Defence

[Deutsch Wolf]

Six clean sheets in all competitions up to 6 October.

One clean sheet in 17 games since.

What's the issue?

 

[Johnny75]

Six clean sheets in all competitions up to 6 October.

One clean sheet in 17 games since.

What's the issue?

Concentration I think. The system seems to work fine but individual errors have cost us. Daft penalties, own goals, switching off all hurt us. The system we play relies on everybody being on top of their game but for the last few games we gave let daft mistakes creep in.

I think Huddersfield and Watford games were the system being wrong but we've addressed that since then and don't seem so easy to play through.

The goal Kane scored for Spurs is an absolute worldy and nobody stops that. The goals against Leicester were all individual mistakes.

Get our concentration levels up and I think we get defensively better. Having said that if every game between now and the end of the season ends 4-3 either way (50:50) I won't care.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Wouldn’t say there is a blatant issue. City have barely kept any clean sheets (other than us) yet might go and win the league.

Clean sheets are quite hard to come by in this league, and we’ve let some soft goals in, some bad luck and some wonder strikes. That happens at this level.

As much as we love Bennett, a real top quality player will replace him next season and possibly both WBs too

 

[Alan]

I think the biggest issue has been the forwards, honestly. Way too often over those 17 games we haven't been able to reliably make a clearance stick up front and we come right back under pressure.

That isn't helped by the fact that we are completely and hopelessly shite at clearing our lines in general.

 

[Tredman]

I agree with Johnny, it's just been far too many individual mistakes and lucky deflections etc. Some of that does come from playing two lightweightish CMs though. I think we might tighten up with Donk in there.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

I think it's a bit of both. Defensive mistakes and poor performances from Costa and traore. We look so much better with raul and jota up top. We look ordinary without them

 

[Pablowolf]

What's the goals scored per game before and after that date? Maybe were more attacking so give a little something up defensively.

 

[YoungWolf]

We've still got one of the best defensive records in the league - we've actually under performed in terms of xG against as well I believe!

Think we will look for someone who can bring the ball out from the right side (seemed the plan was Donck and Saiss before him but scrapped that?).

 

[Carsy1991]

Only thing that would be a worry is we seem to struggle from set pieces . Is it the zonal marking we employ?

 

[Boozad]

I think the biggest issue has been the forwards, honestly. Way too often over those 17 games we haven't been able to reliably make a clearance stick up front and we come right back under pressure.

That isn't helped by the fact that we are completely and hopelessly shite at clearing our lines in general.

100% disagree with that.

 

[Alan]

100% disagree with that.

Why's that? It's gotten a lot better since we hit on Jota and Jiminez up front but overall it's been a big issue.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Our goals conceded from set pieces is actually pretty good I think. Which was particularly surprising when when were playing 3-4-3 with a team comprised of players under 5ft 10, with only really really Doc, Boly, Bennett and Raul as strong in the air. Donk helps now in this department.

It was the second phase that was killing us and I don’t really know why.

 

[Carsy1991]

Just think we always look shaky on them. Against Leicester with Morgan and today from the corner. I’d class the 2nd phase from a set piece as still the set piece with regards to organisation

 

[Boozad]

Why's that? It's gotten a lot better since we hit on Jota and Jiminez up front but overall it's been a big issue.

The games where we've put ourselves under pressure were either down to our tactics being wrong (as has already been said) or the midfield not being able to give the forwards something to work with. Jimenez works his balls off and with a lesser presence than him it would have been a lot worse. jota may have been quiet for an extended period but his work rate and ball retention were fine, his final ball may have let him down but it was hardly as if anything were sticking to him.

And we're not completely and hopelessly shit at clearing our lines. We drop bollocks, so does every other team, but if we were that bad we wouldn't have the defensive record we have. You make us sound like we're rooted to the bottom of the table.

 

[Alan]

Don't think I do, we're just really poor at clearing our lines. Been that way for most of the season, IMO.

 

[Boozad]

IMO opinion you're wrong. The fact that only five teams have conceded fewer than us tends to back that up.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

IMO opinion you're wrong. The fact that only five teams have conceded fewer than us tends to back that up.

Mmmm.

We have the lowest goals for in the top 12. Raul and Jota have half our total goals between them. Then its doc! So for me its both ends

 

[Boozad]

Mmmm.

We have the lowest goals for in the top 12. Raul and Jota have half our total goals between them. Then its doc! So for me its both ends

What's both ends? So we're the sixth best defence in the league but our defence is a problem? I give up.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

So when the defence argument is debunked then it gets flipped.

Its like Brexit on a fucking football pitch.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

What's both ends? So we're the sixth best defence in the league but our defence is a problem? I give up.

Christ!

Our defence has given half a dozen soft goals away in the last two months. Bennett Boly, Rui,Coady,Ruddy,Saiss have all had goals that at the very best were could do better, at worst were shi t defending. I also can't see the point of crowing about an attack where the total goals of 25 million of talent in Costa and traore is two!

So yes. Both ends could improve