| What do we do about our defence? 21:55 - Oct 25 with 6438 views | pointofblue |
Tonight was very poor. And we give away chances due to errors every game, even if Walton or bad finishing helps us out.
Although it's harsh, our best period was probably with a back three of Donacien - Woolfenden - Burgess, but I'd argue Edmundson has been our best defender of late. A lack of Morsy no doubt hurt us tonight, especially as Ball did nothing to stake a claim.
Maybe I am being unfair but it feels like we should be more stable, and have been more stable, than we are at the moment. |  |
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| What do we do about our defence? on 10:33 - Oct 26 with 1077 views | itfcjoe |
| What do we do about our defence? on 10:28 - Oct 26 by SaleAway |
I'm not saying that there is a deep seated issue - and I don't think anyone else is - what we're talking about here, is how to take us up to the next level. We concede "bad" goals.... like people say, we don't concede a lot of chances, but those goals that we do concede often seem to stand out as being some that the oppo haven't had to work that hard for, which is frustrating for the fans, but like you say, in the context of our general performance, not a massive problem.
However, if we managed to tighten that up, then we would be almost unbeatable. |
I think people need to watch other teams more to see that a L1 defence making a couple of mistakes every month isn't a big deal
No one mentions that against Derby, one of the top teams in league, that they came to PR and literally didn't have a shot on target, or anything even remotely a half chance |  |
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| What do we do about our defence? on 10:51 - Oct 26 with 1038 views | SaleAway |
| What do we do about our defence? on 10:33 - Oct 26 by itfcjoe |
I think people need to watch other teams more to see that a L1 defence making a couple of mistakes every month isn't a big deal
No one mentions that against Derby, one of the top teams in league, that they came to PR and literally didn't have a shot on target, or anything even remotely a half chance |
LIke I say, I'm not expecting us to keep 46 clean sheets a season, we will make mistakes. But in the same way people talk about how we need to score more, even though we're 2nd top scorers, I don't think its wrong to talk about how the defence can improve.
Almost all our goals conceded follow one of 3 patterns. Cheap penalties ( again, these happen, frustrating, but they happen), failure to deal with back post crosses, and set piece failures ( often crosses). There is a pattern to them, which suggests room for improvement, that is all. I'm sure McKenna and the players are looking at it, and not just saying, oh well, these things happen. | |
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| What do we do about our defence? on 10:55 - Oct 26 with 1030 views | LankHenners |
| What do we do about our defence? on 10:25 - Oct 26 by Kieran_Knows |
What do we do about our defence? Is that the same one with 20 clean sheets (albeit a change of left back) in McKenna's 40 odd games in charge?
Jesus wept. |
Swear some people expect us to win every game 3-0.
Maybe positive moments have been so rare over the last decade or so that everyone's been beaten into thinking good things aren't possible but it's getting a bit tedious how much stuff is being negatively over-analysed. 'There's not enough goals in the team' 'we can't defend' 'we can't break teams down' 'we can't deal with a press' etc. |  |
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| His distribution there.... on 10:58 - Oct 26 with 1027 views | Bloots |
| Yes, very much this…. on 10:26 - Oct 26 by itfcjoe |
But when you watch build up for Ladapo's first it is him doing this that drags people around to create the space to start the attacks - he could very easily have released the ball earlier here but it's not what him and GE do.
You are right though, it will cost us a goal or two this season, but McKenna obviously thinks it is worth the cost
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....was positively early compared to some instances last night.
I'm referring more to the times when he literally waits until the tackle comes in and then releases it, he does it in our own area too often.
Last night with them effectively playing 3 up front and a high press, it was worth it in terms of risk v reward, but with teams that drop a bit deeper "playing chicken" with the attacker is a bit risky.
Obviously it's better than just humping it forward, but playing it short a bit quicker really wouldn't do any harm! |  |
| "The sooner he comes back the better, this place has been a disaster without him" - TWTD User (July 2025) |
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| Yes, very much this…. on 11:00 - Oct 26 with 1010 views | SheffordBlue |
| Yes, very much this…. on 09:02 - Oct 26 by Bloots |
….he seems intent on taking just very, very slightly too long in the ball at every opportunity.
It almost unnoticeable but it’s as if he’s trying to tease the attacker by releasing the ball at the very last moment.
He’s gonna come unstuck and cost us a goal if he doesn’t stop sodding around soon. |
This is also what allows us to get men over in the middle of the field. It's calculated risk and the fact that he keeps doing it suggests to me that he is being encouraged to by the coaching staff. Everyonce in a while it will cost us but more often than not it will help us create space for attacking moves | |
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| What do we do about our defence? on 11:00 - Oct 26 with 1004 views | pointofblue |
| What do we do about our defence? on 10:33 - Oct 26 by itfcjoe |
I think people need to watch other teams more to see that a L1 defence making a couple of mistakes every month isn't a big deal
No one mentions that against Derby, one of the top teams in league, that they came to PR and literally didn't have a shot on target, or anything even remotely a half chance |
It's similar errors and mistakes time and again though - as SaleAway points out, crosses to the far post, failure to be strong enough at set pieces and simple mistakes due to spending too long on the ball. They feel like things which we can counter but our defence is gradually leaking more goals through the season (0.4 in August, 0.8 in September, 1.0 in October) rather than tightening up. | |
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| What do we do about our defence? on 11:08 - Oct 26 with 965 views | SaleAway |
| What do we do about our defence? on 11:00 - Oct 26 by pointofblue |
It's similar errors and mistakes time and again though - as SaleAway points out, crosses to the far post, failure to be strong enough at set pieces and simple mistakes due to spending too long on the ball. They feel like things which we can counter but our defence is gradually leaking more goals through the season (0.4 in August, 0.8 in September, 1.0 in October) rather than tightening up. |
I'm not too bothered about the " spending too long on the ball" bit. I think that's part of our style, and we need to push the boundaries and take risks here. It gives us more than it costs us. Its the set piece and deep crosses that stands out to me as something that we could be better at. | |
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| What do we do about our defence? on 11:52 - Oct 26 with 934 views | DavoIPB |
| What do we do about our defence? on 22:12 - Oct 25 by GlasgowBlue |
I do think Donacien is vulnerable at the moment. Fridge and Woolfy have been class for the past few games. Thy struggled with PV tonight but KM fixed that. |
Have to agree, even the opposition commentators have picked up on how poor Donacian is. His form has dropped off significantly, gives the ball away , loses people at the back post and seems to be lacking in concentration, if anybody needs replacing its him. | | | |
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| What do we do about our defence? on 12:26 - Oct 26 with 892 views | itfcjoe |
| What do we do about our defence? on 11:52 - Oct 26 by DavoIPB |
Have to agree, even the opposition commentators have picked up on how poor Donacian is. His form has dropped off significantly, gives the ball away , loses people at the back post and seems to be lacking in concentration, if anybody needs replacing its him. |
Maybe the simple answer is that no one needs replacing at the moment? | |
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| What do we do about our defence? on 12:34 - Oct 26 with 861 views | berkstractorboy |
Ball heads the ball clear for 1st goal as it was an easy header not to miss, they probably don't score before HT and then the momentum hasn't changed.
I really don't think we need to have a go at the defence do we. We won enjoy it people. | | | |
| What do we do about our defence? on 14:40 - Oct 26 with 817 views | Ryorry |
| What do we do about our defence? on 08:40 - Oct 26 by norfsufblue |
Of course not but surely it makes sense when you are in the position we where last night 2-0 up with a couple of min to half time that it's pragmatic not to have the ball in the most likely area where a mistake changes the whole half time situation.....I'm sure e go I 2-0 up we'd have won the game by at least 3 clear goals. Walton does appreciate this as kicks long a lot more often late in both halves in my opinion. |
Agree with you on this, it's all about timing of tactics - playing out from the back might be great 95% of the time, but not just before ht & ft when we're only ahead by a single goal & oppos are desperately getting 10 or maybe even 11 men forward!
I suppose KM's stats include those particular timings tho(?)
Quite apart from the football, it's diabolically stressful for fans & possible decreases in cardiac health! |  |
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| What do we do about our defence? on 15:03 - Oct 26 with 798 views | DinDjarin |
| What do we do about our defence? on 07:52 - Oct 26 by Bobbychase |
Harrison header and the two goals aside, did they create any clear-cut chances? I look at last night a bit differently, I thought we dealt well with a side who flung balls into the box every chance they got.
Caveat is that the first goal was pub league defending from about five different players, and the corner that led to their second was really poor decision-making by Woolfenden. Might cost us on another day. |
Yep first goal was comedy central.
Burns does not win first header
Donacian does not put enough pressure on to stop the cross, literally turns his back
Fridge gets caught under the ball
Davis should have nudged / blocked the attacker to stop him getting free jump on Fridge
Ball should put his name on the ball to stop Wolf reaching and getting a faint touch to take it away from Ball
Burns has casually wandered back and puts in half arsed attempt to block the shot, if he was tighter quicker he wins the ball before it drops
Proper schoolboy defending that from several players. [Post edited 26 Oct 2022 15:04]
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| What do we do about our defence? on 17:05 - Oct 29 with 694 views | pointofblue |
People still think defence isn't an issue? | |
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| What do we do about our defence? on 17:09 - Oct 29 with 637 views | Powrigan |
Replace the lot!!! |  | | |
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