GoalWatch - our defending vs Bristol City

[Bergen Blade]

1-2: Bristol City have a free kick that swung into our box. Carey beats Davies in the air and scores.

2-2: City chip it into the box from a central position. After some havoc in the box Saborio pokes it in.

At this point it's been said that we defended very deep. Fortune had been put on, and we'd made some changes to our midfield. Defending deep isn't dangerous in itself, but if you lose aggression and organisation as well, it is.

As the photo shows, we look pulled out of position centrally. You'd ideally want your five man midfield to form a defensive wall in front of the defence, but it seems we are going for the unorthodox wide rectangle.

Fortune misjudges the flight of the ball, and may be confusing our centre halves more than helping them out. If Fortune hadn't been there, I think one of them would have challenged the chipped ball. Fortune then looks to have control of the ball, but loses it and Saborio can get his toe poke in.

City have a bit of luck of course, but it may also prove that it's not always enough to just put another centre back on. Concentration and organisation must still be right.

 

[Ollessendro]

[Fortune misjudges the flight of the ball, and may be confusing our centre halves more than helping them out. If Fortune hadn't been there, I think one of them would have challenged the chipped ball. Fortune then looks to have control of the ball, but loses it and Saborio can get his toe poke in.

City have a bit of luck of course, but it may also prove that it's not always enough to just put another centre back on. Concentration and organisation must still be right.

Blackwells cluelessness and tactical naivity almost cost us. He had 3 centre halves and Henderson all getting in each others way. He simply thought that by putting in extra men it would deal with the danger. There we 2 major problems: defenders getting in each others way and there being no outlet up front. Every time we cleared our lines Bristol just came back at us, because Henderson was playing centre back.

As for Fortune, well he just isn't up to it. He was hopeless against Barnsley and was at fault for the 2nd goal on Saturday. He just isn't good enough. I can see why he was in that Charlton team that shipped goals for fun and got relegated last season. Hopefully his injury will mean he never pulls on a Blades shirt again!

 

[Paulus]

That photo is pretty telling. As the timewasting substitutions were being made it was clear that the whole balance of the team had been lost and throughout the extra time there was a lack of bodies and challenge anywhere more than 30 yards from our goal inviting Bristol City to pile into us.

 

[SwissBlade]

A fit Monty and Williamson will add the organisation to the midfield.

I don't tend to advocate subbing midfielders for defenders etc

Where possible we should change like for like and try to keep the shape, the problem is that until the central midfield get their match fitness then we'll need to make these changes

 

[Ollessendro]

the problem is that ..........

Kevin Blackwell is our manager. His cluelessness and dire tactics almost threw away the points. He was just lucky that Henderson saved him.

Playing with 4 centre halves was ridiculous. They got in each others way and we conceded. Blackwell got out of jail but he shouldn't have.

It's ok deciding to put players at centre half, but if one of them is a striker (severley taking away any attacking options away) and the other is simply hopeless then it is not always a good idea.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Another option than putting on another defender is putting on another pacey player who is good at running with the ball. When a team is winning and the other team is getting desperate, they want to push forward, be camped in our half and put the pressure on us. There's nothing more frustrating than having to chase back after a pacey runner. Forcing them to use energy on getting back can reduce their ability to equalise, and if they can't do that we may get the chance to kill the game off.

I feel we've never been good at that. We don't often win by more than the one goal, do we?

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

A fit Monty and Williamson will add the organisation to the midfield.

It'll be interesting to see how KB goes for the home game next week midfield wise. Does he stick with the easy option and go 4-5-1 or go back to 2 strikers in which case he'll have to leave, presumably, either Squinny or Harper out.

 

[oldblade]

And I think we all know which one will not be left out!

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

And I think we all know which one will not be left out!

True but I still think he has Harper/Williamson down as a central pairing with Monty in front of the defence and 'Cressy' down for a left side job in something like this;

Ikeme
Kyle, Morgs, Killa (or replacement), Naysmith
Monty
Harper - Williamson
Ward - Hendo - Cresswell​

 

[madeinsheffield]

We seem to consistently give the opposition acres of space and options by not closing players down in the middle of our half of the pitch which gives them chance to punish us, it even happened at Wembley, any defence is going to leak goals when the opposition is allowed to run at/around them when it happens time and time again during a game.

If we don't use the midfield going forward why are we not using them to defend either????

 

[Wards]

Another option than putting on another defender is putting on another pacey player who is good at running with the ball. When a team is winning and the other team is getting desperate, they want to push forward, be camped in our half and put the pressure on us. There's nothing more frustrating than having to chase back after a pacey runner. Forcing them to use energy on getting back can reduce their ability to equalise, and if they can't do that we may get the chance to kill the game off.

I feel we've never been good at that. We don't often win by more than the one goal, do we?

I actually felt this was how we used to play under Wazznock in the promotion season. We often left Kabba up front and he often scored on the counter for us during the 2nd half of games when there was a lot of space between the back line.

No one other than Camara really has that explosive pace to do that now.

 

[themaninblack]

Another option than putting on another defender is putting on another pacey player who is good at running with the ball. When a team is winning and the other team is getting desperate, they want to push forward, be camped in our half and put the pressure on us. There's nothing more frustrating than having to chase back after a pacey runner. Forcing them to use energy on getting back can reduce their ability to equalise, and if they can't do that we may get the chance to kill the game off.

I feel we've never been good at that. We don't often win by more than the one goal, do we?

I liked the way Newcastle played against us at BDTBL. We were trying to get some momentum and Hughton brought on a couple of strikers to pin our full-backs in defence; it worked a treat for them but I've never seen Blackwell try it.

 

[Ollessendro]

I liked the way Newcastle played against us at BDTBL. We were trying to get some momentum and Hughton brought on a couple of strikers to pin our full-backs in defence; it worked a treat for them but I've never seen Blackwell try it.

Personally thoguht that this was a bit rash and it almost cost them. It's oone thing having an attacking outlet and another playing Brazil or Kevin Keegan style when you are in front.

We could and should have, at least, equalised in that game! Mind you Hughtons example is the polar opposite to King Kev bringing on a centre back for a midfielder and putting the only centre forward as a 4th centre back!?

I do agree thought Bergen that you need an outlet. We have 2 options. Option a) Big Darius. Lump the ball to him and he is likely to hold it up, bring other into play and ease the pressure or b) Camara. Less likely to relieve pressure by holding the ball up, but more likely to get a goal or be a real nuiscance to defenders with his pace (especially as gaps appear as they push on).

 

[Bladesman]

Ikeme
Walker, Morgan, Killa , Naysmith
Montgomery
Harper - Williamson
Ward - Henderson - Tracey​

That would be my team til January.

 

[madeinsheffield]

Ikeme
Walker, Morgan, Killa , Naysmith
Montgomery
Harper - Williamson
Ward - Henderson - Tracey​

That would be my team til January.

I like it, but you do realise you have dropped the Ginger God don't you!!

 

[Bladesman]

The ginger nob?

 

[grafikhaus]

We seem to consistently give the opposition acres of space and options by not closing players down in the middle of our half of the pitch which gives them chance to punish us, it even happened at Wembley, any defence is going to leak goals when the opposition is allowed to run at/around them when it happens time and time again during a game.

We can see it. Why can't KB? Without thinking about it too much, it happened v. Wendy and Peterbrough at home and Bristol last week.
Inviting the other team to run at us gives them momentum and they can quickly be in our box which, with the standard of refs can lead to a soft pen.

If we get the ball, it's an aimless lump forward to nobody and the cycle continues.

When defending a corner or free kick, having nobody on the halfway line is sheer lunacy.

 

[SwissBlade]

Kevin Blackwell is our manager. His cluelessness and dire tactics almost threw away the points. He was just lucky that Henderson saved him.

Playing with 4 centre halves was ridiculous. They got in each others way and we conceded. Blackwell got out of jail but he shouldn't have.

It's ok deciding to put players at centre half, but if one of them is a striker (severley taking away any attacking options away) and the other is simply hopeless then it is not always a good idea.

Well obviously its Blackies fault we conceded two, just like its his fault that we won.

That pesky, good for nothing, back stabber.... he's only got us on a 3 game unbeaten run

If he keeps us on this run I too will want him out!

 

[SwissBlade]

We can see it. Why can't KB? Without thinking about it too much, it happened v. Wendy and Peterbrough at home and Bristol last week.
Inviting the other team to run at us gives them momentum and they can quickly be in our box which, with the standard of refs can lead to a soft pen.

If we get the ball, it's an aimless lump forward to nobody and the cycle continues.

When defending a corner or free kick, having nobody on the halfway line is sheer lunacy.

Why? I thought the idea was to introduce a better brand of football so that we don't need a man up top to lump it too.

 

[Paulus]

Ikeme
Walker, Morgan, Killa , Naysmith
Montgomery
Harper - Williamson
Ward - Henderson - Tracey​

That would be my team til January.

I agree with you 100% - which of course means that it will never happen.

 

[super_pig]

>is putting on another pacey player who is good at running with the ball
sorry cotts has left mate..that looks a half decent outfit paulus.. you are right though.. it will never happen.. perhaps we could put quinn in goal