Featherweights (no replies)

My biggest concern this season that I think will undo us in quite a few games is just how easily we are physically dominated in terms of strength, height and (less so) pace.

We've signed good players but I feel we're more vulnerable to set pieces and times where the ball breaks loose after losing first and second balls.

When I look at the type of players that are in our squad that are very susceptible to being knocked off the ball and losing aerial duals, it's too many. Even bigger lads like Willumsson are not physically imposing enough.

It's only really, Bright, Tomoki, Keshi who are difficult players to pass through. Laird is deceptively strong and can hold his own surprisingly well, but aside from that, I fear despite being technically good, the small, slow and weak players in the squad will negatively impact the team generally.

To move to the next level we needed to address this over summer. I always think back to Mourinho's successful teams and how they always had a core of beasts in his teams, the likes of Ivanovic, Alex, Drogba, Essien, Ballack, Diego Costa, Terry, Carvalho, Matic, Lukaku, Ibra, Pepe and Ramos...all strong aggressive players that were bullies.

I like our team but it's easy to see where we'll fall short. It's reminding me of the Japan team every world cup I see them. despite having so many wonderful technical players, being generally smaller and weaker meant that aerial balls and duals would always prevent them from going further in tournaments.