We struggled against Bolton in Midfield, mainly in the air. I had a look at the size of the midfield players, and our CMs arent all that big. If Meyler was in the team, that would change. Bolton: reo - 5"11 petrov - 5"11 M Davies - 5"11 Eagles - 6" Sunderland: Catts - 5"10 Colback - 5"9 Campbell - 5"8 Mclean - 5"11 (Sess - 5"7) Meyler is 6"3, so would make a big difference. I also thought we had trouble in the air against Everton, and while of their most players arent that taller than ours, a certain Fellaini is 6"4 (6"7 with his hair) and he was winning everything in the air.
david silva to name but one is 5"7 and an awsome player. we try to keep the ball on the deck so height hasnt much to do with midfield..
Thats what we try and do but if the opposition are playing in the air (like Bolton) then we are less likely to win it. I think the us trying to play it along the deck is a myth to be honest, we always seem to hit the ball up the field from dead ball situations and our defence often smack it up there when under pressure. If we are dictating the game, or playing a team who play along the deck then we do the same and we cope fine (Man City would be prime example). play a team who play in the air and we struggle.
but if we hit the ball long from the back it misses the midfield out anyway i know were ya coming from but imo i dont think height has anything to do with being a modern day midfielder.
I kinda know what your saying Dan, to be honset I was suprised that ourt CM were that tall. I don't think it's about that though. I don't think Bolton were chipping it over our midfield or our midfield had to win an arieal battle. It's more Bolton provided more of a physical threat. Our Central midfield were bossed by Bolton mainly. Sess' is only 5"7. Yet Mig often punts the ball high up front. Sess' has no real chance and Bendtner is not physical so it's pointless. I'd rather we rolled it out, espeically against the lesser teams as we are not playing to our strengths. Also Sess' is never anywhere near Bendter looking for a flick on. If Bendtner wins it it's still often lost. It seems simple that it should be coachable? We havn't done it at all this season under 2 managers. Our front two have no understanding.
