Pace v Footballing Teams to Death

[GreasyChipBeattie]

I think we saw the difference last night.
Unless a team can do both (or you're a top Prem/European side) pace seems to come out on top.
I used to be a central defender and there's nothing I hated more than having one of our attacks breaking down and seeing the oppo steaming forward. There's little time to think or communicate with your fellow defenders when the ball is being knocked into space for some lightning fast players/thinkers that can keep the ball moving forwards quickly. Panic sets in, poor decision making follows and mistakes are made resulting in real chances the majority of the time.
As good as Coutts is at doing what he does, and as effective as our footballing teams to death in league 1 was, last night, along with Brentford at home, 'Boro and particularly Cardiff away, made it painfully obvious that the pace many on here are crying out for is an absolute must if we are going to do anything more than survive this division.
I just wonder whether it's a lack of physical pace or slow speed of thinking that's letting us down against the better teams?
Or maybe even tactics.
One thing I noticed last night was that Leicester players did seem to have loads of space at times and used it really effectively, even though we battled tremendously to win possession back very effectively. How does that work?!!

 

[Small Mendonca]

Agree, there's nothing worse as a defender than people running at you with pace with space behind. I think we look at our most dangerous when we counter attack at a higher tempo.

 

[Worksop II]

As good as Coutts is at doing what he does, and as effective as our footballing teams to death in league 1 was

If it doesn't go forward, it doesn't work

Sometimes Coutts will take the easy ball sideways, instead of going for the killer pass, which clearly has risks

He needs to roll the dice more often ............ I am sure those watching will understand ..........

He needs to make those fuckers up front get on their bikes, and work harder for space

 

[blader]

It's not as cut and dry as that. For example, who would you rather have up top: Luton Shelton or Billy Sharp?

Don't get me wrong, pace is an attribute that this squad is lacking, but it doesn't need to be one or the other. You've already mentioned that our current tactic has provided us with 2 home wins. So we are still doing something right!

The reason we have lost the 3 games we have so far is one simple reason - quality. All three of those teams have more and deeper quality that we do. That's fine! Teams are allowed to be better than us, and they will be. Wouldn't have said Middlesbrough are a 'pacy' team but the have more quality. We will find that a lot this year, we need to find what works for us. Our current method has been successful, so I wouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water, we just need an upgrade in quality.

However, it is true that we desperately need a pacy outlet at the top end of the pitch as an extra option, particularly away from home when we are behind the ball for large periods.

 

[FTPE]

If we play Brooks in the right way, he's coached right and given the right service then he can ghost past any centre back in this division.
It's one thing gliding past a wingback because you've still got a lot of work to do (Gray managed it but he looks like he's going to be a big talent) but if you can skip inbetween centre backs then you're going to get a lot of shots off/chances/penalties.

 

[bladesmanluke]

Leicester would still have won last night with 10% possession. The pace, skill and guile of their forward players was just too much. It wasn't long ball football, but it was direct. They went straight through our defence like they weren't there. But it was pace from midfield and on the flanks that did us. Slimani (shouldn't have been on the pitch) and Ulloa weren't all that quick.

 

[LS16Blade]

Leicester would still have won last night with 10% possession. The pace, skill and guile of their forward players was just too much. It wasn't long ball football, but it was direct. They went straight through our defence like they weren't there. But it was pace from midfield and on the flanks that did us. Slimani (shouldn't have been on the pitch) and Ulloa weren't all that quick.

Agree with that and would also add "cynicism" to pace, skill and guile.

It was notable that whenever any of our players looked like getting a run at Leicester (Carruthers and Brooks on more than one occasion), they were chopped down after a mere couple of yards. These sides (and I'd include the Championship sides we've played) don't let anything develop against them; they trip people before they get to dangerous areas. United, however, are fair. We just don't do that. And when Wilder talks about becoming 'streetwise', I'm sure that in part that he's talking about being less 'nice' at the back and not letting players just run at us.

Spot on about Slimani; that dirty turd should have been sent off before half-time. I can think of a few centre-halves down the years who would have sorted him out after his first cowardly foul.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Forget the pace then, we'll just keep footballing teams to death!!

 

[8lade]

we need to resign Whitehurst, could still do the job he always did

 

[corkysbeard]

we need to resign Whitehurst, could still do the job he always did

What????? Pull pints????

 

[8lade]

What????? Pull pints????

Nope terrify the opposition into behaving