Is Pace Required To Succeed in Modern Football?

[citytill1die84]

Need it in Champions League notice we always get done by pace especially on the break.

When we have the ball we're far to slow at getting it forward.

 

[sam-caddick]

I still find it astonishing that we have not eradicated the lack of pace in our team when for the last couple of seasons it was the primary attacking attribute we lacked.

The only real pace we have going forward is Aguero, but for me he only really comes alive inside the box, and Navas, whom for me is your traditional byline winger rather than a Ronaldo, Bale, Robben, Neymar, Di Maria etc... who will run at people from anywhere on the pitch and cause havoc for the opposition.

All the best teams have pace.

It's one of the reasons I believe why we are so easy to play against in Europe because if the opposition stop our passing game or either dominate possession themselves then they know that's us pretty much dealt with.

 

[dickie davies]

No

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Yes it's essential that's why we are not good enough in Europe or even against defensive teams in our own league

Seen it time and time again that when we hit the buffers, we continue with the methodical, slow, slow, quicker, slow, walk, slow kind of game. When Navas or Jovetic start or come on my heart begins to sing a little more in tune! Pace and running at defenders draws mistakes from the opposition. It has been well recorded that defenders detest anyone with pace!

And it's not just individual running pace. Remember the football in the first half of the season under Mancini. We were rampant - fast-paced passing, moves at electrifying pace! We are now playing games of chess, and last night we tried a game of tiddlywinks!

 

[City_Sean]

I still find it astonishing that we have not eradicated the lack of pace in our team when for the last couple of seasons it was the primary attacking attribute we lacked.

The only real pace we have going forward is Aguero, but for me he only really comes alive inside the box, and Navas, whom for me is your traditional byline winger rather than a Ronaldo, Bale, Robben, Neymar, Di Maria etc... who will run at people from anywhere on the pitch and cause havoc for the opposition.

All the best teams have pace.

It's one of the reasons I believe why we are so easy to play against in Europe because if the opposition stop our passing game or either dominate possession themselves then they know that's us pretty much dealt with.

Spot on, and it frustrates me because this summer, Di Maria and Sanchez were avaliable, either one would have hugely improved us on the European front. As good as Navas is, he won't beat two or three men in succession and that's what we're lacking.

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

Yes pace is required in a side. But look at John Terry - never had any pace to him but probably the best defender I've seen in my lifetime. Same for some strikers, Shearer, Sheringham, Van Nistlerooy and today you have target men like Dzeko, Drogba and Carrol :) who are very effective without pace.

John Terry's not even the best defender I've seen at Chelsea in my lifetime.

For strikers it's often said that the first five yards is in the head. If you react the quickest then you don't need to rely on raw pace, which is (as Madielka rightly points out) a key feature of Thomas Mueller's game. That's why he left Clichy for dust in both the home games over the last two seasons, even though in a straight sprint Gael would smoke him.

A think a player who can routinely beat a man in wide areas (who may or may not be extremely quick) is of greater use to a team that dominates possession than a player with just raw pace. Teams that routinely play on the counter-attack certainly live and die by the speed of their attacking players.

 

[Shaggy]

Pace does play and important role, but I would say fitness levels are greater.

Being able to read the game, vision and being comfortable on the ball are just as important.
Pirlo of Italy is not renowned for his speed, yet he covers a lot of ground and is able to damage teams through his ability.
Passing and possession, constantly moving the ball around, get all players to have a feel of the ball.

Constant movement off the ball, being aware of your surroundings and looking to exploit space/ghosting is very important.

Sorry not very good at articulating what I mean,

 

[supercrystal7]

Yes pace is required in a side. But look at John Terry - never had any pace to him but probably the best defender I've seen in my lifetime. Same for some strikers, Shearer, Sheringham, Van Nistlerooy and today you have target men like Dzeko, Drogba and Carrol :) who are very effective without pace.

I agree with the gist of it that pace is always required in a side, but not in an individual, but your examples are not the best.

Only Shearer, RVN and Drogba were world class in the list, but they all had pace when they were at their best.

The Barcelona team had pace with Henry, Etoo, Abidal and Alves. The later teams had Pedro, Villa and still had the pace at the back.

 

[momo88]

Yes

It help tiring the oppositions , maintain a higher tempo, execute the triangle and combinations quicker if needed

If you cannot get the ball so you can play more direct football

 

[conormcfc]

.........................Busquets

.................Xavi.................Iniesta

....Messi..........................................Villa

.......................Ibrahimovic

The best club side I have ever seen and the only one with huge amounts of pace was Messi (Villa's legs were going at that point). Even Messi isn't that quick without the ball, it's just his close control that allows him to run with the ball at almost full speed.

If you're talking speed of passing in the final 3rd then that's another story. But we're capable of that anyway.