Match Thread vs. Torquay United 09.04.22 [NL]

[jackal2]

You only have to look at all of the miniscule players we have signed to realise that we are never going to have the physicality to out bully any of those teams..

Ideally we would have a couple more physically big and imposing players, but any professional player can be asked not to overplay in defence or midfield. In fact that's easier than playing an overly intricate style. It's not a case of playing long ball, but simply getting the ball out of your own half in fewer passes than we tend to do at present, playing over the press if necessary. We do have some big forwards to hit if we need them.

People forget that the 'physical' team of Neil Warnock (for example) was not built around particularly tall or strong players apart from the two centre-halves Short and Yates. The likes of Mark Draper, Dean Thomas, Phil Turner, Paul Harding and Charlie Palmer were not physically huge players, but they got in the opposition's faces, weren't afraid to 'leave one' on their opponents, and they played their more sophisticated football in the opponent's half not their own. It's just common sense football for the lower levels where you don't have players with the sublime skill of, say, Manchester City.