The big reason for our defensive success...

[Revolution]

...is continuity.

We are just over 2 thirds in. The starting appearance stats for the back 6 after 26 games are set out below. Their starts last season (46 games of course) are in brackets:

Henderson - 25 starts (46 last season)
Baldock - 26 starts (26)
Stevens - 26 starts (45)
Egan - 25 starts (44)
Basham - 26 starts (39)
O'Connell - 26 starts (41)
Moore - 1 start
Jagielka - 1 start

Moore and Jags both started the same game (is it a coincidence that this was the most goals we've conceded all season?), so the regular back 6 has conceded 21 goals in 25 games. This is awesome.

Throw in an ever present Norwood (he's not missed a league game since we signed him) and Lundstram and Fleck with 20+ starts and that's a lot of continuity.

The system is not easy to slot into: This can be seen by Berge, who looks to have the tools but isn't quite up to it re positioning yet. But that's not been a problem given the back 6 have only missed 2 games between them. So far, injury has kept Egan out of one match. That's it. No one else has been injured.

The back 6 have worked in the system for between 70 games (Egan) and about 150 games (Bash, O'Connell). They are incredibly fit, know the system well, and know each others' game. They are to a man players who have a solid amount of lower division experience, yet only 28 games of PL experience between them before this season. The players, Wilder, Knill and the fitness staff all deserve great credit for this level of performance.

Wilder does not believe in squad rotation at the back, and it's really serving him well.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

I completely agree, Timothy.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

At the risk of being an apologist for those cheating, diving cnuts yesterday - you only have to look at Bournemouth this season to see what injuries can do to a squad!!

I'm a firm believer in you making your own luck - it's amazing when you have a great squad and ethos that you don't pick up niggly injuries - but I'll be the first to admit we have been really lucky with injuries.

 

[CornwallBlade]

At the risk of being an apologist for those cheating, diving cnuts yesterday - you only have to look at Bournemouth this season to see what injuries can do to a squad!!

I'm a firm believer in you making your own luck - it's amazing when you have a great squad and ethos that you don't pick up niggly injuries - but I'll be the first to admit we have been really lucky with injuries.

You’re right about injuries but I do believe that a lot of that is down to two factors. 1. Every player is 100% committed to playing whereas other teams have people who will cry off if they have a bruised shin. 2. The conditioning team have a formula that creates strong, fit and resilient players. I’m struck by how many PL players look more like 400 meter runners than footballers these days. You can see that they are never more than one tackle away from a stress injury. The Bournemouth team are a case in point.

 

[Grecian2000]

I suspect Bournemouth's injury list is made up of 1 contact injury and 30 odd "knocks" picked up whilst hitting the deck. If they're going to fall as often as they do they're going to get hurt!

 

[corner_flag]

Henderson - 25 starts (46 last season)
Baldock - 26 starts (26)
Stevens - 26 starts (45)
Egan - 25 starts (44)
Basham - 26 starts (39)
O'Connell - 26 starts (41)

And they are all excellent defenders
They make defending into an art form

 

[BladeInIreland]

Did Baldock only have 26 starts last season?

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

You’re right about injuries but I do believe that a lot of that is down to two factors. 1. Every player is 100% committed to playing whereas other teams have people who will cry off if they have a bruised shin. 2. The conditioning team have a formula that creates strong, fit and resilient players. I’m struck by how many PL players look more like 400 meter runners than footballers these days. You can see that they are never more than one tackle away from a stress injury. The Bournemouth team are a case in point.

I said something similar when watching Watford v Spurs the other week. All Ford's players looked 6ft+ heavily built and like a team of rugby league players. Spurs looked like a team of scrawny and whimsical fancy dans. Needless to say Watford totally out muscled them that day.

The transformation of Lundstram shows you what we're all about! In years to come the lesson of Lundstram should be taught in primary schools!!

 

[Revolution]

Did Baldock only have 26 starts last season?

Yes, Freeman started at RWB 20 times I think.

 

[Grecian2000]

Did Baldock only have 26 starts last season?

Remarkable as it seems right now, he was in quite a battle with Freeman for the shirt.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I suspect Bournemouth's injury list is made up of 1 contact injury and 30 odd "knocks" picked up whilst hitting the deck. If they're going to fall as often as they do they're going to get hurt!

It's a mental thing, take that big No 29, our lass would have had him.

Expect him not to be queuing up to see the medical team today?

 

[Grecian2000]

take that big No 29, our lass would have had him.

I appreciate that you replied to my post thus giving me the easiest tap in known to man, but I feel I must step over this one and give the masses a crack at it.

 

[coaxingstar71]

I said at the start of the season after we'd already signed Moose, McB and Robbo that our most crucial signing was getting Henderson back on loan. Not only is he a top keeper in terms of shot stopping, but more importantly he'd already built that relationship and understanding with our defenders the previous season.

I can't remember many times where a ball has come into our box this season and there's been a mix up.

 

[Ricky]

Luck has only played a very small part in our fitness record.

We sign robust players with good fitness records.

Most of our players are seasoned pros who know how to look after themselves on the pitch.

They're used to being at a high intensity as that's how they train.

Our fitness/sports science staff are exceptional.