Comment: Albion must think big

6:00pm Wednesday 3rd December 2008

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When Albion signed Bas Savage, a member of the backroom staff casting eyes on him for the first time remarked “that’s better”.

He was relieved to see someone of stature walk through the door who might ruffle a few opposition feathers.

We all know the unorthodox Bas was not the greatest player in the world. He was also, as it transpired, something of a gentle giant, but I relay the story to emphasise the tall order Albion are facing.

The long and short of it is they are not big enough, in a physical sense, to cope with the rigours of League One.

Micky Adams has one of the smallest squads in the division – that is in terms of height rather than numbers.

They are often at a noticeable disadvantage in this respect when the teams line-up for kick-off.

Albion were as good, if not better, on the ball than their last opponents, Stockport.

They were beaten because, as Adams pointed out, they could not cope with County’s height and power from a couple of corners.

The Seagulls had four players 5ft 8ins or under starting at Edgeley Park – Matt Richards, Steve Thomson, Kevin Thornton and Stuart Fleetwood. Also, there was not a single six-footer on the bench.

It is hard to hide that many players when you are defending against physically imposing opposition.

Albion concede a lot more goals than they score from set plays, which have developed into an increasingly crucial facet of the game.

Now I am not advocating that Adams carries a tape measure when sizing up an overhaul of the squad during the January transfer window.

Height should not be a condition for signing a player – the first demand is that he will improve the squad – but it ought to be a consideration.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the epitome of the modern day footballer. He is tall, muscular, fit and fast, with quick feet, a sharp mind and, of course, bundles of ability.

Using the best player in Europe, if not the world, may seem a far-fetched example at Albion's level but a few more athletic six-footers could help them climb the table.

Stockport showed they can pass it and mix it. Oldham will provide a similarly formidable test for Adams’ strugglers on Saturday.

The team for their last match against Walsall included only two players below 5ft 11ins, Lee Hughes and Andy Liddell.

You can sometimes get away with being outmuscled if you possess far superior talent. That is rarely the case in League One where the reality is size does matter.

Do Albion need more physical presence? Give your view below.