The case for the defence - or lack of it?

[Cyprus Blade]

Of course general confusion and changing players round in front is not helping

Howard baled us out on a number of occasions early season ( getting MoM etc) but as posters then were saying he cannot be expected to do that every week. The problem for the defence is that no-one seems to have any certainty who is doing what and what each others strengths and weaknesses are - they won't find that out and work out ways to compensate until they play together more often and jiggling about with who plays where is certainly making our defence more uncertain and vulnerable. We need a more settled side and less of the wacky position changes. From what I have seen the only positions in defence that look to have any long term permanency would be gk and rb ( assuming rb is alcock).

 

[SandyMcBlade]

No matter how good your defense is your not going to stop the opposition getting at least one shot on target at some time in the ninety minutes of play. last Saturday they got two shot on target and scored two goals the last home game they got one shot on target and scored one goal.
Just how good does the defense have to be ?
No matter what some on here seem to think the goal keeper has to take responsibility for these goals because that's what he's there to stop, that's his job, and as the last line of defense at shot stopping his record over the last few games is appalling

 

[Darthblade]

Leaving Howard out of the equation, Our defence appears to be the major issue with the team at the moment.

Our last 4 league games (leaving Gillingham aside) has seen us score 6 goals and get 1 point. Scoring 2 goals away in the last two games should have guaranteed us at least a sharing of the points - sadly it did not.

So what do we have?

Alcock - probably nailed on as no competition at RB, but used at CH - strange.
Collins - unpredictable - always has been.
Mcgahey - young, raw and MIGHT make a decent defender in a few years. Gives the ball away a lot.
Butler - player of year at Walsall, should be good enough - so what has REALLY happened - very strange.
Mccarthy - brought in to stem the flow - bit of a gamble for a player who is clearly no where near match fit.
Mceverly - seems steady - did ok at CH yesterday, but is his another strange punt by the management.
Harris - gone off from last season, jury is still out on him with supporters.

After having a nailed on, always playing back four last year, the complete opposite this year, appears to have had a dramatic effect on the front 6 players. We appear to be giving them too much to do.

One thing is certain, and I praise Karl Robinson's comments on Sky yesterday that if we play like the 2nd half then "We would win the league", but ONLY, if we stop conceding silly, stupid, comical goals. Sorry but "luck" doesn't come in to football anywhere. The word is being solid.

With our QUALITY midfield and forwards, all we need is a defence that gives us 6 or 7 out of 10 each week from each of them and we will go up.

So what is wrong? and how would you solve the problem?

Discuss.............

"With our QUALITY midfield and forwards" Are you suggesting here that we HAVE quality forwards, and if so when did I fall asleep and miss us signing some ??
UTB & FTP

 

[IOM Blade]

From where I was sat directly behind the cross, it looked as though the forward did get a slight touch on the ball, although it isn't clear from the video.

Yeah, he definitely got a flick.

 

[Darthblade]

but that's the easy answer - We should never have sold Alan Birchenall or Mick Jones for £100K each but we did.

We are close to a good team, but it needs the defence sorting. We can easily score 2 goals EVERY game, but how do we stop them going in the other end?

UTB

I'm sorry but I can't agree with you here ...... we can't easily score 2 goals a game. Our conversion rate of chances to goals scored is piss poor due to the fact we don't have a single competent striker on the books. THAT is a disgrace that the Board and the management team should be ashamed of and it is holding the Club back.
Unless we bring in at least one striker with pace, strength and the ability to score goals in this division, we will be debating this issue from the same position in 12 months time.
UTB & FTP

 

[Darthblade]

Harry has gone due to money . Brayford is not coming back. The guy from Palace McCarthy is a short term fix . Mr Clough has to bring back Butler to resolve a defensive problem , which changing the back four every week is only making the matter worse. We are a nats away from a good side , but not having the spine of the team right ( centre half and a good centre forward ) will come back to bite us by missing out on promotion yet again. Mr Clough will know this , and will i am sure ,sort it . His job and reputation will be on the line if not , along with Mr Clough brother . The board cannot be blamed for footballing decisions Mr Clough makes .

UTB

Agreed ..... but the Board can be blamed, and should be, if it becomes evident that they have not been forthcoming with the financial support that NC was promised to get us out of this crappy Division. As yet, there is no evidence of this support being tangible.
UTB & FTP

 

[Fulwood Blade]

"With our QUALITY midfield and forwards" Are you suggesting here that we HAVE quality forwards, and if so when did I fall asleep and miss us signing some ??
UTB & FTP

I take it you are one of the Mcnulty is crap brigade, quite prevalent early season - if you take trouble to go through the board, the clamour for Mcnulty now is just about overwhelming.

Perhaps we are all wrong?

IMHO:

His finishing is 1st class - have a look at all of his goals - all different all with a touch of quality about it.
His first touch (left and right foot) is exceptional.
His hold up play, considering his lack of height and weight is also exceptional - that comes from the first touch - old saying 2nd touch is determined by the 1st.
Did you take the trouble to look at the Livingston goal of the year on their website? Mcnulty had 3 of the 7 - all of them great finishes that highlighted what a good player he already was and hopefully would be for us.
Did you know that on the BBC website about "young" Scottish players coming through, he was "one to watch"
Look at the disallowed goal on Saturday - pure poaches instinct - it was Basham, stupidly coming back from an offside position that is was disallowed for - Mcnulty knew he was onside, hence his finger wagging exercise.
Did you see his excellent control, drew the defender before putting JCR in for the winner v Hartlepool?

Ok, so he might turn out to be a real plonker, but all the signs point to him being Clough's best signing - or his brothers as the case may be.

UTB

 

[Darthblade]

I take it you are one of the Mcnulty is crap brigade, quite prevalent early season - if you take trouble to go through the board, the clamour for Mcnulty now is just about overwhelming.

Perhaps we are all wrong?

IMHO:

His finishing is 1st class - have a look at all of his goals - all different all with a touch of quality about it.
His first touch (left and right foot) is exceptional.
His hold up play, considering his lack of height and weight is also exceptional - that comes from the first touch - old saying 2nd touch is determined by the 1st.
Did you take the trouble to look at the Livingston goal of the year on their website? Mcnulty had 3 of the 7 - all of them great finishes that highlighted what a good player he already was and hopefully would be for us.
Did you know that on the BBC website about "young" Scottish players coming through, he was "one to watch"
Look at the disallowed goal on Saturday - pure poaches instinct - it was Basham, stupidly coming back from an offside position that is was disallowed for - Mcnulty knew he was onside, hence his finger wagging exercise.
Did you see his excellent control, drew the defender before putting JCR in for the winner v Hartlepool?

Ok, so he might turn out to be a real plonker, but all the signs point to him being Clough's best signing - or his brothers as the case may be.

UTB

No mate I'm not one of the "McNulty is crap brigade". I think he's a promising young striker who if played with the right partner upfront may turn out to be a decent player in the future. I agree with most of what you've said above as well, I think he's the best of the strikers we have at the Club atm.

He's not our saviour though and we DESPERATELY need a 20+ goals a season strong, striker with pace or we will all be having this same conversation next season in the 3rd division.

For what its worth, I would like to see us play 4 - 4 - 2 with McNuts upfront with our new striker ( if the Board ever make the resources available ) and stop playing this 4 - 5 - 1 that allows our lone striker to be easily marked out of the game whilst allowing the opposition fullbacks the opportunity to push up and squeeze us and stop us playing our passing game.
UTB & FTP