Why can no-one defend anymore?

[danielneeds]

The game had changed since the great defensive sides. Milan with Baresi, urg, Arse with Adams etc.

It's faster, defenders can't rough players up like they used to, the new offside rule makes it harder to squeeze attackers, can't slow the game down by passing back to the keeper like they used to.

 

[slartibartfast]

And yet Chelsea, Juventus, any team that does well have the best defences us included.
Man City, Man U, Liverpool and Arsenal all of their problems are at the back not attacking.
Maybe a change of approach is needed because frankly it aint working is it. Not imo anyway.
I dont think it would take much. Simple things like learning when to clear and when to pass it out. This trying to pass your way out ALL THE TIME regardless of how much pressure you're under or if you're in your own 6yd box surrounded by opposition players is bloody idiotic.

 

[mano-obe]

Don't worry Toby has it all under control

 

[bceej]

And yet Chelsea, Juventus, any team that does well have the best defences us included.
Man City, Man U, Liverpool and Arsenal all of their problems are at the back not attacking.
Maybe a change of approach is needed because frankly it aint working is it. Not imo anyway.
I dont think it would take much. Simple things like learning when to clear and when to pass it out. This trying to pass your way out ALL THE TIME regardless of how much pressure you're under or if you're in your own 6yd box surrounded by opposition players is bloody idiotic.

Agreed. Some players need to take some initiative and not play to the word of a philosophy.

 

[Ribble]

And yet Chelsea, Juventus, any team that does well have the best defences us included.
Man City, Man U, Liverpool and Arsenal all of their problems are at the back not attacking.
Maybe a change of approach is needed because frankly it aint working is it. Not imo anyway.
I dont think it would take much. Simple things like learning when to clear and when to pass it out. This trying to pass your way out ALL THE TIME regardless of how much pressure you're under or if you're in your own 6yd box surrounded by opposition players is bloody idiotic.

There's a lot to be said for familiarity too I think. We have defenders who have played together for a long time, as do Chelsea and Juventus in your examples. Man United actually have a great defensive record now too, although of course that's the Mourinho factor coming into play. All the other teams you mention though are in flux at the back. None of them have a settled back 3 or 4 and that hurts their ability to maintain the stability needed to play the way that their head coach wants to.

I think that familiarity may have even been a factor for Chelsea deciding to bring back Luiz instead of lumping for someone new.