The case for the defence!

[blademark]

The last 2 or 3 seasons we have rightly been given a lot of credit for our 'front foot' attacking play, with 'overlapping Centre halves' etc.
As we all know last season our defence was the best in the Championship, and is so far unchanged in the Premier league, and looking quite awesome.
What our wingbacks and half backs are required to do is still confounding many pundits and critics, who think it is bound to come unstuck at this level. I'm not convinced it will. On Sunday we witnessed a masterclass from a unit (key word), who not only totally buy in to this unique system, but who fully understand it, and know their roles within it so perfectly, it is beautiful to see. I include Norwood in this, as he invariably is the covering midfielder when Basham and JOC go wandering.
They deserve so much credit, and recognition and admiration will surely follow throughout the football world. It's beyond a gimmick now clearly, and only a matter of time before the role of wing halves/centre backs are rewritten. Apologies if all this is blindingly obvious, I just wanted to say it.
A ramble from a very proud old Blade.

 

[DaleHillBlade]

The friends I talk to at work who know football (rather than football fans) all said during the summer that we would need to invest to thrive.

They all said that the defence that won us promotion didn’t need improving and would easily perform well in PL.

It’s not often I hope they are right, but on this point I think they were close to the mark.

 

[Jolly Buffer]

The last 2 or 3 seasons we have rightly been given a lot of credit for our 'front foot' attacking play, with 'overlapping Centre halves' etc.
As we all know last season our defence was the best in the Championship, and is so far unchanged in the Premier league, and looking quite awesome.
What our wingbacks and half backs are required to do is still confounding many pundits and critics, who think it is bound to come unstuck at this level. I'm not convinced it will. On Sunday we witnessed a masterclass from a unit (key word), who not only totally buy in to this unique system, but who fully understand it, and know their roles within it so perfectly, it is beautiful to see. I include Norwood in this, as he invariably is the covering midfielder when Basham and JOC go wandering.
They deserve so much credit, and recognition and admiration will surely follow throughout the football world. It's beyond a gimmick now clearly, and only a matter of time before the role of wing halves/centre backs are rewritten. Apologies if all this is blindingly obvious, I just wanted to say it.
A ramble from a very proud old Blade.

Nice post that. But, I'd say it's early days and much tougher tests await us. However, I'm sure cwak will a few tricks up the old sleeve for the big boys.

 

[blademark]

Nice post that. But, I'd say it's early days and much tougher tests await us. However, I'm sure cwak will a few tricks up the old sleeve for the big boys.

Agreed, we will take some beatings I'm sure, but it won't be due to 'our system', it will be because they have better players IMO.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Agreed, we will take some beatings I'm sure, but it won't be due to 'our system', it will be because they have better players IMO.

Palace have better players then us but could not lay a glove on us.

Last season many teams had better players than us but we consistently had the better team all knowing their role like a well oiled machine.
The key for me that I’ve found weird over the last 2 games and all last season was just how few saves Henderson needed to make.
For example away at Leeds last season we were under the cosh most of the match yet Henderson didn’t even need to make a save.

We attack as a team and we defend as a team.....I’ve supoorted us 45 years and never seen us play like this before.
Really proud of the players and I’m excited to see where Wilder can take us....im seriously thinking top half at some point.

 

[BushBlade]

The friends I talk to at work who know football (rather than football fans) all said during the summer that we would need to invest to thrive.

They all said that the defence that won us promotion didn’t need improving and would easily perform well in PL.

It’s not often I hope they are right, but on this point I think they were close to the mark.

So did Wilder. That’s why he didn’t sign any centre halves as first teamers. It was always going to be those three with Baldock (or KF) and Stevens.

Our strengths are our team spirit (by that I mean the willingness to run yourself into the ground covering your teammates when required) and our organisation. Without those, our system wouldn’t work. That’s why he’s kept as many of last year’s players in the team - they know their role and they know how to make our system work. The side will evolve as more players learn the system and get used to being at the Lane but we won’t be changing the back three unless there are injuries or suspensions.

And it’s also why CW was prepared to put up with Man U’s shit and wait for Hendo.

 

[Stewy]

I think Leicester will be a massive test on Saturday , be interesting to see how our system fairs and what they do as I rate Rodgers as a really good manager..
but so far two decent teams in Bournmouth and Palace, we have passed the 'you cant do that in premier league'' test...

 

[blade too long]

I don't think we realise just how good we are. We think We have improved but it's obviously far more than that. All the squad look at home at this level. We have out played both of our opening opponents.
Co fidence within the team is high as they slowly accept they are not out of their depth
We can play.

 

[coaxingstar71]

The last 2 or 3 seasons we have rightly been given a lot of credit for our 'front foot' attacking play, with 'overlapping Centre halves' etc.
As we all know last season our defence was the best in the Championship, and is so far unchanged in the Premier league, and looking quite awesome.
What our wingbacks and half backs are required to do is still confounding many pundits and critics, who think it is bound to come unstuck at this level. I'm not convinced it will. On Sunday we witnessed a masterclass from a unit (key word), who not only totally buy in to this unique system, but who fully understand it, and know their roles within it so perfectly, it is beautiful to see. I include Norwood in this, as he invariably is the covering midfielder when Basham and JOC go wandering.
They deserve so much credit, and recognition and admiration will surely follow throughout the football world. It's beyond a gimmick now clearly, and only a matter of time before the role of wing halves/centre backs are rewritten. Apologies if all this is blindingly obvious, I just wanted to say it.
A ramble from a very proud old Blade.

Half backs? You are old pal!

I don't buy into this 'their players are better than ours'. In terms of Palace, apart from Zaha who we nullified, which of their players were better than ours? I'd take our defenders over theirs any day including Enda over Van Aanholt. McCarthy and McArthur are no better than Fleck and Norwood or even Lunny, if you go like for like on Andros Townshend and Luke Freeman, then Freeman was better. I'd take Hendo over their keeper every day of the week and twice on Sunday and even Benteke is just a big lump with a piss poor scoring record, I think Didzy is a better player.

 

[You Fill Up My Senses]

My only concerns are whether we can keep up the workrate as a team throughout the season or if performances will drop with fatigue as Leeds saw with their high tempo game last season. (although we do look to have depth in the squad to rotate a bit), and how we will cope with injuries to any of the back 3. Jags should cope with the odd game as long as its not against a team with masses of pace but Stearman still makes me nervous and Kean Bryan is as yet an unknown quantity.

 

[BushBlade]

My only concerns are whether we can keep up the workrate as a team throughout the season or if performances will drop with fatigue as Leeds saw with their high tempo game last season. (although we do look to have depth in the squad to rotate a bit), and how we will cope with injuries to any of the back 3. Jags should cope with the odd game as long as its not against a team with masses of pace but Stearman still makes me nervous and Kean Bryan is as yet an unknown quantity.

I think we’re pretty well covered with the size of our squad. Every team has positions where you just can’t have an equally good player sat on the bench - Liverpool with Van Dijk or Spurs with Kane for example. Losing JOC with a long term injury could be a problem for us but we’re never going to find another left sided centre half as good as him who’s prepared to sit on the bench for most games.

Elsewhere though, we can easily cope with fatigue, eg bring Freeman in if Baldock needs a break, plenty of strikers, a couple who can play in more than one position like Osborn and Morrison.

And our lot are used to a minimum of 48 games a season. I’ll be pleased if we play that many this season as it means we’ll have done well in the cups.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Egan is our Virgil

UTB

 

[BushBlade]

Egan is our Virgil

UTB

I know what you mean but I think Jags could cover his position. I’m more confident of that than Bryan covering JOC. Stevens looked OK last season but not having seen Osborn yet (for us) I’m slightly nervous.

And yeah, the effect he had on our defence is comparable to the effect VVD has had any Liverpool.

Here’s one though - who was the more important signing last year, Egan or Norwood?

 

[DronnieBlade]

I know what you mean but I think Jags could cover his position. I’m more confident of that than Bryan covering JOC. Stevens looked OK last season but not having seen Osborn yet (for us) I’m slightly nervous.

And yeah, the effect he had on our defence is comparable to the effect VVD has had any Liverpool.

Here’s one though - who was the more important signing last year, Egan or Norwood?

Tough one.

Egan was my POTS. His influence transformed us defensively, and for £4m, we had Brentford’s pants down.

UTB

 

[TJ blade]

Palace have better players then us but could not lay a glove on us.

Last season many teams had better players than us but we consistently had the better team all knowing their role like a well oiled machine.
The key for me that I’ve found weird over the last 2 games and all last season was just how few saves Henderson needed to make.
For example away at Leeds last season we were under the cosh most of the match yet Henderson didn’t even need to make a save.

We attack as a team and we defend as a team.....I’ve supoorted us 45 years and never seen us play like this before.
Really proud of the players and I’m excited to see where Wilder can take us....im seriously thinking top half at some point.

Palace have better players than us!! I don't think so, theve got some show pony's though and Zahas one of them.

 

[benn5712]

Said this a while back, Ken Furphy was looking at ways of getting centre halves (half's?) forrerd in the 70's. Therefore it's nowt new, CW has actually managed it.
Next game changer is the box to box goalkeeper.
Seeing as Hendo has so little to do, getting him on a late run into opponents area and latching onto the crosses could become fruitful. Frightful if it doesn't work.

This may not be a worthwhile tactic against some, certain or in fact any team.

Over to CW/AK.

 

[Bladesman]

Tough one.

Egan was my POTS. His influence transformed us defensively, and for £4m, we had Brentford’s pants down.

UTB

Yeah but Brentford had no bids for him!

 

[BushBlade]

Yeah but Brentford had no bids for him!

It’s OK, they’ve got a business plan.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Yeah but Brentford had no bids for him!

Egan didn't suit Brentfords style as he's crap with the ball (apparently).

Yeah he doesn't glide past players and play 80 yard pearlers, but he's far more comfortable on the ball than he needs to be.

Put it this way, he's no worse than golden boy John Stones.

 

[Bennyand the Blades]

When we say better players do we mean better footballers or do we mean more experience at this level ?, Because from what I've seen of these better players so far they've only been the better players on paper.....

 

[blademark]

Said this a while back, Ken Furphy was looking at ways of getting centre halves (half's?) forrerd in the 70's. Therefore it's nowt new, CW has actually managed it.
Next game changer is the box to box goalkeeper.
Seeing as Hendo has so little to do, getting him on a late run into opponents area and latching onto the crosses could become fruitful. Frightful if it doesn't work.

This may not be a worthwhile tactic against some, certain or in fact any team.

Over to CW/AK.

Box to box keeper love it.

 

[Bennyand the Blades]

I've read where they say one or two big named managers have tried our system before, and it doesn't work...……. that's a blow...…..

 

[benn5712]

When we say better players do we mean better footballers or do we mean more experience at this level ?, Because from what I've seen of these better players so far they've only been the better players on paper.....

Palace players on Sunday looked like footballer v1.3. Slightly physically bigger and quicker, faster reflexes and reactions. Premier league players, a slight step up on championship players. It's to be expected.
We grew into that game. CW/AK tactics were spot on. Our TEAM won the game, and we'd riches on the bench.
Maybe running on fumes lost 10 minutes, plus 7!
We'll be ok this year, next season is the hard one. Be reyt then an' all.
UTMB

 

[Akinbiyi]

Got a lovely picture of George, Chris, John, Jack and Enda out after the game on Sunday

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Nice post that. But, I'd say it's early days and much tougher tests await us. However, I'm sure cwak will a few tricks up the old sleeve for the big boys.

Leicester will be a good benchmark.

Bet you're all glad I'm here.

 

[Bennyand the Blades]

There's a lot of ways we can look at this, so far we've been playing in overdrive and we all know that a season is a marathon not a sprint, so can they keep this going all season ?
Last Sunday we had two players go off, were they injured or had they pushed them selves too hard, only time will tell and only the strong are going to make it.
By the start of next season we could be watching a very different team....

 

[Bergen Blade]

What was the first game we tried the overlapping centre halves?

I think Gillingham away in September 2016 was the first time we switched to 3-5-2. That included James Wilson (RCB), who was later replaced by Ebanks-Landell, neither of whom bombed forward like Basham and O'Connell eventually was encouraged to do.

 

[elgoog44]

Got a lovely picture of George, Chris, John, Jack and Enda out after the game on Sunday

View attachment 60184

For the love of God don't show that to JOC he will try heading them all!