Comparing our central defenders

[LoughboroBlade]

The significant change this season in the centre of defence has been a bit of a mystery to me as I'm sure it's been for most. Over a dull Sunday I decided to crunch a few numbers.

The Collins-Maguire partnership was solid and complemented each player well. Both were reasonably comfortable on the ball, with last year under Clough perhaps the best spell in terms of their play going forward.

Since Maguire left, his at-the-time obvious replacement Butler has been frozen out, we started the season with Alcock and McGahey. The latter's place in the team an indication NC wanted to give youth a chance; the former's place a message to the experienced duo that they couldn't assume they would start. That was quickly ditched, Collins was brought back in, and NC seemed to put his faith in Collins-McGahey.

The Swindon game appeared the turning point, despite us winning the next two with the same partnership. McCarthy came in, McGahey was benched. Then after Chesterfield, Collins was completely axed. McEveley & McCarthy is the first choice pairing, with Basham & McGahey next in line.

I've gone through all our matches so far this season to compare each of players/partnerships in terms of results, goals conceded per game played, points per game played, and performance (excluding Fleetwood) as voted via S24SU. Results as follows. Some obviously have a much smaller sample size (Basham), but for the rest the comparison is interesting. Possibly. (I, at the very least, was!). Some of it is also perhaps bleeding obvious.

Bear in mind the team's overall stats when reading below to work out if the figures are above or below average. Key scores highlighted. League points per game excludes cups.

Played 29, won 15 (52%), lost 7 (24%), drawn 7 (24%), conceded 28 (0.97 per game), clean sheets 10 (34% of games), League points per game 1.6

Individual comparison

McGahey - played 16*, won 10 (63%), lost 4 (25%), drawn 2 (13%), conceded 17 (1.06 per game), clean sheets 5 (31% of games), League points per game 2, 5.79 rating

Collins - played 11, won 7 (64%), lost 2 (18%), drawn 2 (18%), scored 1, conceded 15 (1.36 per game), clean sheets 3 (27% of games), League points per game 2, 5.72 rating

McEveley - played 11*, won 4 (36%), lost 2 (18%), drawn 5 (45%), conceded 8 (0.73 per game), clean sheets 4 (36%), League points per game 1.4, 6.27 rating

McCarthy - played 10, won 3 (30%), lost 3 (30%), drawn 4 (40%), scored 1, conceded 10 (1 per game), sent off 1, clean sheets 3 (30% of games), League points per game 1.3, 5.41 rating

Basham - played 7, won 5 (71%), lost 1 (14%), drawn 1 (14%), conceded 2 (0.29 per game), clean sheets 5 (71%), League points per game 2.6, 6.74 rating

Alcock - played 2, lost 2, conceded 3, 6.29 rating

Butler - played 1, won 1, scored 1, conceded 1, 5.88 rating

* Bradford game stats given to McGahey given he replaced McEveley early in first half.

Partnerships

McGahey & Collins - played 9, won 6 (67%), lost 1 (11%), drawn 2 (18%), conceded 11 (1.22 per game), clean sheets 3 (33%), League points per game 2.29, 11.76 rating

McCarthy & McEveley - played 7, won 1 (14%), lost 2 (29%), drawn 4 (57%), conceded 7 (1 per game), clean sheets 1 (14%), League points per game 1, 11.13 rating

McEveley & Basham - played 3, won 2 (67%), drawn 1 (33%), clean sheets 3 (100%), League points per game n/a,13.3 rating

McGahey & Alcock - played 2, lost 2, conceded 3, League points per game 0, 11.21 rating

McGahey & Basham - played 2, won 1, lost 1, conceded 2, League points per game 3, 12.4 rating

McCarthy & Collins - played 1, lost 1, conceded 3, League points per game 0, 8.5 rating

McCarthy & Basham - played 1, won 1, clean sheets 1, League points per game 3, 15.8 rating

Butler & Collins - played 1, won 1, conceded 1, League points per game n/a, 12.2 rating

My thoughts:

- for all the criticism of the Collins-McGahey partnership earlier in the season and how it 'had to change', it really doesn't seem that bad compared to what has followed. The Swindon meltdown is the outlier for their season. Had we only lost 3-2 that game, their goals conceded ratio would be identical to McEveley-McCarthy, who have a poorer ratio of clean sheets.
- McEveley-McCarthy has resulted in a much poorer points tally. When Collins-McGahey played, we tended to gain more points - despite them playing at a time when players like Murphy were still warming up to the season
- of the partnerships that played 2 or more games, S24SU votes average indicate McEveley-McCarthy is the poorest, worse than McGahey-Alcock
- McCarthy's rating average is the worst of all our central defenders by quite some margin
- Basham, albeit with a very small sample size, leads the pack. Those that have partnered him have higher resultant ratings than with any other of their partnerships.
- McEveley-Basham should probably be given an extended run

Weaknesses re: the above:
- doesn't take into account other members of the defence
- it's not overly scientific, and the fans match voting has been scored as average of end result not total voting scores
- I was in a bit of a rush
- Paddy McCarthy

 

[Wards]

Like most already knew, Basham needs to be at the back. No doubt about it. Whether its with Mccarthy or Mceveley.

 

[UnitedBlade]

Good analysis Loughborough ! I would give the Basham McEveley partnership more time as it looks to be Basham's best position.

If only we had more goals in the side, I would be less worried about our defensive lapses.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

....it also only considers the Collins/Harry partnership after they'd been playing together for a significant number of matches.

 

[Grecian2000]

....it also only considers the Collins/Harry partnership after they'd been playing together for a significant number of matches.

But that's what they're replacing Bob. Any "form" has to be judged on what's gone immediately before or it isn't worth a jot.

I want our new striker in January to be better than Higdon, McNulty and Porter not Mick Jones, Billy Dearden and Keith Edwards.

NB: That's not strictly true, I would LOVE our next striker to be better than MJ, BD and KE, just not holding my breath waiting for it.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

But that's what they're replacing Bob. Any "form" has to be judged on what's gone immediately before or it isn't worth a jot.

I want our new striker in January to be better than Higdon, McNulty and Porter not Mick Jones, Billy Dearden and Keith Edwards.

NB: That's not strictly true, I would LOVE our next striker to be better than MJ, BD and KE, just not holding my breath waiting for it.

My point is that we could have a better paring at the club once they have a season together.
Doesn't help having a premiership cast off on loan who keeps getting a place over more worthy players, plus they have longer term benefits of playing together and forming a partnership

 

[Grecian2000]

My point is that we could have a better paring at the club once they have a season together.
Doesn't help having a premiership cast off on loan who keeps getting a place over more worthy players, plus they have longer term benefits of playing together and forming a partnership

Sort of realised your point Bob, but ALL the available combinations are new and so comparisons between each them are legitimate. The fact they are replacing an established partnership is not their fault but is a fair reflection on where we are as a team.
Just shows you suffer when established partnerships are broken up even if one is a lead booted, money grabbing arse and the other isn't good enough to get a shirt anymore!!!!.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Good opening post btw - wish I had Sundays to do such things!

Centre half x 2 is the big issues and depending on how/if/when it is sorted will determine our season.

I will stick my neck out and say in January we will sign 1, but more likely 2 recognised centre halves.

Quick summary:

Mceverly - again will put this out for discussion - think he is useless at centre half. He shows good composure on the ball, looks to play a pass to midfield, but the basics of a CH is completely lacking - WHEN put under pressure.

Why on Saturday v Fleetwood was he trying to "arm" the header away on the line - FFS, he is a centre half - look at the video - 3 Fleetwood players in the box, 2 completely un marked. He is a fullback, making do at CH and it will continue to cost us goals.

McCarthy is little better and Basham, although looks good at CH is also inexperienced.

We have not been able to defend balls into the box for FOUR years, including Harry, Collins and whoever has played there.

It has been exacerbated this season as there has been zero continuity due to continued changes - sure Harry and Collins had an understanding which made up for their frailties.

We concede stupid and silly but totally preventable goals and unless we sign 2 CH's in January we are stuffed (just like last Saturday v Fleetwood. When we needed to be strong, we weren't.

The old cliché - don't concede, don't lose - and that is EXACTLY what we should have done on Saturday in the 2nd half had we had 2 x decent centre halves.

UTB

 

[BerksBlade]

I don't get what Clough sees in McCarthy - to me he seems no better than any of our own players. Added to that - does he still train down south during the week? Any half-decent CB talks about partnerships - no wonder we're conceding when (i) we change the team every couple of games (ii) one of our first choices apparently doesn't train with the rest of the team.
I would be recalling Butler and giving him a chance with Basham.

 

[wizadry]

Why on Saturday v Fleetwood was he trying to "arm" the header away on the line - FFS

Yes,i spotted that the other day but forgot to mention it,if you look at Baxter behind him on the line he's ready to head it away until it flicks off McEveleys' hand,Baxter has to then readjust himself to try and scoop it out with his leg then ends up looking like a reyt plank all because of McEveley.

And yes those Baxter doubters,it was him on the line trying to help the team out by tracking back.He's a lazy fat bastard though isn't he

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Yes,i spotted that the other day but forgot to mention it,if you look at Baxter behind him on the line he's ready to head it away until it flicks off McEveleys' hand,Baxter has to then readjust himself to try and scoop it out with his leg then ends up looking like a reyt plank all because of McEveley.

And yes those Baxter doubters,it was him on the line trying to help the team out by tracking back.He's a lazy fat bastard though isn't he

As for Mceverly - just don't think he is a CH - Clough is "making" do but it is costing us. Not sure where McCarthy was when the cross came in, but we had loads back - probably ALL ball watching. It is one of the basics of football, just as "knee over the ball".
Doyle was guilty of ball watching when that kid scored at the back post v Notts C.

You naughty boy - tempting comment about Baxter - so who's going to bite on that one?

UTB

 

[LoughboroBlade]

McEveley, based on the above, statistically is our best central defender out of those that have played 10 or more games this season on purely defensive/individual stats - his individual performance is the highest of the four, he's conceded fewer goals per game, and has a better ratio for clean sheets. The above doesn't take into account individual errors, though you would hope to some extent the voted rating each game would do that to a small degree.

NC has said more than once that he prefers a left-footed defender in the left central defender role. When McEveley got injured at Bradford, it was McGahey that came on rather than Basham be moved to the back. I think then at the moment NC is looking at McEveley plus one other as the partnership going forward. I would guess that while Basham has done well, NC likes him in midfield (and likes having his versatility to fill in when needed elsewhere), so if McCarthy signing permanently is off the table I'd expect him to try and bring in another defender permanently in January to partner McEveley.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Mceverly - again will put this out for discussion - think he is useless at centre half. He shows good composure on the ball, looks to play a pass to midfield, but the basics of a CH is completely lacking - WHEN put under pressure.

Why on Saturday v Fleetwood was he trying to "arm" the header away on the line - FFS, he is a centre half - look at the video - 3 Fleetwood players in the box, 2 completely un marked. He is a fullback, making do at CH and it will continue to cost us goals.

UTB

It is not easy to defend when the backline consists of two players. McCarthy first pushed out and then Flynn did the same. Wallace was the one who tracked back to the back post but his momentum/lack of focus on Sarcevic meant he wasn't tight enough to challenge him.

 

[Kenilworth]

That vid shows Doyle having a reight go at the back four for not cutting the header out - McCarthy just drops his shoulders and accepts it
Strange that it was Wallace K who was tracking Sarcevic - maybe it should have been one of the more experienced players - he didn't do a good job of it by watching the ball and forgetting his man

At least Baxter got into a box

Notice that we don't have the number 5 shirt allocated
No CB worthy of the shirt?

 

[Fulwood Blade]

It is not easy to defend when the backline consists of two players. McCarthy first pushed out and then Flynn did the same. Wallace was the one who tracked back to the back post but his momentum/lack of focus on Sarcevic meant he wasn't tight enough to challenge him.

Very interesting watching that from behind. The defensive line wasn't bad and it was good movement from Fleetwood.

The sad thing was the ball was looped in and our debutant was the one most at fault -hey ho........

UTB

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Four games, four clean sheets for the Basham-McEveley combo.

 

[BerksBlade]

Four games, four clean sheets for the Basham-McEveley combo.

We'll bust a gut to keep McCarthy in January and I have no idea why...

 

[LoughboroBlade]

We'll bust a gut to keep McCarthy in January and I have no idea why...

We saw another burst from Basham in the first half which reminded everyone why NC might prefer him further forward. But I thought all three of Reed, Wallace, and in parts Cuvelier, staked a claim for a start in the middle - Baxter too. It would be less congested there if we just moved Basham permanently back to defence.

And, as I think is obvious, it would be better for the defence too.

 

[Balham]

We saw another burst from Basham in the first half which reminded everyone why NC might prefer him further forward. But I thought all three of Reed, Wallace, and in parts Cuvelier, staked a claim for a start in the middle - Baxter too. It would be less congested there if we just moved Basham permanently back to defence.

And, as I think is obvious, it would be better for the defence too.

Given that a key feature of last season was Maguire motoring forward with the ball to overload opposition midfields, the obvious equivalent now he's left is for Basham to take on that role.

I can only assume that McCarthy's loan has a "must play in every league game" clause. If that is the case then he shouldn't bother getting the train up on Friday.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Given that a key feature of last season was Maguire motoring forward with the ball to overload opposition midfields, the obvious equivalent now he's left is for Basham to take on that role.

Completely agree.

 

[Karaoke Blade]

Basham and McEverley both comfortable on the ball and should start every game as centre backs. Thanks Paddy, but can't guarantee you a place week in week out.