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Our defence

Xeeleeyid

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2012
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It just occurred to me that although we have conceeded 32 goals over 25 matches, 16 of them came in 3 matches, or 19 in 4 matches including the West Ham game.

We've only conceeded 13 goals in the other 21 matches or 16 goals in 22.

Its a bizarre stat. Im not sure what to make of it but i think it points to the fact that our defence is excellent but let down by some tactical brainfarts in a few key matches
 

Xeeleeyid

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2012
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3,186
Id also note that we've only lost six times, but 4 of those 6 defeats were by 3 or more goals, so the MAJORITY of defeats have been thrashings!

Such a strange season for us
 

Main Man

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2013
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Indeed, for a very long time AVB had the best defence in the Premier League.

Man City (twice) and Liverpool can't be just disregarded though, but I do think certainly the two homes games were just tactical suicide - even though both were aided by red cards in the oppositions favour.
 

Flashspur

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2012
6,882
9,068
I think overall Dawson, Verts and Chiriches have been excellent in central defence. Walker and Rose have been good at FB.

The way we closed down Everton in the second half was impressive. When we decide to get tight at the back - we are quite good at it. No Frankie Howard jokes please.:)

I think the brain farts were a collective issue. Not just the defense but the team as a whole starting slow and getting hit before they could recover. It could easily have been 4-0 in 20 mins v Everton for example.

These slow starts aren't just a Tim issue, they were happening with AVB. Players were asleep early in the 6-0 trashing v Man City before we woke up and started playing.

It has been a wierd season alright!
 

Tit&Ham

Well-Known Member
Aug 19, 2012
809
1,699
Maybe it's a result of our midfield? I feel that When our defence Get testes on their own, They are failing like a chineese trying to say "R"...

But, like that game vs everton, the whole team played a good defencive game.

And When we are losing, we risk more, Leaving our defence on their own, and we Get trashed.

Is it that simple? I don't know...
 
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TheGreenLily

"I am Shodan"
Aug 5, 2009
12,023
8,699
One of the biggest problems with our defense is that the whole squad is very sloppy at passing. We can't do the basic right and this immediately puts our defense back under pressure.

We are our own worst enemies. You can have the greatest defense in the world, but it means nothing if you can't pass a bloody ball.
 

Tottenham_God

Well-Known Member
Nov 6, 2011
2,935
5,617
Don't mean to be critical but Loris's disposal has been terrible and puts us under unnecessary pressure, he does receive some dodgy balls back to him but it must improve.

P.s I can't wait to have our centre halves play together for ten plus games as a partnership. (Whatever combination)
 

DaSpurs

Well-Known Member
Jan 20, 2013
11,816
13,655
One of the biggest problems with our defense is that the whole squad is very sloppy at passing. We can't do the basic right and this immediately puts our defense back under pressure.

We are our own worst enemies. You can have the greatest defense in the world, but it means nothing if you can't pass a bloody ball.

Favorite post in here yet. Our passing ability through and out of the midfield is just so poor. The fact we're still in the hunt for top four with such lackluster and unfocused passing can be attributed to individual quality, and hence remarkable potential if we can play with passion from the start. The pulses of focus, grit, and determination we've come into at intervals within games (often after scoring) has been pretty stunning to watch at times, and I'd give my left nut for us to prolong those intervals eventually to -gasp- whole games.

But it's that lack of passion that has resulted in those four thrashings. Each time we were scored on and mentally shut off, and then snowballed from there. Paulinho planting his foot into Suarez' chest is testament to this. We might not make top four, but I'd love to see us make a bloody fight of it, and we certainly can if this squad gets some belief in themselves and each other.
 

Spurz

Well-Known Member
Feb 3, 2004
2,612
499
most of the goals we leaked in were from mistakes from the usual suspects
 

beats1

Well-Known Member
Feb 22, 2010
30,006
29,551
When things don't go our way our discipline is piss poor. The Man City and Liverpool match both turned in to silly scores after a man got sent off, we neither good going forward or defending.

Only the Etihad match were there no excuses!
 

Bobbyh99

Well-Known Member
Jun 27, 2013
432
443
Don't mean to be critical but Loris's disposal has been terrible and puts us under unnecessary pressure, he does receive some dodgy balls back to him but it must improve.

P.s I can't wait to have our centre halves play together for ten plus games as a partnership. (Whatever combination)
I have noticed that Hugo's first option is to go long with his kicks instead of playing out from the back. This seems to have changed since AVB.

I noticed on Sunday that he was waving Jan away a few times in order to do this. When he did give it short the only option for the CB was either back to Hugo to go long or go long themselves. Nobody in MF or even the FB were showing.
 

DaSpurs

Well-Known Member
Jan 20, 2013
11,816
13,655
When things don't go our way our discipline is piss poor. The Man City and Liverpool match both turned in to silly scores after a man got sent off, we neither good going forward or defending.

Only the Etihad match were there no excuses!

Actually, to further emphasize my above point, after we scored against City in the home match we actually started pressing them back with only ten men and began generating space. Then City scores, and right fuckin back to playing sans any gusto.
 

DaSpurs

Well-Known Member
Jan 20, 2013
11,816
13,655
I have noticed that Hugo's first option is to go long with his kicks instead of playing out from the back. This seems to have changed since AVB.

I noticed on Sunday that he was waving Jan away a few times in order to do this. When he did give it short the only option for the CB was either back to Hugo to go long or go long themselves. Nobody in MF or even the FB were showing.

This is true, both our FB's press up the field in anticipation when the ball's in Hugo's hands. Jan or Vlad always had the striker standing on them, and Dawson usually concedes the long balls anyway, so Hugo's often left without much of a choice. Either way, I'm a huge fan of playing the ball out of the back instead of booting it when time is allotted, so I wish we'd address it.
 

Xeeleeyid

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2012
1,693
3,186
Favorite post in here yet. Our passing ability through and out of the midfield is just so poor. The fact we're still in the hunt for top four with such lackluster and unfocused passing can be attributed to individual quality, and hence remarkable potential if we can play with passion from the start. The pulses of focus, grit, and determination we've come into at intervals within games (often after scoring) has been pretty stunning to watch at times, and I'd give my left nut for us to prolong those intervals eventually to -gasp- whole games.

But it's that lack of passion that has resulted in those four thrashings. Each time we were scored on and mentally shut off, and then snowballed from there. Paulinho planting his foot into Suarez' chest is testament to this. We might not make top four, but I'd love to see us make a bloody fight of it, and we certainly can if this squad gets some belief in themselves and each other.

I think Sherwood realises this and why Bentaleb is in the team against a lot of people's opinions. Its probably a short-term option, but Bentaleb is the only midfield player that regularly keeps possession well and doesn't give the ball away on a regular basis.

Next season I feel the options for this position in midfield are:

- Continue Bentaleb in midfield and hopes he keeps developing further.
- Consider using Carroll after his return from QPR, if he's up to it.
- Purchase a new player.

Its very frustrating for me to see Huddlestone have such a good season for Hull. He was by no means perfect, but our midfield are crying out for that sort of calming influence of a Carrick/Huddlestone/Modric type
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,389
I have noticed that Hugo's first option is to go long with his kicks instead of playing out from the back. This seems to have changed since AVB.

I noticed on Sunday that he was waving Jan away a few times in order to do this. When he did give it short the only option for the CB was either back to Hugo to go long or go long themselves. Nobody in MF or even the FB were showing.


This is another area where playing a deep lying DM would improve us. It creates so many more angles for passing than when a MF push higher up the pitch. This is compounded by the fact that we very rarely secure possession from long clearances. A DM who can pick a pass would be a huge improvement, but apparently Timmy doesn't like.
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
One of the biggest problems with our defense is that the whole squad is very sloppy at passing. We can't do the basic right and this immediately puts our defense back under pressure.

We are our own worst enemies. You can have the greatest defense in the world, but it means nothing if you can't pass a bloody ball.

Very true, which is why Barcelona, despite having largely a makeshift defence for many seasons now due to their seeming refusal to buy another centre back option, tend to have the best defensive record going most seasons.
 

Tottenham_God

Well-Known Member
Nov 6, 2011
2,935
5,617
Japhet said:
This is another area where playing a deep lying DM would improve us. It creates so many more angles for passing than when a MF push higher up the pitch. This is compounded by the fact that we very rarely secure possession from long clearances. A DM who can pick a pass would be a huge improvement, but apparently Timmy doesn't like.
From what I have gathered he rates Sandro and can't wait to get him back. I think his incorporation into the side is going to be vital for our run in
 

Gassin's finest

C'est diabolique
May 12, 2010
37,350
87,812
It just occurred to me that although we have conceeded 32 goals over 25 matches, 16 of them came in 3 matches, or 19 in 4 matches including the West Ham game.

We've only conceeded 13 goals in the other 21 matches or 16 goals in 22.

Its a bizarre stat. Im not sure what to make of it but i think it points to the fact that our defence is excellent but let down by some tactical brainfarts in a few key matches

It points to statistics only telling approx. 10% of the reality, and that a bit of simple observation can lead to a simple, yet logical conclusion such as yours (y)
 

Gassin's finest

C'est diabolique
May 12, 2010
37,350
87,812
One of the biggest problems with our defense is that the whole squad is very sloppy at passing. We can't do the basic right and this immediately puts our defense back under pressure.

We are our own worst enemies. You can have the greatest defense in the world, but it means nothing if you can't pass a bloody ball.
In a nutshell... this!
 
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