Pace, tempo and pressing

[billyblue80]

I've noticed we lack these three things so far this season(I know its only three games but watching MOTD last night it struck me how turgid we are compared to others right now). Is It new players bedding in (I hope it will get better when Iwobi/Kean start)or new players not starting? Is it the low intensity preseason? Is it fitness?The loss of Zouma and Gana? At the end of last season we had this tempo, the pressing, the fast transitions. Now we look ponderous and slow in possession always going sideways compared to the better team's in the league. Why?

 

[big nev lookalike]

Schneiderlin.

 

[billyblue80]

Schneiderlin.

He doesn't help. That midfield is ponderous especially with Gomes off the pace too. Davies or Delph have to come in for me. With Iwobi ahead.We lack energy and drive in there, gutted about Gbamin being out. Basically you had Gomes and Morgan doing a similar role and Sig largely anonymous Villa just out battled us.

 

[billyblue80]

Who is our fitness coach?

 

[billyblue80]

I'd go.

Gomes
Davies
Iwobi

Richarlison
Kean
Bernard

 

[Tramps_mate]

Poor preseason. Fitness looks questionable. Richarlison hasn't rested enough.

 

[big nev lookalike]

He doesn't help. That midfield is ponderous especially with Gomes off the pace too. Davies or Delph have to come in for me. We lack energy and drive in there, gutted about Gbamin being out.

You’re right. At the back end of last season both Gomes and Gueye went forward a lot more which helped put more pressure on the opposition defence. We need to start doing that again.

 

[Hangleton]

Defence has to be a bit higher for the press to work - I think. Otherwise there’s too much space to get past it with ease.

 

[billyblue80]

We have to hope we get up to speed and find our best team eventually. It does feel like we are playing preseason in the actual season though . Our preseasons are so low quality and intensity. I hate to compare us to them as they are way ahead, but look at the RS they hit the ground running physically.

 

[billyblue80]

Defence has to be a bit higher for the press to work - I think. Otherwise there’s too much space to get past it with ease.

Problem is we have two CBs now who aren't the fastest that can't be helping too.

 

[BernieH]

We never start the season well because our pre seasons arent fantastic in my opinion, every year we play catch up, used to take moyes til january ti wake them up

 

[ToffeeLee1878]

I’d love to see this team going forward ...that midfield is too sluggish get legs in there

 

[Hangleton]

We are indeed playing exactly as we did in preseason - still looking for a way to score. Concentrating on creating space to cross to nobody.

 

[Hangleton]

Problem is we have two CBs now who aren't the fastest that can't be helping too.

Watch some of the sprints in the warmups.
Mina is faster than Gomes - and Schneiderlin is much slower. So we have no pace at all now without Gbamin.

 

[billyblue80]

We never start the season well because our pre seasons arent fantastic in my opinion, every year we play catch up, used to take moyes til january ti wake them up

Agree we play average team's or nobodies if we are honest. Our highest quality preseason in recent times coincided with our fifth placed finish. Not the only reason as we had Rom but it has to be a factor.