Pace

[SwissBlade]

If I could be arsed to search the crap search on this forum I would (sorry Foxy )

However, to add to what we've said for a few seasons, can we have some pace.

Che Adams has it, but that's at the expense of Murphy. Done has it, but he doesn't get on.

As much as I like Baxter, he's not then quickest on his feet, so you'd expect some energy around him. Coutts and Hammond can hardly jog on the spot, let alone get box to box, let alone do it quickly.

Sammon and Sharp are both blessed with the snail gene.

Freeman and Harris aren't too bad, but then Collins has nowt, basham is about average.

Are we looking to play walking football?

 

[JohnDenver]

Are we looking to play walking football?

Yes.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Your forum title should have been 'Ability'

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

About as close to it as we'll ever get -

 

[Trafford]

Raised this after the first few games (not a dig) and got shouted down by the majority who said we had lots of players with pace. Not sure where they are but I haven't seen much of them if so - as I said at the time, when was the last time that one of our forwards sprinted awY from their defence or a defender clawed ground back on one of their forwards?

 

[Godbeblade]

Massive players and rapid players, a good combination of both will get us out of this god forsaken division

 

[Latters]

Having Done in the side and replacing either Hammond or Coutts, I'm not sure which is worse, with Scougall would add some much needed pace. Scougs and Done both actually want to drive forward with the ball and get in the box. This drive is something else we lack. Too much sideways passing and not enough risk taking to get into the area.

The only two currently in the side who aren't reluctant to run with the ball are Adams and Ryce. Adams is very much off form at the moment and Campbell Ryce would rather try to beat a man three and four times than deliver a meaningful ball into the box. As an aside, JCR is a perfect example of a once pacy winger, losing his pace. If you can see he isn't quicker than his full back after about five minutes, you may as well take him off.

 

[SwissBlade]

Raised this after the first few games (not a dig) and got shouted down by the majority who said we had lots of players with pace. Not sure where they are but I haven't seen much of them if so - as I said at the time, when was the last time that one of our forwards sprinted awY from their defence or a defender clawed ground back on one of their forwards?

Well we do have some players, they just don't get the game time, as per my original post. I may have even shouted you down at the start of the season.

One thing I'll say about Baxter is that when he's on the ball he's often looking ton speed up the tempo, even if he's as slow as feck himself

 

[SwissBlade]

Having Done in the side and replacing either Hammond or Coutts, I'm not sure which is worse, with Scougall would add some much needed pace. Scougs and Done both actually want to drive forward with the ball and get in the box. This drive is something else we lack. Too much sideways passing and not enough risk taking to get into the area.

The only two currently in the side who aren't reluctant to run with the ball are Adams and Ryce. Adams is very much off form at the moment and Campbell Ryce would rather try to beat a man three and four times than deliver a meaningful ball into the box. As an aside, JCR is a perfect example of a once pacy winger, losing his pace. If you can see he isn't quicker than his full back after about five minutes, you may as well take him off.

Agree to a point, but I think JCR's biggest problem is what he does with the ball when he has it.

If he put the ball in early, we would have players making runs, by the time he puts the ball into the box all the players have made their runs and at stood around waiting for the ball to arrive.

You're not going to change JCR so if Adkins is going to play him then the strikers need to be told to delay their run until at least the 28th step over and the sixth time he's beaten his full back

 

[Blade56]

Are we looking to play walking football?

I dream of this load of tosses speeding up to the rigours of walking football

 

[Latters]

Agree to a point, but I think JCR's biggest problem is what he does with the ball when he has it.

If he put the ball in early, we would have players making runs, by the time he puts the ball into the box all the players have made their runs and at stood around waiting for the ball to arrive.

You're not going to change JCR so if Adkins is going to play him then the strikers need to be told to delay their run until at least the 28th step over and the sixth time he's beaten his full back

Reading that, I think we're in full agreement. Like I said, when he can beat his full back, he would rather do this three or four times than deliver an accurate, directed cross.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

A front line of Adams on the left, JCR on the right, Done up front, with Baxter in the hole behind, pushing it through, has plenty of pace. Problem with our team is they have no bollocks, big lads straight down the spine, with bite, leadership and a will to win would sort a talented but easily bullied team/squad.

 

[SwissBlade]

A front line of Adams on the left, JCR on the right, Done up front, with Baxter in the hole behind, pushing it through, has plenty of pace. Problem with our team is they have no bollocks, big lads straight down the spine, with bite, leadership and a will to win would sort a talented but easily bullied team/squad.

Playing that front three would be possibly the worst thing we could do.

Billy sharp is strong for his height, but he gets battered in this division, most weeks. Done would get nothing at all unless we played very deep and long balls over the top.

 

[Latters]

Playing that front three would be possibly the worst thing we could do.

Billy sharp is strong for his height, but he gets battered in this division, most weeks. Done would get nothing at all unless we played very deep and long balls over the top.

You mean... hoof?

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Playing that front three would be possibly the worst thing we could do.

Billy sharp is strong for his height, but he gets battered in this division, most weeks. Done would get nothing at all unless we played very deep and long balls over the top.

Not saying that would be my choice as a front line, just pointing out in response to the OP that there's plenty of forwards at the club with pace. I'd like to see a proper target man leading the line (and I don't think that is Sammon, I'd have rather we'd have signed Davis).

 

[SwissBlade]

You mean... hoof?

No, long, direct balls over the top to the runner

 

[Blade56]

 

[FTPE]

Done is rapid. I know he's out of form but it's driving me mad seeing him on the bench every week.
It's not just a lack of pace, it's a lack of direct pace.
In his prime Tonge wasn't that fast but he was direct, In a way that went for Murphy too. JCR is quick but he runs in figure of eight.
Flynn, scoogs, che, they need to look at some of Paul devlin's runs- nothing gets the Lane more excited than having a player they can shout "GOOOOW OOOOOOON" to.

 

[zablade]

I said on shout box if football was a none contact sport, played at walking pace then Coutts would be in line for world player of the year, thinking about it it applies to a large number in the squad, Baxter, Hammond, the lesser spotted Wolford.

Unfortunately for us and them athletes are also allowed to play, and we don't have any of that type.

 

[bladesmanluke]

I must be watching different games because Che Adams and JCR are both slow as fuck

 

[Bladesman]

We are more like Hale and Pace at the moment.

 

[Bergen Blade]

The currently selected midfield is too pedestrian to make us play a high tempo game. This makes it hard for the likes of Adams and Ďone to use their pace.

Adkins is hoping continuity is going to improve results, but I think the side he has decided to stick with is not the best we have.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

JCR is rapidly becoming a player that is overly ponderous on the ball. There's bugger all point in busting a gut to sprint to get to the ball first if once you've got the ball you stop, wait for everyone to catch you up, roll the ball a bit, feint to pass it, then try and take on two people at once and either limply cross it or concede possession. I feel he does this more on the left. When Adkins decided to switch formation I'd have preferred Adams and JCR to be left and right respectively. That's incidentally the position I've seen Adams score 4 this season from.

 

[bornablade]

Reading that article about Xavi on another thread he talks about Barcelona now playing more direct football (not long ball) - getting the ball forward quicker than they have in previous years. Less possession.

Watching Liverpool on MOTD last night highlighted that with a high pressing game and incredible pace up front then one of the best teams in the world can be beaten.

It really is a simple game and yet we are all totally confused. It would help if someone at the club could tell us what our on the pitch philosophy is.

Shall I start - 'Think Liverpool....'

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Its been absolutely obvious for a few seasons that we lack pace all over the pitch. When we sold one of two quick players (Murphy) it was essential we brought more pace in. Instead we signed Woolford.

Beyond me why successive managers havent addressed this properly.