Genuine pace

[Herts Clarets]

Lots of discussion on the board about the type of player we should sign, and one quality is more or less ever present in the wish list. Pace. One incident last night highlighted for me just how slow we are as a team. In the first half we broke into the Villa half and had a 3 v 3 situation. By the time we had reached the edge of the box, it had turned into a 3 v 6, as Villa had managed to get 3 more players back to break up the attack. It ended with Dwight trying to take the ball himself as his options had disappeared with the cover.

So, who would you consider was the last player we had that possessed genuine pace? Andre Gray was swift without being lightning quick. Ings was nippy, again not what you would call pacy. Who was the last player we had that was a flying machine?

[Quickenthetempo]

Dyche's framework doesn't have any need for real pace. We didn't really use Gray's pace to great effect in the championship. We don't really have a through ball king.

We need players faster over 3 yards, that anticipate more.

[randomclaret2]

Let's get Alan Pace in first, then take it from there

[maccclaret]

Dane Richards was billed as pacy. He was certainly quick when he ran onto the pitch at Oakwell.

Would be interesting to see how quick SJF would appear in the PL; he regularly skinned lower league defenders.

[nyclaret]

Southampton have adopted 4-4-2 this season and have shown how effective it can be going forward with pace in their side. Ings, Adams, Walcott, Redmond, Djenepo. They look very dangerous going forward.

[Herts Clarets]

It gives us an out ball and prevents teams defending a high line if there is a player that could run onto a through ball. Villa had no worries last night as even though we got through on the break, they had time and pace to get back and stop the attack. It would relieve some of the pressure on the midfield too as the opposition wouldn't be able to push on too much without leaving a gap between defence and midfield that could be exploited.

[fatboy47]

McNeil is deceptively quick at times. Taylor and Brady can both cover the ground too if required.

[cricketfieldclarets]

For me we have never been blessed here. We haven’t had it since Gifton and before that John Gayle.

[Quickenthetempo]

Dane Richards was billed as pacy. He was certainly quick when he ran onto the pitch at Oakwell.

Would be interesting to see how quick SJF would appear in the PL; he regularly skinned lower league defenders.

Johnny Francis skinned Stuart Pearce a few times in the 91 League cup tie, but he recovered and had got a tackle in against him within 5 or so yards. Pearce wasn't known as being that quick either.

Todays footballers with a lot better conditions to run on are light years ahead.

[onewillieirvine]

Lloyd Dyer seemed fairly swift of heel in his limited run outs.

[Stayingup]

Lots of discussion on the board about the type of player we should sign, and one quality is more or less ever present in the wish list. Pace. One incident last night highlighted for me just how slow we are as a team. In the first half we broke into the Villa half and had a 3 v 3 situation. By the time we had reached the edge of the box, it had turned into a 3 v 6, as Villa had managed to get 3 more players back to break up the attack. It ended with Dwight trying to take the ball himself as his options had disappeared with the cover.

So, who would you consider was the last player we had that possessed genuine pace? Andre Gray was swift without being lightning quick. Ings was nippy, again not what you would call pacy. Who was the last player we had that was a flying machine?

Steve Kindon!!!

[Stayingup]

Its playing the ball quickly and good movement that really matter.

[dibraidio]

Vydra has genuine pace. Clearly that's not enough in SD's book.

[ClaretTony]

So, who would you consider was the last player we had that possessed genuine pace? Andre Gray was swift without being lightning quick. Ings was nippy, again not what you would call pacy. Who was the last player we had that was a flying machine?

Lennon

[Im_not_Robbie_Blake]

Not the last one we had, but the fastest of the lot must have been John Francis. I remember him winning lots of sprints on ITV Football (either On The Ball or Saint and Greavsie). Must have been close to being pro sprinter standard.

[Papabendi]

No good being quick if you are otherwise not much of a footballer. Everyone wants a blend of the two, and they command top dollar.

[ClaretTony]

No good being quick if you are otherwise not much of a footballer

Spot on

[KRBFC]

5ft 2, Nathan Dyer strolled off the bench for his debut looking like a 12 year old boy in a shirt 3x too big. One of my favourite players from that period, Joy to watch and I’m surprised his career didn’t pan out better.

[Boss Hogg]

Lennon

I think the OP meant pace going forward and not backwards

[Jakubs Tash]

Vydra has genuine pace. Clearly that's not enough in SD's book.

I’m not so sure he does. Maybe compared to our other 3 forwards but genuine pace? Don’t think so.

[KRBFC]

I’d have actually taken Nkoudou permanently, we didn’t see much in terms of end product but he touched the ball more than anyone for us, dragged us up the pitch.

[ClaretTony]

I think the OP meant pace going forward and not backwards

I liked Azza Lennon - offered a lot at times and his final moment at the Turf came in that Bournemouth win when his terrific run took defenders away for McNeil to score. A very intelligent player, wish we'd had him at his best.

[martin_p]

What’s ‘fake pace’ if there’s ‘genuine pace’?

[buzzclarets79]

Been crying out for just one genuine fast forward since Gray left.
Teams can push right up on us as they know that if we do break we don’t have anyone quick enough to really hurt them on the break.

Pace will always hurt teams.

[AfloatinClaret]

Surely Burnley's quickest ever is Jimmy Anderson?

[Dark Cloud]

On that bit of fun on Clarets Player whatsit that was linked on here the other week by A.N. Other, when asked who was quickest in the entire squad both Taylor and Pope said Vydra without the slightest hesitation. He's clearly quick, but sadly I don't think we have the midfield or indeed the style of play to give him the service to capitalise on it.

[Vegas Claret]

For me we have never been blessed here. We haven’t had it since Gifton and before that John Gayle.

we still haven't replaced Futcher or Philliskirk

[FCBurnley]

Steve Kindon was the most exciting Burnley player I ever saw. He was not the best but was certainly the most exciting and fastest.

[turfytopper]

Not the last one we had, but the fastest of the lot must have been John Francis. I remember him winning lots of sprints on ITV Football (either On The Ball or Saint and Greavsie). Must have been close to being pro sprinter standard.

John Francis was very quick. He'd be quicker on today's pitches. That said, the quickest footballer I've ever seen over 50 yards...Kindon.

[turfytopper]

Steve Kindon was the most exciting Burnley player I ever saw. He was not the best but was certainly the most exciting and fastest.

I have never seen anybody quicker... but for Skippy, power, strength and speed was about it.....but it was brilliant to watch and often enough to open up the opposition.

[Woodleyclaret]

Steve Kindon in full flight was unplayable and I was lucky to see him make his debut and most of his Burnley career

[cricketfieldclarets]

Lennon

Before us for sure. Definitely not by the time he was here.

Remember him playing at about 16 against us for Leeds. He was rapid.

[cricketfieldclarets]

He was also very quick at the lane in 2009 when they tubbed us 5-0. Ten years before doing it again.

[ClaretTony]

Back in 2003 we took a young lad on as a scholar who had previously been at Leeds called Ross Preston. I got to know his parents really well, it was a mixed marriage with dad a season ticket holder at Newcastle and mum a season ticket holder at Sunderland. I remember his dad telling me there was a kid in Ross's age group at Leeds who was going to be something a bit special and it was Aaron Lennon.

He played against us for Leeds on the Turf in 2004/05 when they beat us 1-0. In the away game against them that season, when we won 2-1 with two of our three right backs scoring, he came on as a substitute midway through the second half. The player coming off was Clarke Carlisle.

Those two 5-0 games at Spurs. The first was Robbie Keane's day because he scored four but Lennon was superb that day. Last season I'll always remember the incredible reception he received from the Spurs fans when he came on. They loved him and it was his cross in 2010 at Man City that Peter Crouch headed home to get them into the Champions League for the first time.

[Jakubclaret]

Its playing the ball quickly and good movement that really matter.

Exactly, it’s been positionally aware & having an understanding with your fellow team mates get that right, usain bolts not catching you.

[dougcollins]

Spot on. Dwight went into indecision overdrive which is why the Villa defenders got round to cover.

[bobinho]

Speaking as an ex right back, natural pace was always the main threat, so much so when I came up against it I always dropped off a few yards which created other problems for us.

Remember playing in a cup semi final years ago in Germany and their left winger had me on toast all game. Fortunately, it wasn’t just me who couldn’t keep up with him, rest of his team couldn’t so when he got near the line and crossed, only our keeper was in the box. By the time he’d waited for them, I’d got back as well.

We get a player with real pace, he costs a few quid. We get a player with real natural finishing skills, he costs a few quid. Put them two together and he’s getting nowhere near Burnley I’m afraid.