playing as much due to injury as anything else imo. This is the first time Bogle has been available to start, and Baldock's out so I have no idea who is Hecky's first choice. Anel and Clark have increased our height quotient, although there's an argument that RND starts in our best team at LCB. Robbo was immense yesterday. Egan does a good job unless he's marking a monster.

Another big change is Mcburnie making himself first choice as our nine. Obviously he's excellent from defensive set pieces. Sharp does a decent job given his limitations. Jebbo is tall but I'd like to see a run of games before judging.Ndiaye is decent in the air and top draw with his back to goal

The midfield is lacking in aerial prowess and height. I think mobility is a bigger problem.there if we go up. We can get bullied and outrun but compensate for that with superior technical ability. This is unlikely to be the case in the PL. The average prem midfielder is tall and extremely athletic. Or small and ridiculously quick and adept at breaking up play (ala Kante)..

Our set piece record speaks for itself really.