The solution to our problems is a bigger pitch

[essex]

Last season, we had success at home as we contained the teams who played free flowing football (Arsenal, Chelscum, Man citeh) so they couldnt play their natural game. We had the likes of Derry and Barton closing down the midfield. Then were playing long balls up to a target man and playing off them.

This season, we have invested heavily in creative players, and are trying to play good passing football to feet. Our opposition are wise to this and are closing down Ali and Granero before they can find the space. LR is a very small pitch by PL standards and is hard for our players to find space, we have Cisse and SWP who like to be played through balls, but the pitch is short so is very difficult. At the moment, playing through the midfield seems our only attack, but when we have dyer, bosingwa, fabio back, we will have some pace on the wings and be attacking down the flanks more, does anyone really feel confident with Hill and Onuoha running down the wings? Once we have this line of attack back, our oppositon will not be able to simply close down our midfield, they will have to cover the flanks more and will give Faurlin and Granero more space.

[brightonr]

How many seats do you think we should remove?

[Romford Hoop]

Nice theory but not correct, our pitch s not as short as some believe, take Spurs for example,we played our best football of the season at WHL,first half especially we were a joy to watch with Faulin and Grenaro running the show.

Our pitch is 112 x 72 yards Spurs pitch is 110 x 73 yards.

It is more to do with lesser teams like Reading,Swansea and West Ham closing down quicker and contesting the ball much higher up the pitch than the top teams,hence the midfield are hurried and make mistakes.

The West Ham game was just like the Reading game,we were overun in midfield.

[essex]

I really thought WHL looked a lot bigger.

But i stand by my point that if we had pacey wingbacks the oppositon would be more spread and we would have more space to operate

[Bluehoop]

I really thought WHL looked a lot bigger.

But i stand by my point that if we had pacey wingbacks the oppositon would be more spread and we would have more space to operate

We don't necessarily need the pitch to be any bigger/wider though. It would certainly help if our full backs were not Neddy and Hill. 2 of Fabio, Bosingwa and Traore would make a huge difference because they are proper full backs who offer options going forward with pace. A fit Dyer is also a good option as he proved at WHL.
Too many people are dismissing the injury crisis - but so many first team defenders out at the same time would hurt any team. Just look how Man U are suffering at the back without Vidic and Smalling.

We look a totally different proposition when we have some pace at the back that can actually get down the wings. If that had been available against Wet Spam we would not have been so over-run in the midfield battle and it would have been a totally different game. Also, the fact that we didn't have the option meant that Granero and Faurlin got exposed and out done. So the theory that they cannot play together is also flawed and should be revised to - can't play together with two full backs incapable of attacking. Quite simply, their midfield overload and our lack of options meant they only had to focus on what they were doing as we had no threat.

The sooner we get Fabio, Bosingwa and Traore back the better. That will ensure Hill doesn't have to play at full back as well :angry:

[essex]

We don't necessarily need the pitch to be any bigger/wider though. It would certainly help if our full backs were not Neddy and Hill. 2 of Fabio, Bosingwa and Traore would make a huge difference because they are proper full backs who offer options going forward with pace. A fit Dyer is also a good option as he proved at WHL.
Too many people are dismissing the injury crisis - but so many first team defenders out at the same time would hurt any team. Just look how Man U are suffering at the back without Vidic and Smalling.

We look a totally different proposition when we have some pace at the back that can actually get down the wings. If that had been available against Wet Spam we would not have been so over-run in the midfield battle and it would have been a totally different game. Also, the fact that we didn't have the option meant that Granero and Faurlin got exposed and out done. So the theory that they cannot play together is also flawed and should be revised to - can't play together with two full backs incapable of attacking. Quite simply, their midfield overload and our lack of options meant they only had to focus on what they were doing as we had no threat.

The sooner we get Fabio, Bosingwa and Traore back the better. That will ensure Hill doesn't have to play at full back as well :angry:

Exactly this...what i was trying to get at but nit so eloquently put

[Del]

We don't necessarily need the pitch to be any bigger/wider though. It would certainly help if our full backs were not Neddy and Hill. 2 of Fabio, Bosingwa and Traore would make a huge difference because they are proper full backs who offer options going forward with pace. A fit Dyer is also a good option as he proved at WHL.
Too many people are dismissing the injury crisis - but so many first team defenders out at the same time would hurt any team. Just look how Man U are suffering at the back without Vidic and Smalling.

We look a totally different proposition when we have some pace at the back that can actually get down the wings. If that had been available against Wet Spam we would not have been so over-run in the midfield battle and it would have been a totally different game. Also, the fact that we didn't have the option meant that Granero and Faurlin got exposed and out done. So the theory that they cannot play together is also flawed and should be revised to - can't play together with two full backs incapable of attacking. Quite simply, their midfield overload and our lack of options meant they only had to focus on what they were doing as we had no threat.

The sooner we get Fabio, Bosingwa and Traore back the better. That will ensure Hill doesn't have to play at full back as well :angry:

Spot on mate. We missed what are top quality FB's in any of the 3 you listed. Not only are the better defensively in 1 to 1's against wingers than Onouha and Hill, they all have pace to cover when needed and also not only give something going the other way, but are all technically good and happy to receive a pass and the likes of Faurlin and Granero know this and are comfortanle passing to them.

[QPRDave]

Smaller goals I reckon!

[MattyRangers]

Smaller goals I reckon!

[SuperHoopNik]

The pitch looked much 'faster' aswell, not sure if this was because of the rain or because the grass is cut so short. We have players who like getting the ball down and passing it around but on a small pitch like ours that is not going to work. Groundsmen, grow the grass a bit longer! This will stop the ball flashing around the pitch at the speed of light after every single pass.