Defending .. simply not top 4 record

[YidGraham]

As weird as this may sound I think the defence letting in sloppy goals could well contribute to our goal scoring record as well.

Take last nights game. Sunderland didn't look remotely like scoring until our players decided to kick each other. Had that sloppy goal not been conceded Sunderland would of been forced to come out more which would of given more space to our attackers in a match where this had been largely restricted by backs-to-the-wall type defending. In this situation with our far superior attacking players I think we would of been more likely to get the second goal had we not gifted them with a present and indeed a scoreline that they were happy to defend only again.

Goals change the mindset of matches. Changes the way players approach the game. If we didin't "gift" teams a goal they wouldn't have anything to defend so would be forced out.

We saw it a lot last year and even more so this I think teams will come at us and play very defensive. In these games it is crucial that A) we get the first goal forcing the other team out thus giving our strikers a greater chance of scoring again and B) we don't concede sloppy goals which only galvanise their defence and gives them something to defend.

 

[double0]

Defences at the moment is a greater concern to me than scoring. Every game we play now i'm expecting the opposition to score...King Dawson and Palacios could be the reason.

 

[Stelladrinker]

Hello all,
Young Boys (A) 2-3 '' Dawson - Bassong ''
Man City (H) 0-0 '' Dawson - King ''
Stoke (A) 1-2 '' Dawson - Kaboul ''
Young Boys (H) 4-0 '' Dawson - King ''
Wigan (H) 0-1 '' Dawson - King ''
West Brom (A) 2-2 '' Gallas - Kaboul ''
Werder Bremen (A) 2-2 '' King - Kaboul ''
West Ham (A) 0-1 '' Corluka - Bassong ''
Aston Villa (H) 2-1 '' Huddlestone - Bassong ''
Fulham (A) 2-1 '' Gallas - King ''
Inter (A) 3-4 '' Gallas - Bassong ''
Man Utd (A) 0-2 '' Kaboul - Gallas ''
Inter (H) 3-1 '' Gallas - Kaboul ''
Bolton (A) 2-4 '' Gallas - Kaboul ''
anyone can remember how our defending in those games ? simply our defending record isn't like last season when Dawson and King were available in most matches ..
I've reached to a point to say that, 3 good defenders in King, Dawson & Kaboul aren't enough and safe number to have as CL Team who wants CL spot again, because King condition, and Gallas & Bassong aren't up for it as they already made a lot of mistakes ..
even thought I still rate Gallas as good free signing/addition, but we've to answers for our defensive record :
if King o
r Dawson are available, we must keep Gallas for home games ( where our team play his best ) .. and King for away games.
OR
sending Bassong on loan and bring better CB as long term replacement for King, who should be treated as 4th choice instead & Gallas as 5th choice ..

Wow! You mean to say our defensive injury crisis is letting us down and meaning we're not getting the results our attacking play deserves?

Fuck me, you're right! Oh god you're brilliant, I wish I'd clocked that. Now if we can only smuggle a message to Harry and let him know, they'll knight you for this one, boy; you've saved Tottenham Hotspur Football Club!! Hurrah!

 

[Spurs_Q8]

But has been pretty poor this. Haven't you noticed?

Leaving aside tonight's fantastically annoying stupidity, there is very little difference between our defensive record this season isn't horrendous by any means. We've conceded just two more than United. As Misfit points out, it's our goalscoring that's the problem.

yes but the key part Defoe absence ( even thought you argue with some games last season, but it's about he might do better with VDV behind him ), also Gordon was the 3rd goalkeeper at least to make outstanding game ( after Haart & Al-Habsi ) etc.. another striker still needed, but the question about the way conceded sloppy goals like yesterday etc.. !