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Defence - back to the drawing board


alpine_saint

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I see the wrist slitters are already out in force. Glad that there are people in the world who draw pleasure from ignoring any positives and focussing on any negatives.

 

Over the last 10 games we have been one of the best teams in this divison, but they can only see the negatives.

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3 clean sheets all season

 

1 against Northampton, one against yeovil at home and a 0-0 against 10 man Colchester who were holding on to a draw.

 

Every good team is built from the back! We have a good midfield and a dangerous forward line but the back must be sorted as a top priority!

 

The attitude "We're gonna score one more than you" will only get you so far.

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17 games in - 4 points from 5th bottom in L1, 2 points from last 3 games

 

 

VERY VERY VERY poor

 

I think you need to get some perspective mate.

 

You could look on the flipside and see that we have had only one defeat in the last ten games in all comps, and seven of those we won. The league position is completely false because of the -10.

 

Yes, it's alarming that we seem to be conceding a lot of goals at the mo, but in the last 5 years or so we wouldn't have been scoring as many as we are and would be much worse off ponts-wise.

 

Nice to see Alps back to his usual suicidal self though, after showing the tiniest glimmer of positivity during our recent good run.

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3 clean sheets all season

 

1 against Northampton, one against yeovil at home and a 0-0 against 10 man Colchester who were holding on to a draw.

 

Every good team is built from the back! We have a good midfield and a dangerous forward line but the back must be sorted as a top priority!

On the other hand, we have only failed to score in 2 games all season, Colchester & Swindon. You can't win games by keeping clean sheets, it's done by scoring goals.

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it is worth noting that even without the 10 points deduction we would currently be equal with Southend and Hartlepool and sitting 11th just behind Walsall!

 

Unfortunately the table never lies and shows our real position in this league!

we cannot make good progress whilst conceding 2 or 3 goals a game so without sorting out the defence, progress will remain very hard work!

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On the other hand, we have only failed to score in 2 games all season, Colchester & Swindon. You can't win games by keeping clean sheets, it's done by scoring goals.

 

True! However look at the records! throughout the years the top teams invetibaly are those built on a solid back 4 and a mean defence! teams with poor defences rarely do better than mid table irrespective of how good the forward line is!

 

A league 1 top team would not concede 2 or 3 to the likes of Orient, Torquay and Brighton

look at Leeds at Brighton today!

 

A Man u Chelsea or Arsenal would not be expecting to let in 2 to 3 goals against the likes of Wolves, Hull Stoke or even Portsmouth! Neither would a Tottenham, Villa or even an Everton

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I'm not sure that we need to go "back to the drawing board" with the defence for a couple of reasons.

 

Firstly, something has broken down farther up the pitch in order for the situation to have arisen.

 

Secondly, one change can turn a vulnerable defence into a good one. For me, Jaidi lacks pace and if he's to remain a first choice he needs someone quicker and more decisive, ideally a really good "reader" of situations, alongside him. The Chris Perry of five or six years ago would have been be ideal.

 

Without that, we'll continue to be vulnerable in the middle at the back, especially on wide breaks. All this was clear from the Brighton game.

 

I should add that I think things will improve when Murty is back full time because James, for me, is another defensive problem, especially when faced with a pacy attacker.

Edited by CanadaSaint
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i am back' date=' the post was aimed at all the opinions based on scores rather than watching[/quote']

 

And comments made by people following on Saints TV.

 

I really fail to see what your point is. Apart from the old hack that only people who watch a game can express an opinion on the team.

 

In one way, I sympathise with it, since it would mean putting a permanent gag on SOGGY, because he NEVER goes.

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The CBs are both doing some decent stuff individually but thought today, and Brighton, it was their organisation and communication that let them down.

 

Think back 4 should currently be

Harding Thomas Jaidi Murty

 

and we will look stronger.

 

Looks more solid with Wooton stopping runners.

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Just back from the match and I have to agree with Alpine. The problems primarily stem from Trottman and James IMO.

 

There is something wrong with Trottmans head - I think he has been told he has to go back to Preston in January and it's affected his game...he was looking like a fantastic prospect and practically everyone on here thought so before Brighton. James is just not good enough at RB - he is the last of the Dutch experiment players that has not been sorted out and we need Murty back there big time. He has improved his game, but he does not have a good footballing brain IMO which is why he went to ground and gave away a pen.

 

Lastly, we sat back too deep just before their 2nd goal. AP was telling them to move out and they didn't listen. Hammond really needs to impose himself more on his team and get himself and/or Schneiderlin sitting nearer midfield. I'm struggling to see how Hammond and Schneiderlin compliment each other TBH.

 

All that said, it was a good game to watch today.

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I was there Mike. The defence were unconvincing. Think both Perry and Thomas would do better than Trotman (he has been shocking for the last 2 games), Thomas or Murty would do better than James (woeful).

 

So was i and i totally agree with you, just get p*ssed off at people knocking the side from behind a keyboard

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I have no idea what has happened to Trotters in the last couple of games. He's looked so solid all season until the past two games. Very strange. Pardew will already be looking for another CB I would expect, ideally someone with a bit of pace because Jaidi is slow!

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Irrespective of the wrist-slitting, there is no denying our defence is a problem.

 

7 goals conceded in 3 games is not good.

 

Kelvin does not look the same confident keeper he was last year, bizarrely. Trottman has had two poor games now, Jaidi is no spring chicken and Harding and James are often exposed.

 

I think this week needs to be defence week. Work out the best back five quick.

 

For me: Thomas Trottman Jaidi Harding

And Kelvin - although Bart must now be snapping at his heels after a good game in the cup.

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Irrespective of the wrist-slitting, there is no denying our defence is a problem.

 

7 goals conceded in 3 games is not good.

 

Kelvin does not look the same confident keeper he was last year, bizarrely. Trottman has had two poor games now, Jaidi is no spring chicken and Harding and James are often exposed.

 

I think this week needs to be defence week. Work out the best back five quick.

 

For me: Thomas Trottman Jaidi Harding

And Kelvin - although Bart must now be snapping at his heels after a good game in the cup.

 

Kelvin's a strange one. When he's behind a REALLY bad defence a la last season, and he's having to make loads of saves, he looks brilliant. Today he didn't have much to do, sign of a half decent defence IMO, but looked suspect at the key moments-including the second goal.

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Another struggle for James again both at RB and in the middle. The lack of pace from Trottman and Jaidi leaves us very exposed to any ball over the top or threaded through. Harding let his player have a lot of room today and despite what derry will tell us it had nothing to do with Lallana who worked very hard (again) today.

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Defence looked much better today.

First goal was a terrible tackle by James (who we all agree shouldn't be in that position anyway).

Second goal was the midfields fault IMO, shot from long range not closed down and then Hughes just had to tap it in.

 

Yes, agreed, except I'd say second goal was as much Davis' fault as the midfield's.

 

Haven't checked the match stats but can't really remember Davis having a save to make so the defence must've been doing something right.

 

People shouldn't confuse Norwich having lots of possession with the back four playing badly.

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Defence looked much better today.

First goal was a terrible tackle by James (who we all agree shouldn't be in that position anyway).

Second goal was the midfields fault IMO, shot from long range not closed down and then Hughes just had to tap it in.

 

100% true.

 

i still at times felt trotman was a bit rash, but he won alot more in the air today tbf.

 

I thought both him and Jaidi handled Holt very well IMO.

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I have said it before and I will say it again. We have been on a great run and for much of it we have got away with playing James at Right Back.

 

It has to stop now. Murty must play at right back, he keeps the defence in line, he talks to them, he has a footballing brain.

 

If he is not fit then Thomas should play there, he did ok before his injury. James is not good enough to play right back, simple as that.

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100% true.

 

i still at times felt trotman was a bit rash, but he won alot more in the air today tbf.

 

I thought both him and Jaidi handled Holt very well IMO.

 

I thought Trotman was ok today, he has been prone in most games to make the odd error. He was very bad last Sunday, today he was a hell of a lot better.

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