Our Defence

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i always thought from the very beginning, if we stay up, it will be down to our defense. And that thought hasnt changed
 



This defence is why we are where we are in the league, without question. We do create chances but no way is our attacking threat the reason we are fifth at the moment.

Leicester, Man City, Chelsea occupy 3 of the top 4 spots because they’re attacking is very good.

Liverpool are Champions because they defend like us but their attack is unreal.

If our defence was poor we’d be in a relegation battle because we’ve not quite hit top standards going forward.

I’ve said since we opened contract negotiations with Lunny that the only players we absolutely can’t lose is the back 5 and Fleck and I stick by that.

Appreciate I’ll get berated with this post for sounding negative, but it’s my opinion.
I think our wing backs are absolutely key. The back 3 is rock solid and the amount of ground Baldock and Steven's cover is unreal. They are good defensively and get forward quickly. To think CW picked them up from MK Don's and Pompey for total of virtually nothing is outstanding
 
This defence is why we are where we are in the league, without question. We do create chances but no way is our attacking threat the reason we are fifth at the moment.

Leicester, Man City, Chelsea occupy 3 of the top 4 spots because they’re attacking is very good.

Liverpool are Champions because they defend like us but their attack is unreal.

If our defence was poor we’d be in a relegation battle because we’ve not quite hit top standards going forward.

I’ve said since we opened contract negotiations with Lunny that the only players we absolutely can’t lose is the back 5 and Fleck and I stick by that.

Appreciate I’ll get berated with this post for sounding negative, but it’s my opinion.
Only disagreement you'll get from me is that we should talk about the back 6 - Henderson has been really important to us this season. I see our play so far this season as way above expectations, as follows:
Back 6 - absolutely brilliant
Mid-field - brilliant defensively, good going forward
Attack - good when they have had support/service, work hard to defend from front

In an ideal world, we will continue to gain confidence, and be able to support the attackers better as time goes on.
 
I think our wing backs are absolutely key. The back 3 is rock solid and the amount of ground Baldock and Steven's cover is unreal. They are good defensively and get forward quickly. To think CW picked them up from MK Don's and Pompey for total of virtually nothing is outstanding

Generally I'd agree. In fact the whole defence, plus our keeper, are a credit to the art of keeping the opposition at bay. We're mean, we understand the motto 'they shall not pass', and the few goals we've conceded are a testament to the way these guys approach their job.

Defending is an art that needs constant refreshing, and the way we lay down a line that dares any opposing player to cross is brilliant. Hunger, determination not to be beaten, the desire to maintain the highest of standards, this and more is what separates us from those teams who seem to have forgotten that it takes a singleminded attitude to keeping the ball out of the net. Three great centre-backs, a keeper I'd dearly love us to buy even with the hefty price tag attached, and two wing-backs that cope admirably with the responsibilities of defending and attacking, Chris Wilder has great cause for happiness and a belief that we're building something very special at this club, and even with the weight of managerial responsibility that goes with the territory, to have managed to create a foundation such as this takes some doing by any standards.

Absolutely brilliant from Wilder and Knill, top drawer and then some. Up The Mighty Blades!!!
 
Generally I'd agree. In fact the whole defence, plus our keeper, are a credit to the art of keeping the opposition at bay. We're mean, we understand the motto 'they shall not pass', and the few goals we've conceded are a testament to the way these guys approach their job.

Defending is an art that needs constant refreshing, and the way we lay down a line that dares any opposing player to cross is brilliant. Hunger, determination not to be beaten, the desire to maintain the highest of standards, this and more is what separates us from those teams who seem to have forgotten that it takes a singleminded attitude to keeping the ball out of the net. Three great centre-backs, a keeper I'd dearly love us to buy even with the hefty price tag attached, and two wing-backs that cope admirably with the responsibilities of defending and attacking, Chris Wilder has great cause for happiness and a belief that we're building something very special at this club, and even with the weight of managerial responsibility that goes with the territory, to have managed to create a foundation such as this takes some doing by any standards.

Absolutely brilliant from Wilder and Knill, top drawer and then some. Up The Mighty Blades!!!
 
Currently this side isn't the same tactics or formation as when Wilder was here. Hecky is a decent manager with his own ideas.

Reason I say this is the moans about Holgate signing (A PL experience defender at 26) because he's right footed. He's played on the left side before plus we don't use attacking centre backs anymore and less likely too in the PL anyway.

JOC was a rare quality, find me another realistically player we could buy in this mould?

There's not enough left footed CBs around and you will see most teams use right footed players LCB. Even England struggle to find a decent left centre back hence calling Mings up regularly.
 



Currently this side isn't the same tactics or formation as when Wilder was here. Hecky is a decent manager with his own ideas.

Reason I say this is the moans about Holgate signing (A PL experience defender at 26) because he's right footed. He's played on the left side before plus we don't use attacking centre backs anymore and less likely too in the PL anyway.

JOC was a rare quality, find me another realistically player we could buy in this mould?

There's not enough left footed CBs around and you will see most teams use right footed players LCB. Even England struggle to find a decent left centre back hence calling Mings up regularly.
My problem here is the left hand side, which will be our weaker side. Going to be up against some of the best players in the world and it will be a weakness to be having to come across with his wrong foot. If RND is fit then less of a problem, but if Lowe is playing LWB I have worries. But, as you say, there aren't millions of great LCBs lying around.
 
I dont agree that we dont use attacking CBs any more. Anel certainly like to get forward last season and even JLT had some forward runs. The chance of us doing this in the PL will be much less but I would certainly expect Anel to do it.
I agree it's better to have left footed player at LCB if possible. I've no idea how good MH is or whether he would fit in nor if he is an attacking CB. Nor do I know who else we are looking at but it's one of the positions(plus LWB) we need to strengthen.
 
I dont agree that we dont use attacking CBs any more. Anel certainly like to get forward last season and even JLT had some forward runs. The chance of us doing this in the PL will be much less but I would certainly expect Anel to do it.
I agree it's better to have left footed player at LCB if possible. I've no idea how good MH is or whether he would fit in nor if he is an attacking CB. Nor do I know who else we are looking at but it's one of the positions(plus LWB) we need to strengthen.
he has played rb and rwb for everton so can cover more than 1 position gerrimin !!
 
Auston Trusty 6 foot 3, USA International Birminghams player of the year on loan from Arsenal. Jarrad Branthwaite 6 foot 5 just finished successful loan with PSV from Everton, the loan we should have got from the toffees. Jacob Greaves 6 foot 5 Hull City a player we have looked at in the past. All left footed centre backs. If you look hard enough you can find them. Add in our recruitment team with the backing of United World should be capable of unearthing at least one LCB prospect from overseas.

We've never replaced JOC. He was a proper centre back dominant in the air, not a full back trying to play as a centre back. We've tried Anel and Bash on the left last season it failed as it would do when right footed players get done down the flanks because left is not their natural foot.

We had the same problem in midfield last season when we tried to shoehorn Doyle into the LCM position. Everything went down the right and he naturally drifted into the middle. Only when Mcatee came in and provide balance did we begin to attack down both wings. The speed of our build up play improved considerably when Doyle was in Norwoods position and had Ndiaye and Mcatee offering options down the right and left. Two of those players aren't currently on our books.

A predominantly right footed player at LCB will not work. We have to be looking to fill this very important position with a left footer. Trusty looks as if he's going to Rangers for a few million. We should have been all over this. As for Holgate if he's coming he will improve the squad but he's not a LCB. RCB, RB, CB or RDM only.
 

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