Pitch size

[Boxer Blade]

One of the first things Wilder did was make the playing suface (width) narrower, as I remember most were surprised at this but ok if that's what Wilder wants fair enough, and obviously still is. A couple of weeks ago it got me thinking about how we have struggled to break teams down, we have all the possession and as the game wears on we go to two at the back and push players like eel out wide to create space, now most of these games we have won, but it has sometimes been too close for comfort. my point is that the team that has the more skillful players and the fittest players (us) would want a larger playing suface, in the cup you always see higher placed teams premier /championship going to the smaller/non league and playing on smaller and inferior playing sufaces and finding it harder to break them down, do you think if the pitch was wider at the Lane we would stand a better chance of winning? When it comes down to the last twenty minutes or so the away teams are looking really tired surely the bigger pitch would be to our advantage. I presume we are allowed to change it mid season?

 

[Ricky]

Maybe Wilder wouldn't have narrowed the pitch quite as much if he knew we'd dominate possession to the extent we do.

 

[Foxy]

At the start of the season, he was confident that the pitch being tighter would suit us as he backed our players to be technically superior and able to move the ball effectively... Something seen in action in the little tight triangles at Southend.

He also didn't want opponents to 'have it easy' managing to keep hold of the ball in space.

Win the ball back by pressuring... Beat your opponents by moving it cleverly and with purpose.

 

[Minty]

One of the first things Wilder did was make the playing suface (width) narrower, as I remember most were surprised at this but ok if that's what Wilder wants fair enough, and obviously still is. A couple of weeks ago it got me thinking about how we have struggled to break teams down, we have all the possession and as the game wears on we go to two at the back and push players like eel out wide to create space, now most of these games we have won, but it has sometimes been too close for comfort. my point is that the team that has the more skillful players and the fittest players (us) would want a larger playing suface, in the cup you always see higher placed teams premier /championship going to the smaller/non league and playing on smaller and inferior playing sufaces and finding it harder to break them down, do you think if the pitch was wider at the Lane we would stand a better chance of winning? When it comes down to the last twenty minutes or so the away teams are looking really tired surely the bigger pitch would be to our advantage. I presume we are allowed to change it mid season?

It's a very good point Boxer..........I was dead against it at the start when we were shit because I thought we needed more width! However, what the fuck do I know, it seems to fit in with what CW wants and it's generally working!

 

[Boxer Blade]

It's a very good point Boxer..........I was dead against it at the start when we were shit because I thought we needed more width! However, what the fuck do I know, it seems to fit in with what CW wants and it's generally working!

Yes it is Minty, I am not trying to find fault its just something that to me makes sense, like foxy says playing in neat tidy triangle looks brilliant and iwouldn’t want to change it, but I dont see why that would have to change, in fact for me I wouldn't change a thing, carry on as we are but give us more room to get behind the opposition by playing on a bigger pitch, you wouldn't see the big teams in the premiership doing it would you, and before anybody tells me we are not to be compared, I am not, but in this division, this season we are starting to be.

 

[Fanny magnet]

Remember dinosaur dave doing the same twenty years ago

 

[Minty]

Yes it is Minty, I am not trying to find fault its just something that to me makes sense, like foxy says playing in neat tidy triangle looks brilliant and iwouldn’t want to change it, but I dont see why that would have to change, in fact for me I wouldn't change a thing, carry on as we are but give us more room to get behind the opposition by playing on a bigger pitch, you wouldn't see the big teams in the premiership doing it would you, and before anybody tells me we are not to be compared, I am not, but in this division, this season we are starting to be.

Don't disagree with you mate but maybe a wider pitch would benefit us more if we had out and out wingers who could exploit it more?

 

[Snowman]

At the start of the season, he was confident that the pitch being tighter would suit us as he backed our players to be technically superior and able to move the ball effectively... Something seen in action in the little tight triangles at Southend.

He also didn't want opponents to 'have it easy' managing to keep hold of the ball in space.

Win the ball back by pressuring... Beat your opponents by moving it cleverly and with purpose.

Aha! At last a credible explanation because it sure as hell pissed me off when he did it.

 

[metalblade]

Where the theories fall down is we also play the same number of games away from home ................................. don't seem to be doing bad away from home either do we?

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

One of the first things Wilder did was make the playing suface (width) narrower, as I remember most were surprised at this but ok if that's what Wilder wants fair enough, and obviously still is. A couple of weeks ago it got me thinking about how we have struggled to break teams down, we have all the possession and as the game wears on we go to two at the back and push players like eel out wide to create space, now most of these games we have won, but it has sometimes been too close for comfort. my point is that the team that has the more skillful players and the fittest players (us) would want a larger playing suface, in the cup you always see higher placed teams premier /championship going to the smaller/non league and playing on smaller and inferior playing sufaces and finding it harder to break them down, do you think if the pitch was wider at the Lane we would stand a better chance of winning? When it comes down to the last twenty minutes or so the away teams are looking really tired surely the bigger pitch would be to our advantage. I presume we are allowed to change it mid season?

Remember dinosaur dave doing the same twenty years ago

Warnock also did the same in 2006, when we went up to the prem. I can remember feeling dismayed at the start of this season, seeing that Wilder had done the same. I thought it was a sure sign of hoof to come. Very pleased to have been completely wrong

 

[8lade]

Don't disagree with you mate but maybe a wider pitch would benefit us more if we had out and out wingers who could exploit it more?

If we had a real aerial threat I would agree with this but Sharp is one of the strikers and Lavery the other for now. The only one of our strikers for whom it would really work (ie belting in hard, high crosses) is Clarke. For one out of 5 possibles it's not worth it.

 

[SteveBlade]

Can we change it whenever we want?

 

[Foxy]

Can we change it whenever we want?

No.

Has to be registered at the start of the season, can only then change it by applying to the league and gaining written permission to alter due to exceptional circumstances.

Premier League now have a set size for everyone.

 

[GCB_SUFC]

Games being 'too close for comfort' has got nothing to do with the pitch size, the fact is teams raise their game and play in a defensive manner against us. This is therefore why there have been numerous games over the past 5 years that have been 'close' and nothing to do with the pitch size.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Games being 'too close for comfort' has got nothing to do with the pitch size, the fact is teams raise their game and play in a defensive manner against us. This is therefore why there have been numerous games over the past 5 years that have been 'close' and nothing to do with the pitch size.

But these games that are "too close for comfort" we are totally dominating every one.
Having loads of chances, corners, blocked shots, shots cleared off the line etc.

So the games were close regards goals but a bit of a massacre in general play.

In all our recent home matches the goals were coming and we'll continue to win almost every match if teams
Just come to defend. Eventually they get tired and can't continue to close us down.

 

[JohnDenver]

Warnock also did the same in 2006, when we went up to the prem. I can remember feeling dismayed at the start of this season, seeing that Wilder had done the same. I thought it was a sure sign of hoof to come. Very pleased to have been completely wrong

Same here. I thought we were in for a season long clogathon.

In retrospect it was a brave move, whereas at the time I thought it cowardly. Who'd have thought we'd have a midfield sharp enough to pass through teams after last season's turgid guff?

 

[Caseh]

Where the theories fall down is we also play the same number of games away from home ................................. don't seem to be doing bad away from home either do we?

Oh you mean where teams don't sit 11 men behind the ball?

 

[Mad Mick]

Just out of interest how wide is the pitch, and what is the maximum?

 

[Rusty view]

At the start of the season, he was confident that the pitch being tighter would suit us as he backed our players to be technically superior and able to move the ball effectively... Something seen in action in the little tight triangles at Southend.

He also didn't want opponents to 'have it easy' managing to keep hold of the ball in space.

Win the ball back by pressuring... Beat your opponents by moving it cleverly and with purpose.

Agree with that Foxy, as you say in evidence at Southend. Especially in the build up to the 3rd goal.

 

[blade too long]

the narrower pitch has benefits against teams who come to hang on , they try and put it as far away in the stands it doesnt go as far , they cant go wide to waste time
we play a lot through the middle anyhow with one 2s and attack the edge of the 18 yard box more than really wide, so dont need it
freemans goal on saturday was down that channel as many are

 

[GCB_SUFC]

But these games that are "too close for comfort" we are totally dominating every one.
Having loads of chances, corners, blocked shots, shots cleared off the line etc.

So the games were close regards goals but a bit of a massacre in general play.

In all our recent home matches the goals were coming and we'll continue to win almost every match if teams
Just come to defend. Eventually they get tired and can't continue to close us down.

I agree, but that's got nothing to do with the pitch size

 

[Jesus_was_a_Blade]

For me it's all about movement and awareness, doesn't have to be a massive pitch for someone to find space.

Duffy for example would be able to find space in a single bed with Gemma Collins...

 

[Boxer Blade]

For me it's all about movement and awareness, doesn't have to be a massive pitch for someone to find space.

Duffy for example would be able to find space in a single bed with Gemma Collins...

Doesn't have to be but if it is it makes easier for the better team and not easier for the poorer side, in my opinion of course