Viking Supporters Co-operative

Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: Branton Rover on March 16, 2026, 07:31:41 pm

Title: Physical stature
Post by: Branton Rover on March 16, 2026, 07:31:41 pm
My thought on our current squad in terms of physicality is we’re rather on the small side. I’ve asked ChatGPT to tell me the average height of the current Lincoln City squad and it revealed an impressive average of 6ft 2” which indicates to me we need bigger/taller players all around to make an impact next season. It also feeds into our 2012/13 season of physical dominance especially at the back with Jones and McCombe.
Title: Re: Physical stature
Post by: In the box on March 16, 2026, 07:47:37 pm
My thought on our current squad in terms of physicality is we’re rather on the small side. I’ve asked ChatGPT to tell me the average height of the current Lincoln City squad and it revealed an impressive average of 6ft 2” which indicates to me we need bigger/taller players all around to make an impact next season. It also feeds into our 2012/13 season of physical dominance especially at the back with Jones and McCombe.
McCann can’t stand having to get ladder to do his team talk so only gets players he can look eye to eye.. small man syndrome!!
Title: Re: Physical stature
Post by: Bessie Red on March 16, 2026, 08:05:03 pm
My thought on our current squad in terms of physicality is we’re rather on the small side. I’ve asked ChatGPT to tell me the average height of the current Lincoln City squad and it revealed an impressive average of 6ft 2” which indicates to me we need bigger/taller players all around to make an impact next season. It also feeds into our 2012/13 season of physical dominance especially at the back with Jones and McCombe.
Blackpool were a big side yet they were very poor.
Title: Re: Physical stature
Post by: mushRTID on March 16, 2026, 08:24:29 pm
My thought on our current squad in terms of physicality is we’re rather on the small side. I’ve asked ChatGPT to tell me the average height of the current Lincoln City squad and it revealed an impressive average of 6ft 2” which indicates to me we need bigger/taller players all around to make an impact next season. It also feeds into our 2012/13 season of physical dominance especially at the back with Jones and McCombe.
McCann can’t stand having to get ladder to do his team talk so only gets players he can look eye to eye.. small man syndrome!!

Is this the same McCann who signed Matty Pearson and Neil Byrne?
Title: Re: Physical stature
Post by: Balby Rover on March 16, 2026, 08:29:35 pm
Physical stature you know I wrote a similar post 3 weeks ago mentioning the size of the tram that got promoted at Brentford big on physicality and never bullied during that season. It's a formula that works for sure hope someone at DRFC takes notice !!.
Title: Re: Physical stature
Post by: DonnyBazR0ver on March 16, 2026, 08:54:09 pm
Well, it's easy to think putting a team out entirely of 6' 2" athletes will give you an advantage but them you'd be missing out on the Owen Bailey s and plenty of others who's stature, skill and intelligence would dominate big lumps who don't know how to make the best of their height.

Yes, of course there are teams who recruit with this in mind but being able to play a bit needs to be high on the agenda too.
Title: Re: Physical stature
Post by: In the box on March 16, 2026, 09:50:10 pm
My thought on our current squad in terms of physicality is we’re rather on the small side. I’ve asked ChatGPT to tell me the average height of the current Lincoln City squad and it revealed an impressive average of 6ft 2” which indicates to me we need bigger/taller players all around to make an impact next season. It also feeds into our 2012/13 season of physical dominance especially at the back with Jones and McCombe.
McCann can’t stand having to get ladder to do his team talk so only gets players he can look eye to eye.. small man syndrome!!

Is this the same McCann who signed Matty Pearson and Neil Byrne?
yes only two out of 33
Title: Re: Physical stature
Post by: Usher wide. on March 17, 2026, 09:02:58 am
Luke Molyneaux 5ft 10 inch

Owen Bailey 5ft 10 inch

Robbie Gotts 5ft 9 inch

Our 3 best players?

Owen Bailey frequently out jumps taller opponents because of the timing & technique of his jump. Very much like Kevin Keegan did.



But agreed we need more height & physicality in the centre back department.
Title: Re: Physical stature
Post by: DonnyBazR0ver on March 17, 2026, 09:28:07 am
It's a shame football is moving this way, although the cream generally rises to the top, but we come across some 'big' teams which makes it more difficult to compete if our sub 6' 2" players are not on their A game.

However, it would be a very strong commitment to recruit purposely to exclude players under 6' 2" although I guess in Lincoln's shoes they can make exceptions if the talent justifies it.

Whilst I agree with the OP, height still wouldn't be at the top of my priorities.
Title: Re: Physical stature
Post by: roversdude on March 17, 2026, 09:36:48 am
Physical stature you know I wrote a similar post 3 weeks ago mentioning the size of the tram that got promoted at Brentford big on physicality and never bullied during that season. It's a formula that works for sure hope someone at DRFC takes notice !!.
Those double deck trams are really big
Title: Re: Physical stature
Post by: Avsuptem on March 17, 2026, 10:09:06 am
Diego Maradona, Tom Finney, Kevin Keegan, Luonel Messi.
Who says a good big un is better than a good little un?
Title: Re: Physical stature
Post by: Hickleton Rover on March 17, 2026, 10:35:07 am
Was the player who scored the winner against Leeds in the playoff of 2008 a big six footer or a five foot odd player who could play a bit, just look at out last game Blackpool thugs all six footers who couldn't play football just shove, pull and foul to generally stop us
Title: Re: Physical stature
Post by: Bentley Bullet on March 17, 2026, 10:40:07 am
Height can be beneficial for certain positions, such as goalkeepers and centre-backs, while shorter players typically excel in agility and balance.
Title: Re: Physical stature
Post by: selby on March 17, 2026, 11:03:38 am
  The first requirement is being good players, height helps as BB says in certain positions  as does speed, centre of gravity, and mental toughness and fitness.
 Not many professional footballers lack any of those attributes, its just that some are better than others and some managers have firstly the finances to get the best, and secondly the ability to recognise the better ones, and the ability to gel that ability into a functioning unit.
  When all that aligns happy days, when it doesn't the manager takes the can and get's sacked.
Title: Re: Physical stature
Post by: drfchound on March 17, 2026, 06:11:39 pm
Luke Molyneaux 5ft 10 inch

Owen Bailey 5ft 10 inch

Robbie Gotts 5ft 9 inch

Our 3 best players?

Owen Bailey frequently out jumps taller opponents because of the timing & technique of his jump. Very much like Kevin Keegan did.



But agreed we need more height & physicality in the centre back department.

Those heights are interesting as Robbie looks to be much smaller than the other two when looking from the stand.
Title: Re: Physical stature
Post by: Usher wide. on March 17, 2026, 10:53:10 pm
Luke Molyneaux 5ft 10 inch

Owen Bailey 5ft 10 inch

Robbie Gotts 5ft 9 inch

Our 3 best players?

Owen Bailey frequently out jumps taller opponents because of the timing & technique of his jump. Very much like Kevin Keegan did.



But agreed we need more height & physicality in the centre back department.

Those heights are interesting as Robbie looks to be much smaller than the other two when looking from the stand.

Agreed hound.

All three players of course bring something different to the team however, they must be the first three on that team sheet.

Robbie was ‘immense’ again tonight on the back of his ‘all out performance’ against Blackpool.

Best permanent signing of the season.
Title: Re: Physical stature
Post by: Bentley Bullet on March 17, 2026, 10:57:31 pm
I think we'd have been safe in midtable (at least) if Gotts had been a regular all season.
Title: Re: Physical stature
Post by: Usher wide. on March 17, 2026, 11:25:05 pm
I think we'd have been safe in midtable (at least) if Gotts had been a regular all season.

He’s certainly ‘one of the pieces’ we have needed & been looking for in the team.

A few more with his endeavour & will to win next season & we won’t be left biting finger nails at the wrong end of the table much longer.
Title: Re: Physical stature
Post by: NickDRFC on March 18, 2026, 06:50:21 am

I’m not sure Chat GPT has got this right. That would be essentially 25 Rob Streets. If half of their players are 6 foot then that means that the other half are 6”4…

The higher up the pyramid you get, the more physicality plays a part. I was shocked when we played Spurs at just how much bigger, quicker and stronger their players were, even those who I didn’t think were (Archie Gray, Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie for example). There was a moment when Moly got away from Spence and seemed to be in down the right; Spence just trotted back and shrugged him off the ball as if he was a child. The difference in sizes at every corner was clear, literally looked like men against boys.

We could probably do with a bit more height and certainly a bit more pace but generally at our level it’s at the expense of technical ability. It’s all about getting that right balance, or unearthing those gems before anyone else finds them.