Defending Should Be Team Effort
Saturday, 10th Nov 2012 06:01

Manager Mick McCarthy says defenders often get more stick than they may deserve when teams are conceding a lot of goals. The former Ireland international, a centre-half in his playing days, says it’s ultimately down to the whole team.

He said: “When you’re conceding goals it’s always the defence [that gets the blame] - it's always the ones behind us, then the keeper. He can’t point at anyone else, he’s knackered.

“It’s a team effort. If you’re in a defence and the ball keeps coming back at you, eventually you’ll concede.

“If you put it up the park and it keeps coming back and we don’t have chances [which has been the case].

“There were times in the Palace game and even at Birmingham when we got in good positions and we should have ended up with a corner kick, a freekick or a throw-in in their final third, but we gave it away and it ended up back here.

“The poor old defenders are all getting it in the earhole from everybody. Actually, it’s a team game. Keep the ball.

“And the defenders deserve all the plaudits from Saturday because there were some great blocks.

“Conceding goals is not just about defenders and keepers, it’s a team, and everybody’s got to be made aware of that, which I have done.”

Asked how long it would take him to make a difference regarding the number of goals being conceded, he added: “PDQ, I hope. We’ve got no game next week, so we’ll be at it [on the training ground].”

Photo: Action Images

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BigAlwasmyhero added 07:59 - Nov 10 This is just what you want to hear from your manager to give us all confidence. Boy do I like this guy! Sort how we defend and it will sort our team. Allan Hunter was once asked, how does all the travelling in football affect you? He replied, " it doesn't as I hardly ever go past the half way line. (Legend)
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oldbri added 07:59 - Nov 10 A bit of scoring goals practice would no go amiss,either.
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strikalite added 08:19 - Nov 10 Well to be fair here, this is what Jewell kept harping on about, 'hunting in packs' remember that one? My worry is that we simply pose no threat going forward along the flanks, we try to thread our way through teams and end just losing out and getting punished on the counter...very frustrating to watch.
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