A few observations from the stats (Dirties):

[Coolblade]

That’s perfectly fair, as Anel has pretty much been a constant, and I did provide stats earlier this season which demonstrated the very positive impact of Souttar on our defensive record.

It’s also the reason why so many are surprised that with Souttar injured on Boxing Day, and with £10m to spend, he chose to focus on a striker with a unproven record who a team in the prem relegation zone didn’t want - instead of focussing on spending that money (or part of it) on a strong centre half. With Holding appearing to be a late, almost desperate, signing.

But to end on a positive, the player with the biggest impact on our defensive record isn’t Souttar. It’s Vini, so it’s great to have him back!

 

[ATL Recs]

Have we ever even scored from a JLT throw?

Don't know if we have but we have conceded

 

[Champagneblade]

This is my worry with 433 - we’re vulnerable on the wings with our attacking wide men. Either they work harder, or the central midfield have to sit and cover. The balance is yet to be found, because we do look strong when on the front foot, but cannot expect to be solid when being worked over by good opposition.

Last night I’d have liked to see us revert to 442, shore up the wide areas and just leave Cannon and Moore to get us up the pitch.

As a bit of an aside, 4-3-3 seems an obvious evolution for this team.

Souza, with Peck and Arblaster in front.

Then Brereton-Diaz and Hamer cutting in, with O’Hare in the mix, and any one of the strikers who are fit.

 

[Coolblade]

That’s certainly one possibility, although I fear we won’t see Arb for a while yet.

I can see 5-3-2, with Holding in between Anel and Robbo, with Clarke and Burrows better attacking than defending so suited as wingbacks, two of Souza, Peck and Choudery to anchor the midfield, with Hamer/O’Hare behind two of our strikers. This provides a stronger defensive unit, whilst enabling us to play two forwards, as Campbell is the only attacker who looks able to play up front on his own (and could pair with O’Hare with Hamer behind). And the rest, including Moore, Cannon, Brewster, One etc really need to have a partner.

This set up is also very similar to Egan, between Bash and Jack, George and Enda as wing backs, Coutts and Fleck anchoring midfield, and Duffy in behind Didzy and Sharp? And Wilder made that work pretty well….

 

[bornablade]

In the previous game (Luton away) we finished playing with a back 5 and I did wonder if this formation would have been our starting line-up against Leeds.

Campbell was keeping their centre backs engaged throughout. I would have preferred Moore to have been used and just prove himself a nuisance to their defence.

Old cliche but they do say 'defence starts with the attack.' Our attack in the last 20 minutes never allowed the ball to 'stick'. It just kept coming back.

Bogle never looked like going forward in the first half and yet we gave him a free rein in the second period.

 

[Barmyblade]

Generally there are two ways of a solo striker taking pressure off the defence, either to have pace so the defence worries about a ball over the top; or to be tall and physical enough to hold the ball up and lay it off back to midfielders who catch up with play.

I don’t wish to keep putting the boot in but I can’t see how Cannon does either - and that showed against Leeds. He needed Brewster alongside, or as you say Moore could only have been more effective on his own. Cannon may well end up being a good player - I certainly hope so - but playing him up front on his own isn’t helping anyone. And it allowed Leeds total freedom to push forward without risk for the last 30 minutes.