Our Defense

[BushBlade]

'Tell me to shut up and enjoy being top of the league but Wilder and Knill must surely be working on this behind the scenes' From your OP

Sorry, would you like to forward me your list of approved topics? One thing that really pisses me off is people complaining that a thread is pointless. There's plenty of other stuff online to keep you occupied mate if this isn't floating your boat so off you go

Make your mind up.

 

[borbokis]

'Tell me to shut up and enjoy being top of the league but Wilder and Knill must surely be working on this behind the scenes' From your OP



Make your mind up.

I just think we've conceded a lot in the last couple of games, thought it was worth a discussion. You obviously don't so maybe say why you don't think it's a problem rather than having a dig. We could always start another chant thread or maybe just a thread on how Wilder is doing a good job?

 

[BushBlade]

I just think we've conceded a lot in the last couple of games, thought it was worth a discussion. You obviously don't so maybe say why you don't think it's a problem rather than having a dig. We could always start another chant thread or maybe just a thread on how Wilder is doing a good job?

If you read what I said, I obviously wasn't referring to your OP, as it wasn't very long. Others have written a dissertation about it.

 

[Pinchy]

Tufty and his staff have been looking at players in all positions for the Championship for some time now.

I agree that the defenCe needs to be strengthened. Tufty knows that. He will want to replace Jake Wright with a Jake Wright of Championship standard.

In addition, despite not appearing in larkymasher's list (inadvertently I'm sure), Matt's time is nearly Done.

 

[blade too long]

You are of course right in wanting to win 1-4 - but what I fail to understand of some (and you can include or exclude your self), is that there is always room for improvement.

On a personal note, I think we should have scored more considering the amount of possession we have and therefore have more points. I have stated before that we are not so good in the 18 yard box - very good up to it. Very happy to be top, would be even happier if we were more clinical, and it's just something we should work on.

We shouldn't settle for just being top - some of us are greedy for more and just to constantly get better.

To use your example, winning 1-4 away is good - why not strive for 0-4.

UTB

we do strive , but cant afford that quality just yet
considering our outlay we have as good as we can afford
players who dont put a foot wrong rarely play in league one

 

[Ricky]

Athleticism all over the pitch would help us defensively.

We won't be able to be quite so cavalier either.

I'd like us to carry on with the 3-5-2 to start with, but we have to give ourselves full flexibility, our recruitment will have to ensure we have the players to go with a back 4 and also with out and out wingers, for a start. I'm sure Wilder will have all that covered, as he has this season.
Hull got promoted playing 3-5-2 (in fact I think they've done it twice) but they had the likes of Curtis Davies and Michael Dawson at the back, Elmohamady and Andrew Robertson as wing backs and Diame and Livermore in midfield. Maybe that hints at what's required for 3-5-2 to be successful at that level, at least long term.

Ideally you'd give most of the players a chance to prove themselves, but the problem is that you've only got until the end of August to replace someone who isn't making the step up (no loan window). So decisive management will be required and difficult decisions will have to be made. Do you gamble on Freeman for example? Because if you have doubts, you should be signing someone better in the summer.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Our defense worries me. As soon as a team can put us under a bit of pressure, we concede. I new we would need another goal at Oxford to win the game. We wouldn't have lasted at 2-1, and it proved to be the case. We have to shore that defense up. We are not going to score 3 goals every game. The defense is the major priority for me when we get promoted. We will end up going straight back down again .

De-fense then.

 

[Bergen Blade]

We need Bergen Blade to wade in on this. I did mention in the OP that it may be a midfield issue. When I've listened into the matches on the radio Keith always says "no problem with that goal, well played by the opposition" or something along those lines but we need to make sure they don't get into those goal scoring positions somehow

Agree with a lot of what others have said. We often dominate possession, against teams defending in numbers, and have to push many players forward to help find a way through at times. This can leave few players back, meaning good counter attacking teams cuts through us and create few, but very big chances.

Our midfield set up, with Duffy in front of Coutts and Fleck has seen the latter two struggle to cover enough space. If our wing backs are being pushed back and wide by opposing wide men and the opposition find a way past our strikers and often Duffy - we sometimes have a two man midfield. And although Coutts has improved a lot - he will never be great defensively - watch him closely as Oxford run through us for their second goal for example. So there's a vulnerability with our set up and choice of personell. We do get away with it most of the time though, and when teams have made us struggle, Wilder has worked hard to address it during games.

We'll play better teams next season, but I agree that now's not the time to worry about that.

 

[borbokis]

If you read what I said, I obviously wasn't referring to your OP, as it wasn't very long. Others have written a dissertation about it.

Well it seems we have our wires crossed somewhat. People having a dig at a thread the see as pointless really winds me up so if I think thats what is happening I can't help myself. I get the same reaction on the kit and ground improvement threads

 

[BushBlade]

Well it seems we have our wires crossed somewhat. People having a dig at a thread the see as pointless really winds me up so if I think thats what is happening I can't help myself. I get the same reaction on the kit and ground improvement threads

Yes, all I was saying is that I don't see there's anything to be concerned about and it doesn't need fifteen paragraphs of analysis to say that we concede because we're an attacking team and commit men forward.

 

[South Bucks]

Agree with a lot of what others have said. We often dominate possession, against teams defending in numbers, and have to push many players forward to help find a way through at times. This can leave few players back, meaning good counter attacking teams cuts through us and create few, but very big chances.

Our midfield set up, with Duffy in front of Coutts and Fleck has seen the latter two struggle to cover enough space. If our wing backs are being pushed back and wide by opposing wide men and the opposition find a way past our strikers and often Duffy - we sometimes have a two man midfield. And although Coutts has improved a lot - he will never be great defensively - watch him closely as Oxford run through us for their second goal for example. So there's a vulnerability with our set up and choice of personell. We do get away with it most of the time though, and when teams have made us struggle, Wilder has worked hard to address it during games.

We'll play better teams next season, but I agree that now's not the time to worry about that.

Bergen, from the half dozen matches I've seen recently your analysis is spot on. The golden boy supporters will see your words as heresy and for now at this level its fine and tolerable but next season a key midfielder that can't offer much offensively nor shoot nor protect the defensive line will surely be sadly exposed. Needs to be one or the other or both but not neither.

 

[boo radley]

Agree with a lot of what others have said. We often dominate possession, against teams defending in numbers, and have to push many players forward to help find a way through at times. This can leave few players back, meaning good counter attacking teams cuts through us and create few, but very big chances.

Our midfield set up, with Duffy in front of Coutts and Fleck has seen the latter two struggle to cover enough space. If our wing backs are being pushed back and wide by opposing wide men and the opposition find a way past our strikers and often Duffy - we sometimes have a two man midfield. And although Coutts has improved a lot - he will never be great defensively - watch him closely as Oxford run through us for their second goal for example. So there's a vulnerability with our set up and choice of personell. We do get away with it most of the time though, and when teams have made us struggle, Wilder has worked hard to address it during games.


We'll play better teams next season, but I agree that now's not the time to worry about that.

Whilst I agree with the coverage of space you yourself have highlighted that the midfield is lacking a certain responsibility whilst defending. We're not just talking about them sprinting back either. It is when the ball may be out for a throw or waiting for a free kick that they do not position early enough and ball watch.
Like you say however it is too late to worry about it now and start changing things that have on the whole got us results. If we started to lose a few game yes we might need to change that but the team as you say are used to what they have been achieving this season so why start trying to tweak things too much at this stage.

 

[GrayBlade]

Only Newcastle have scored more than us in the English leagues to date this season (2).

I'll be delighted if we continue playing the way we are, and we end up as the countries top scorers. Sure we'll probably have to keep it tighter next season against better teams if we go up, but I can't see any reason for concern right now. We can whittle and worry about next season in the close season.

 

[Bladezz]

I do think we set up currently with a thinking of you better concentrate on stopping us not the other way round.

Away at Newcastle next year I don't think CW and AK would have this thinking. But in league one we are the big boys and for the first time in years we are doing it.

Yes it's confidence mixed with arrogance but that's what we have missed for years. A manager that has instilled in us that we are the best in the division.

Onto the stats of shots on target to goals conceded it is a worry. The defensive coach would happily take least shots against.

We have conceded 3 goals 3x this year. Southend , Bradford and Rochdale we have got 2 points from those games.

I know it's daft but you take away those games our defence looks incredible. (Before I get abuse for that, it shows the odd poor game can make your defence look worse than it is)

 

[JordoBlade]

If we win 6-5 would it really matter?

 

[larkymasher]

Tufty and his staff have been looking at players in all positions for the Championship for some time now.

I agree that the defenCe needs to be strengthened. Tufty knows that. He will want to replace Jake Wright with a Jake Wright of Championship standard.

In addition, despite not appearing in larkymasher's list (inadvertently I'm sure), Matt's time is nearly Done.

Yes you are quite right... Forgot Done