Lack of pace

Unfortunately without pace we pose very little threat against teams at this level. The opposition can afford to send extra men forward without too much concern if they know their defenders have us beaten for pace. Against Chelsea we went with Cowie and Whitts out wide. We would offer more threat with Odemwingie and Bellers out wide but Malky put Odemwingie up front where he was largely isolated and was probably forced to rest Bellers due to him playing 2 internationals 4 days. When I saw the line up I feared the worst because as well as no pace out wide we put Kimbo on the bench and if you don't have pace you at least need to have players with great technical ability who can hold onto the ball comfortably and with the extra skill they offer they can open up defences. Gunnarsson was poor again yesterday but again, due to Kimbo's international excursions Malky decided to rest him. You can't really blame Malky for taking the decisions he did with the personnel available to him but in my view, with the money he had available to him he should have addressed these problems in the transfer window. Let's hope Tan still likes Malky enough to give him a few more bob in January.

Spot on we just dont have the gas, we have the slowest wingers in the league without a doubt.

I think it's time we give Noone a go. I know he is inconsistent and his final ball is poor at times but his pace and trickery would add new depth to our slow attack.

I think it's time we give Noone a go. I know he is inconsistent and his final ball is poor at times but his pace and trickery would add new depth to our slow attack.

totally agree, just giv him a game see how he gets off, he performed at west ham.

Set up like that most the season with no pace or guile on the wings and we are going down

There is not substitute for pace

I don't see any issue with the way we set up especially against the likes of Chelsea, where a defensive effort is needed and Malky trusts Whitts and Cowie etc. However I think we ca take more of a gamble against other teams and use the likes of Noone. I was really surprised he didn't bring Noone in yesterday when we were chasing the game. It was the same against Newcastle, I really thought it was crying out for someone who was direct and has pace.

you will never get direct from malky he is a proper steady eddie which we might regret come may

you will never get direct from malky he is a proper steady eddie which we might regret come may

Totally agree.

Malky's teams are hard working, professional, pragmatic,always give 100%, and never give up.

That was more than godd enough to get us to the top of the Championship last season.

Unfortunately the only time when the word "flair" will be associated with a Malky team is when it follows the words "has no"

davids we cant keep playing this system all season its getting us no where but back to the championship

We were crying out for a bit of pace last season and we are still....waiting.....waiting.

We lose away to Chelsea and suddenly everyone and everything is getting slated! I thought we played well, Malky chose Cowie because he has the engine to chase the ball and track runners and we needed that away to Chelsea. If some of you got your wish of us starting Noone and Bellamy on the wings, there would have been a Chelsea onslaught for the whole game!

We played well, Chelsea's first goal wasn't a goal and this completely changed the game, Chelsea got their second with a moment of magic from Eto'o (which can be expected against a world class team with world class players) and Chelsea hit us on the break for the third and fourth goals because Malky went more attacking at 2-1 down. This is exactly what will happen if Malky goes more attacking, superior teams will have more time and space in our attacking third to punish us. Oscar wouldn't have had the time and space to score their third goal if Malky still had us set up to be "negative".

The stick Malky is getting after a defeat away to Chelsea is absolutely incredible!