Our Defensive Shape

[Chezzy Blades]

You could throw a net over all 8 of our defensive players when Swindon equalised. It really is a miracle we didn't lose that game today..

 

[Worksop II]

And Nathan Thomson out on the right, full back by the way

and, is that Baxter behind Edger and Collins ? - the holding midfielder

 

[Russ]

He looks half a yard offside too

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

He was granted this space all afternoon.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Our defensive shape? A rubber duck.

 

[northsomersetblade]

He looks half a yard offside too

Half a frickin mile more like

 

[robbiez666]

Our defensive shape:

 

[LoughboroBlade]

You could throw a net over all 8 of our defensive players when Swindon equalised. It really is a miracle we didn't lose that game today..

Just a guess, as I've only seen reports of the game, but if Reed was apparently brought on for the right-hand side (bizarre if true) presumably it's a combination of his lack of experience in that position and Brayford's lack of awareness that if he drifted inside Reed wasn't probably going to realise he needed to cover him? Remarkable picture – that back 4 should have enough experience between them to surely ensure this sort of awful shape shouldn't happen.

 

[Worksop II]

ensure this sort of awful shape shouldn't happen.

There is a Captain on there, his man is unmarked as well, probably got distracted by a Bumble Bee

 

[robbiez666]

I'm confused what the problem is. Our 9 players are at least picking up one of their men. Baxter on a sightseeing tour to CB.

 

[Worksop II]

Our defensive shape? A rubber duck.

View attachment 15602

Ha - had to change my Avatar

 

[Barney]

Brilliant defending.

 

[Worksop II]

I luv this photo

?? - the defensive shield

 

[Sothall_Blade]

You could throw a net over all 8 of our defensive players when Swindon equalised. It really is a miracle we didn't lose that game today..

The picture above doesn't tell the full story.
Look at the picture below and the our FOUR actual defenders are all in decent (albeit narrow) positions.
Roughly in line, fairly evenly spaced. Brayford marking a man. Another striker left to stand offside. You have to question why the holding midfielder (Baxter) is behind the centre backs and not in front of them.
Both their full backs are pushed up very high and wide but they should be the responsibility of our wide midfielders (Reed and Woolford) not our full backs.
Sharp has spotted their full back in acres of space and is pointing out the danger.

What happens next is that Reed forgets he's playing right midfield and charges infield to try and make the block. Brayford starts to do the same then is forced to retreat when he realises that Reed has vacated his position. That's the picture above.

From then on it's panic stations with players flinging themselves at the unmarked full back advancing into the box.
Would an experienced right midfielder (e.g. Flynn) have noticed the potential threat coming from his opposite number quicker. Probably?
It comes back to three strange substitutions leaving three midfielders playing in unfamiliar positions.

 

[PokerBlade]

Our defensive shape? A rubber duck.

View attachment 15602

It's the moment that Adkins realised geese weren't all that wise after all.

 

[bladesmanluke]

You could throw a net over all 8 of our defensive players when Swindon equalised. It really is a miracle we didn't lose that game today..

That is magnificent. Well done Blades

 

[MiserableBlader]

You could throw a net over all 8 of our defensive players when Swindon equalised. It really is a miracle we didn't lose that game today..

Reminds me of the saying, "like flies round shit".
Or should it be something more like 'shit round ????"
:blue:

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Adkins needs to get a floor to ceiling sized copy of that picture stuck to the dressing room wall.
That is sooooo fuckin embarrassing.

 

[Barry Blunt]

Our defensive shape:

That's the season shape.

 

[1973Blade]

In the last couple of minutes, the ball was crossed into our area. We had three defenders, they had one player there. Not one defender challenged for the ball leaving their forward with a free header. At times we have so many players back that they are standing off expecting other team mates to intervene.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

Was this the five minutes "not talking" thing that Adkins was on about in the Stir. http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foot...d-why-adkins-has-gagged-his-players-1-7689443

They need to learn to talk to each other first. Shit defending even by school playground standards.

 

[MiserableBlader]

Our defensive shape? A rubber duck.

View attachment 15602

Quite appropriate as our club is clearly donald 'd'ucked :blue:

 

[HighfieldBlade]

In the last couple of minutes, the ball was crossed into our area. We had three defenders, they had one player there. Not one defender challenged for the ball leaving their forward with a free header. At times we have so many players back that they are standing off expecting other team mates to intervene.

I don't think their striker even had to jump to head that ball. Lucky for us he fucked it up.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

He looks half a yard offside too

he WOULD have been had Baxter not been last man.

Should never be played in front of the back 4, or in this case, not concentrating and "spoiling" any form of defensive strategy - but what do we know?

That would have been offside, if Baxter wasn't on the field - Adkins cocked up with subs - it's as simple as that.

Hardly mentioned was the sitter missed by Billy - 2 nil up early doors would have made a whole lot of difference.

UTB

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

I'd like to concentrate on the positives.

The stewards in the top corner : compact, zonal marking, keeping their shape and concentrating on the job in hand.

Could be Catenaccio?

 

[1973Blade]

Sometimes it's good to look back to how bad we were a year ago to see how far we have progressed. I love William Henry Foulkes duck formation for our defence. How crap were we at defending!