Can a slow team weather the playoff run?

[Qprtanpa1]

The Boro game shone a bright spotlight on what's been a weakness for us much of the season: the absence of speed.

In the way we run, pass., take throw ins and free kicks.

It's not his fault, but Stefan is growing older and slower by the game.

Amos and Dozzell are slightly faster and with flashes of pace, but rarely impose themselves on a game.

Wallace is clearly slowing up on the left, unable to outrun any defensive back.

And as well as our CBs have played over the past many weeks, their slow pace and even slower passing plays into any other team's speed.

Our options are slim, but include moving Sanderson into one of the CB slots, or playing Moses and Thomas more, or coaching the team to pick it up with faster throw-ins, free kicks, and passing.

Yet can we survive this race as the relative tortoise outlasting the hare?

Thoughts?

[Macca]

Yes we need to up our pace far to pedestrian.

[Darkranger]

Yes it's definitely a problem, we have rode our luck in a number of games lately. Maybe we can continue to do so.
I have no idea how we suddenly inject some pace with the group of players we have.
I think we have done incredibly well so far this season, it could be that the quality we have within the squad is enough to see us through.

[Fordy]

That Jones for them absolutely tore Wallace a new one. McCallum would of been handy tonight

[Mem]

For me the problem with lack of pace is more exposed up front

The defensive and midfield options of Moses, Sanderson, Mccalum, Amos, Dozzell etc all provide more pace and urgency

Dykes, Gray and Austin are not quick and it’s in tight games where it would be great to bring on the likes of a BOS for example

[topperharley]

We maybe able to ride our luck all the way to promotion but it will bite us big time if we did go up. Straight back down based on last few games, with Reading exception.

We don't have enough pace or match winning quality in all areas of the pitch, as a team when we control the football we look very good, but we don't convert enough chances, or really create enough. Willock, Chair and Austin for different reasons are the difference in our team and they all fade when the players behind them are not cohesive. Austin in particular is useless when nothing is coming into the box. Far too much sideways passing and way too much mucking around at the back.

The sideways passing seems to be because of a lack of options going forward, no one making runs and stretching opposition defences, rather than a lack of midfield quality. Yes Stef has been poor but perhaps given more options of what to do with the ball we'd see a different player. The wings really needed attention in the Jan window.

[Mem]

I can't remember there being much in the way of pace in our last play-off winning side.

Fair point although maybe apart from Hoilett who did set up the winning goal!

[stanistheman]

We can inject a bit more pace in the side with a few changes.

McCallum can replace Wallace or even play in front of him. Warburton might just need to do a bit of tweaking with the line up and tactics.

Hendrick to replace Johansen and push Willock further in attack to partner the striker - Dykes, Gray or Austin.

Chair Hendrick and Field as a 3 man midfield.

Sanderson can be used somewhere too.

[3London]

we do have pace - in the movement of the ball when the link ups between Willock , Chair , Dykes and Wallace work

I not sure why wallace is getting stick - his movement up and down the left side far out weighs Alberts but albert seems immune from criticism

A couple of times last night he sprinted the full length of the pitch in support looking for the over lap but was never picked out.

sometimes you see the bigger picture at the game than watching on line.

What is frustrating the slowness of the 3 centre backs in terms of moving the ball as opposed to running - last night they were so slow - at one point Dicke actually stopped with the Ball and just stood there before passing it backwards for the 1000th time

[topperharley]

We can move the ball quickly but not with enough bite going forward. Too much sideways, in particular in our own half.

[MINCER]

I don’t know how MW manages to get 3 players into central midfield, but the team that controls midfield area dominates the game.

[3London]

The problem is Having both Willock and Chair in the team means that Field and Johannson end up having to do so much more defensively

its fine going forward but when we lose the ball the midfield struggles as often Willock and chair are together in the LH corner of the pitch.

Dykes did more defensively last night than either hillock and chair - and even gray was seen sprinting back at one point to help out - not something either chair or Willock seem capable of doing and i know its not what they are in the team for but they do need to do their bit.

the amount of times Albert was left exposed to 2 players last night.

it almost feels like you can only play 2 out of Willock Chair and Johannson to be bale to bring in another more defensively inclined midfielder.

[stanistheman]

we do have pace - in the movement of the ball when the link ups between Willock , Chair , Dykes and Wallace work

I not sure why wallace is getting stick - his movement up and down the left side far out weighs Alberts but albert seems immune from criticism

A couple of times last night he sprinted the full length of the pitch in support looking for the over lap but was never picked out.

sometimes you see the bigger picture at the game than watching on line.

What is frustrating the slowness of the 3 centre backs in terms of moving the ball as opposed to running - last night they were so slow - at one point Dicke actually stopped with the Ball and just stood there before passing it backwards for the 1000th time

Maybe you're correct that it is a bit unfair about Wallace, but I was thinking more in an attacking sense with McCallum as he has scored 2 goals this season from the small amount of games he has played.

I agree about the 3 CBs and yes it was very frustrating watching them from the SA Rd stand. I was shouting out for them to run with the ball when the space was there or play it forward rather than sideways or back.

Boro are a very fluid side, just as Sheff Utd were under Wilder, but we could have played better than we did. However, I thought Dykes was struggling to control the ball, get his head to it or even lay it off first time with accuracy.

[Qprtanpa1]

We can inject a bit more pace in the side with a few changes.

McCallum can replace Wallace or even play in front of him. Warburton might just need to do a bit of tweaking with the line up and tactics.

Hendrick to replace Johansen and push Willock further in attack to partner the striker - Dykes, Gray or Austin.

Chair Hendrick and Field as a 3 man midfield.

Sanderson can be used somewhere too.

This is on point.

[Qprtanpa1]

The way we have played matches up well against the Readings of this league, but for us to advance -- especially as one of the two automatic promotion clubs -- we have to best the Boros, West Broms, Blackburns with some regularity.

Our style of play, and perhaps our team selection, should be adjusted in these tilts to add more midfield strength (ergo choosing between Chair and Willock at times for starting roles vs both), pray that McCallum comes back fit and fast, and bring in Sanderson to infuse the back line with pace and urgency.