Do we lack a yard of pace in defence on Wembley Pitch?

[Time for Heroes]

When thinking of potential summer targets, and ahead of a likely home campaign at Wembley next season, I would be tempted to bolster our backline with a quicker centre back.

Despite not getting in the PFA team of the year we arguably have the best centre back pairing in the league, but I am worried about the frailties they show at Wembley when coming up against a pacy forward. It is also very likely that Kevin Wimmer will leave this summer after his lack of first team action this season so we will most likely be in the market for a centre back anyway. I think with the bigger pitch at Wembley it will benefit the squad to have a faster centre back to either compliment Vertonghen and Alderweireld in a 3 or replace one of them in a back four.

Van Dijk looks the perfect mould of speed and strength to me, but doubt we will be able to beat Chelsea to getting him.

Who would you guys target?

 

[yido_number1]

We need another CB to make sure we can play the three at the despite injuries. I wouldn't necessarily say we need a pacey CB more a good reader of the game that is consistent. I would be looking to sign an experienced mature CB that has played regularly in a three that wouldn't mind a bench place. I'd stick with ED, TA and JV and let them continue to build. Sign one experienced CB and let CCV develop and Wimmer go if he's not happy.

We've been really unlucky with injuries this year and hopefully next year will be different.

 

[shelfboy68]

When thinking of potential summer targets, and ahead of a likely home campaign at Wembley next season, I would be tempted to bolster our backline with a quicker centre back.

Despite not getting in the PFA team of the year we arguably have the best centre back pairing in the league, but I am worried about the frailties they show at Wembley when coming up against a pacy forward. It is also very likely that Kevin Wimmer will leave this summer after his lack of first team action this season so we will most likely be in the market for a centre back anyway. I think with the bigger pitch at Wembley it will benefit the squad to have a faster centre back to either compliment Vertonghen and Alderweireld in a 3 or replace one of them in a back four.

Van Dijk looks the perfect mould of speed and strength to me, but doubt we will be able to beat Chelsea to getting him.

Who would you guys target?

Van dijk is quality but we won't pay the money they will want.

 

[jurgen]

I do think there may be something in this. Wembley is only 2m wider than WHL but 5m longer, and we looked pretty rocky early on against direct runners in a way that we haven't for some time. Sure they are good players running against us, but with more space to get up to speed Toby in particular didn't look so mobile.

If we're hoping to keep getting to the big matches, on the big pitches, we might need to alter our setup a bit from WHL.

You'd hope we have a practice pitch in our huge facility that we can set up for tweaking our tactics, particularly the high line, for playing on pitches where the opposition can gain more ground. But it still seems we can be got at in a way we don't show on a more compact pitch.

 

[WalkerboyUK]

The Wembley pitch is 5m longer than WHL and only 1m wider.
If we play there next season we get to adjust the measurements to how we want them for league games, so no doubt will look to mirror WHL.
Even so, 5m is only 2.5m per half, and I'm not sure it makes that much of a difference.

 

[Gb160]

I don't think Van Dijk would consider joining us to sit on the bench, and thats before looking at the finances on offer elsewhere.
He'll probably go to City imo, shitloads of money and he's better than most/all their current CBs.

 

[brendanb50]

The Wembley pitch is 5m longer than WHL and only 1m wider.
If we play there next season we get to adjust the measurements to how we want them for league games, so no doubt will look to mirror WHL.
Even so, 5m is only 2.5m per half, and I'm not sure it makes that much of a difference.

I'm very much inclined to agree - it's not a lot really and can't be any different to playing on some away pitches.

But it would make sense for us, if using for the full season to adjust the pitch (if allowed to do so)?

It was also commented on during the game that the grass was a lot softer than at WHL, not sure if thats complete nonsense but again, anything which we could change to replicate the WHL surface would surely be looked into.

Neither aspect is an excuse for some poor performances this year but hopefully we can make some minor changes for next year which will help us.

 

[Gb160]

I'm very much inclined to agree - it's not a lot really and can't be any different to playing on some away pitches.

But it would make sense for us, if using for the full season to adjust the pitch (if allowed to do so)?

It was also commented on during the game that the grass was a lot softer than at WHL, not sure if thats complete nonsense but again, anything which we could change to replicate the WHL surface would surely be looked into.

Neither aspect is an excuse for some poor performances this year but hopefully we can make some minor changes for next year which will help us.

This is a good point and something I've wondered about since the Wembley situation started, at WHL we have dedicated ground staff who literally prepare that pitch according to Pochs instruction, and I'm pretty sure we have pitches at the training ground prepared identically so they can train and play on an identical pitch (when at home)....but is that even an option next season?...i take it Wembley have their own designated ground staff?

 

[tiger666]

If we play there next season we get to adjust the measurements to how we want them for league games, so no doubt will look to mirror WHL.

Do we? All pitches have to be 105x68 now unless otherwise permitted by the FA due to stadium constraints etc. Even if we can I don't think we should. Our new stadium will be the same size as Wembley so we have to adjust at some point.

 

[Drink!Drink!]

it isn't just the pitch length, it's also the type and quality of the grass surface. It is always said that at wembley the ball doesn't zip along the ground as it does in most prem level stadiums, that the grass is a bit longer and there is more friction on the surface.

So I guess that could mean longer aerial passing and fast runners might prosper a little bit more at wembley, but shouldn't be overstated it's all by very small degrees. That said, think it takes a few seconds longer to work the ball up the pitch along the floor than it does at WHL, and that could be that inch of difference which doesn't help us.

 

[eViL]

Cameron Carter Vickers says 'Hello'.

 

[WalkerboyUK]

According to this, we have the joint 2nd smallest pitch in the PL, which might explain some of our away game issues...

http://www.football-stadiums.co.uk/articles/are-all-football-pitches-the-same-size/

 

[eViL]

And it's the surface that needs attention at Wembley, not the dimensions.

I went to watch England vs Scotland and most players were on their slipping on their arse like amature Ice Hockey players.

 

[brendanb50]

This is a good point and something I've wondered about since the Wembley situation started, at WHL we have dedicated ground staff who literally prepare that pitch according to Pochs instruction, and I'm pretty sure we have pitches at the training ground prepared identically so they can train and play on an identical pitch (when at home)....but is that even an option next season?...i take it Wembley have their own designated ground staff?

I presume so - i suppose until it's all confirmed, details like this won't be being shared necessarily - unless i've missed something.

Surely if you're leasing/renting the stadium you must have some degree of control of what you do with it, especially if you return it to it's original state when leaving?

 

[Gb160]

I presume so - i suppose until it's all confirmed, details like this won't be being shared necessarily - unless i've missed something.

Surely if you're leasing/renting the stadium you must have some degree of control of what you do with it, especially if you return it to it's original state when leaving?

We could ring West Ham and ask them ?

 

[danielneeds]

The Wembley pitch is 5m longer than WHL and only 1m wider.
If we play there next season we get to adjust the measurements to how we want them for league games, so no doubt will look to mirror WHL.
Even so, 5m is only 2.5m per half, and I'm not sure it makes that much of a difference.

It doesn't sound a lot, but it means the Wembley pitch is over 400 square yards bigger. That's a lot when you try to compress the play and squeeze the opposition like we do.

 

[Spurs 1961]

If we are playing all our home games at Wembley we can surely do what everyone does and set the size of the pitch we want. So we could have the pitch marked out on the minimum length and width. The line markings determine the size surely?

 

[tiger666]

If we are playing all our home games at Wembley we can surely do what everyone does and set the size of the pitch we want. So we could have the pitch marked out on the minimum length and width. The line markings determine the size surely?

No one can set the pitch how they want.

 

[danielneeds]

If we are playing all our home games at Wembley we can surely do what everyone does and set the size of the pitch we want. So we could have the pitch marked out on the minimum length and width. The line markings determine the size surely?

Yes, but our new pitch at WHL will be as big as Wembley so it's going to be putting off the inevitable. Also would kill the atmos even more having the pitch further from the crowd

 

[Spurs 1961]

No one can set the pitch how they want.

Are you sure about that? There are minimum and maximum set pitch sizes so within that clubs are able to set their pitch. They are not allowed to change it from game to game. There was a dictate a few years ago laying down a size but then they also said clubs can be exempt from that if they have special reasons ... and I suspect we are one of those since only Stoke has a smaller pitch.