Are we too small?

[Surf's Up]

If your good enough, your big enough.....

Then we're not good enough

 

[boik]

We were good enough against the team that is top of the league (ok, we didn't score, but if one of our shots had been mishit of deflected...).

Looking at West Ham, their back four are all 6'3"/6'4" and Vaz Te is 6'2" and Cole is 6'4". They are all suitably heavy with iit. AEA and Calde are under 6' Hard to defend when a team puts in the high balls.

Also WHU midfield, although not as huge as the rest of the team, are still bigger than us. Much as I like Bridders, he's very easy to lever off the ball, especially if 2 of you harry him. When I watched the Ipswich game and saw the way Razak could shrug off the tackles/barges and then calmly pick a pass I think I saw exactly what we were missing. Someone like him with a couple of big, but good defenders would transform our team by greatly reducing the threat from the opposition and allow us to play our own game. Someone like Razak means you can play with 2 wingers.

 

[withdeanwombat]

How do Barcelona cope?

Poorly,but with a lot of luck,suspect refereeing decisions and approximately the best team in world football,they manage to squeak by.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Yes, its not a coincidence that we concede a lot of goals from set pieces. Lack height all over the pitch and are too lightweight

Dunk & Greer are 6'4", Brez is 6'6" so our defence should be able to win headers, and yet El-Abd who is 5'10" copes better than the three of them with high balls.

 

[banjo]

Men v Boys I thought.

 

[stugbhafc1]

Been saying for most of the season that we really struggle with balls in the box whether it be from set pieces or just crosses dont deal with them well at all and we have been exposed and made to look very poor.

 

[7oaksgull]

And the Dicker own goal came about as CMS missed his defensive header at the near post....something Glenn Murray was very good at...

 

[Bognor Bystander]

In my opinion we're not too small just a bit 'hit and miss' as Dunk and AEA both attack the ball and win a lot of headers but Greer seems to duck under a lot or try to put off the attacker rather than trying to win the header. Bridders and Calde both do well for their height but we do seem to get out muscled so need to improve this aspect of our game. Brez should be untouchable but doesn't go for the ball when at it's highest point , he let's it drop into the goal area where he has to compete with the melee infront of him. Sorry boring myself now ...

 

[ditchy]

I thought yesterday that we were out-muscled in every department and we could barley win a header. I think if we need to progress we need to sign some big strong players that are known for being strong in the championship. I was wandering if others would agree.

Totally agree we corn do with a few 6ft plus guys !

 

[terryberry1]

Dunk & Greer are 6'4", Brez is 6'6" so our defence should be able to win headers, and yet El-Abd who is 5'10" copes better than the three of them with high balls.

Brez cant catch, Dunk is never in the team and greer although relatively tall is not very good in the air

 

[pork pie]

I thought yesterday that we were out-muscled in every department and we could barley win a header. I think if we need to progress we need to sign some big strong players that are known for being strong in the championship. I was wandering if others would agree.

I agree, and Gus said as much last summer. Then he proceeded to do f*** all about it.