Imagine if we could defend! 09:26 - Oct 1 with 6957 views | Wallingford_Boy | How good we’d be! Obviously we’ve paid big cash for Tuanzebe to not just sit on the bench, but who does he replace? Burgess for me. Williams in for Clarke too. | ![](/images/avatars/679.gif) |
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Imagine if we could defend! on 14:16 - Oct 1 with 1882 views | pointofblue |
Imagine if we could defend! on 14:09 - Oct 1 by DavoIPB | I would say woolfie. His positional play has been really poor this season. Burgess covers Davis if he goes forward but woolfie does not do the same. Woolfie gets muscled off the ball as well. |
Thought he'd been much better on the ball and not getting muscled off it this season. Do think he's struggled more with positioning since Clarke has come back into the side - seemed far more settled with Donacien. | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) |
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Imagine if we could defend! on 14:20 - Oct 1 with 1871 views | Vegtablue | We haven't protected Hladky nearly as well as the goals conceded column suggests. Opta's post-shot analysis reveals he has now saved 4.5 more goals than expected from the shots on target he's faced, and we're joint top with Millwall for expected goals conceded per shot on target (we would prefer to be joint bottom). The difficulty we have is in addressing these numbers, when inevitably there is a trade-off to doing so. Davis, Burgess and Woolfenden are playing close to their best current level for me. Same for Morsy, Luongo and Burns. The right side certainly has potential for growth with Clarke and Williams. Perhaps Hutchinson in an attacking slot on either side could further preoccupy opposition players. Beyond personnel improvements, tightening the defensive aspects will reduce our attacking aspects. Our best chance of winning lots more games is likely to continue as we are. Hope we become more clinical in front of goal and, in the event we can't with current personnel, hope that the right side shores itself up and that our goalkeeper continues to outperform his peers. NB. The above isn't intended as criticism of the players, who've collectively put us in pinch-yourself territory IMO. I didn't think there would be any posts this season critiquing how to stay in the top two. If we aren't able to find improvements, I predict we will slot into the play-offs chasing pack before too long, as asking so much of Hladky across the season feels unsustainable. Asking so much of him until the January transfer window though, with one or two improvements lined up early? Maybe. | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Imagine if we could defend! on 14:41 - Oct 1 with 1849 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
Imagine if we could defend! on 14:20 - Oct 1 by Vegtablue | We haven't protected Hladky nearly as well as the goals conceded column suggests. Opta's post-shot analysis reveals he has now saved 4.5 more goals than expected from the shots on target he's faced, and we're joint top with Millwall for expected goals conceded per shot on target (we would prefer to be joint bottom). The difficulty we have is in addressing these numbers, when inevitably there is a trade-off to doing so. Davis, Burgess and Woolfenden are playing close to their best current level for me. Same for Morsy, Luongo and Burns. The right side certainly has potential for growth with Clarke and Williams. Perhaps Hutchinson in an attacking slot on either side could further preoccupy opposition players. Beyond personnel improvements, tightening the defensive aspects will reduce our attacking aspects. Our best chance of winning lots more games is likely to continue as we are. Hope we become more clinical in front of goal and, in the event we can't with current personnel, hope that the right side shores itself up and that our goalkeeper continues to outperform his peers. NB. The above isn't intended as criticism of the players, who've collectively put us in pinch-yourself territory IMO. I didn't think there would be any posts this season critiquing how to stay in the top two. If we aren't able to find improvements, I predict we will slot into the play-offs chasing pack before too long, as asking so much of Hladky across the season feels unsustainable. Asking so much of him until the January transfer window though, with one or two improvements lined up early? Maybe. |
Could those stats not also be interpreted as Hladky is an excellent shot-stopper but doesn't dominate his box and organise his defence as well as other keepers? Statistics can frequently be interpreted in multiple ways? | ![](/images/avatars/2131.gif) |
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Imagine if we could defend! on 15:05 - Oct 1 with 1832 views | Vegtablue |
Imagine if we could defend! on 14:41 - Oct 1 by Nthsuffolkblue | Could those stats not also be interpreted as Hladky is an excellent shot-stopper but doesn't dominate his box and organise his defence as well as other keepers? Statistics can frequently be interpreted in multiple ways? |
One could but I wouldn't agree with that interpretation. Possibly that's an area in which Walton excels, but it's the miscommunication and Walton coming off second best that I remember more of last season. Always much easier to remember a goalkeeper's mistakes! I didn't see Nicholls dominate his box more than Hladky yesterday, or opposition goalkeepers in the other matches we've played. Hladky intercepts threats more than any other in the league statistically, although I expect you're referring to crosses and he's 17th in respect to claiming those. | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Imagine if we could defend! on 15:13 - Oct 1 with 1813 views | Herbivore |
Imagine if we could defend! on 14:09 - Oct 1 by DavoIPB | I would say woolfie. His positional play has been really poor this season. Burgess covers Davis if he goes forward but woolfie does not do the same. Woolfie gets muscled off the ball as well. |
What the fook have you been watching this season? Utter drivel. | ![](/images/avatars/438.gif) |
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Imagine if we could defend! on 16:57 - Oct 1 with 1761 views | DJR | We've conceded 11 goals in 9 games which I think is pretty good given we've moved up a division. By comparison Plymouth have conceded 14 and Wednesday 17. And what entertainment we've had. | ![](/images/avatars/25096.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Imagine if we could defend! on 17:24 - Oct 1 with 1731 views | MK1 | This is obviously a joke. | ![](/images/avatars/27643.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Imagine if we could defend! on 17:59 - Oct 1 with 1690 views | Yallop2 |
Imagine if we could defend! on 14:09 - Oct 1 by DavoIPB | I would say woolfie. His positional play has been really poor this season. Burgess covers Davis if he goes forward but woolfie does not do the same. Woolfie gets muscled off the ball as well. |
Utter guff. We're 2nd ffs and on a run no one has seen for decades. | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) | Login to get fewer ads
Imagine if we could defend! on 19:03 - Oct 1 with 1633 views | Churchman | The stats say we are 2nd in the league. 3rd best goalscorers 3rd best goal difference 8th = best defence. We were promoted last season. I’m struggling to work out what more people want or expected. Hopefully we will improve defensively and up front. I’ve read on here by certain people that Woolfenden is rubbish positionally, that L1 level Burgess should have been replaced before the season started, that Clarke is the weak link, we needed ten new signings, why didn’t we push the boat out and get Simms. Everyone is entitled to opinions. It’s what the board is for, but oh dear, the state of some of these posts. The rage, tears and tantrums when we lose a few games will make Owlstalk look small potatoes. And on them, if we had their problems there would be cause for anxiety, but at the moment, just enjoy it. It’s been so many years of dross. I certainly am and I’ve seen more entertainment in four home games than I saw in most of the Evans era put together. | ![](/images/avatars/11749.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Imagine if we could defend! on 19:29 - Oct 1 with 1617 views | Coastalblue |
Imagine if we could defend! on 19:03 - Oct 1 by Churchman | The stats say we are 2nd in the league. 3rd best goalscorers 3rd best goal difference 8th = best defence. We were promoted last season. I’m struggling to work out what more people want or expected. Hopefully we will improve defensively and up front. I’ve read on here by certain people that Woolfenden is rubbish positionally, that L1 level Burgess should have been replaced before the season started, that Clarke is the weak link, we needed ten new signings, why didn’t we push the boat out and get Simms. Everyone is entitled to opinions. It’s what the board is for, but oh dear, the state of some of these posts. The rage, tears and tantrums when we lose a few games will make Owlstalk look small potatoes. And on them, if we had their problems there would be cause for anxiety, but at the moment, just enjoy it. It’s been so many years of dross. I certainly am and I’ve seen more entertainment in four home games than I saw in most of the Evans era put together. |
There's too many on here that form an opinion on a player and then just watch to confirm it, as you say half of our side are not capable of playing at this level so we must be very, very lucky at the moment to be top two. | ![](/images/avatars/63.gif) |
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Imagine if we could defend! on 21:55 - Oct 1 with 1513 views | Metal_Hacker | Why does Wally still post on TWTD ? I’m sure by now I’d get fed up of attention seeking The guy hasn’t a clue and just stinks of narcissism | ![](/images/avatars/15253.gif) |
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Imagine if we could defend! on 21:59 - Oct 1 with 1509 views | Swansea_Blue |
Imagine if we could defend! on 21:22 - Oct 1 by FrimleyBlue | Genuine question What was the last goal we conceded which you could say came from a wolfy/Burgess mistake.. |
I can’t remember the last obvious error. Woolf got caught under the ball slightly for Clarke’s own goal against Blackburn, and both of them got turned around a few times in that game. I think it was Burgess who could have been tighter to Szmodics for their 3rd. Not really error, but he lost that 1-to-1 battle. The post above about expected goals against is interesting. Hladky has been very busy at times, so the goals against column does flatter us a bit. But then it’s only the goals conceded that counts there isn’t it. | ![](/images/avatars/1909.gif) |
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Imagine if we could defend! on 07:38 - Oct 2 with 1462 views | Stewart27 | Assume this is tongue in cheek. Otherwise it’s a stupid thing to say. You do know that the way we play at home leaves us slightly vulnerable at the back? Resulting in the entertainment fest we’ve had this year. But away from home we play a slightly different game and has resulted in 2 goals conceded in 5 away games. It’s probably lost on you. | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Imagine if we could defend! on 07:50 - Oct 2 with 1456 views | BondiBlue | We can defend. We just choose not to. We choose to defend away from home and we've conceded 2 goals. At home we choose to attack and we've conceded 9. | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) |
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Imagine if we could defend! on 07:56 - Oct 2 with 1453 views | jayessess |
Imagine if we could defend! on 14:20 - Oct 1 by Vegtablue | We haven't protected Hladky nearly as well as the goals conceded column suggests. Opta's post-shot analysis reveals he has now saved 4.5 more goals than expected from the shots on target he's faced, and we're joint top with Millwall for expected goals conceded per shot on target (we would prefer to be joint bottom). The difficulty we have is in addressing these numbers, when inevitably there is a trade-off to doing so. Davis, Burgess and Woolfenden are playing close to their best current level for me. Same for Morsy, Luongo and Burns. The right side certainly has potential for growth with Clarke and Williams. Perhaps Hutchinson in an attacking slot on either side could further preoccupy opposition players. Beyond personnel improvements, tightening the defensive aspects will reduce our attacking aspects. Our best chance of winning lots more games is likely to continue as we are. Hope we become more clinical in front of goal and, in the event we can't with current personnel, hope that the right side shores itself up and that our goalkeeper continues to outperform his peers. NB. The above isn't intended as criticism of the players, who've collectively put us in pinch-yourself territory IMO. I didn't think there would be any posts this season critiquing how to stay in the top two. If we aren't able to find improvements, I predict we will slot into the play-offs chasing pack before too long, as asking so much of Hladky across the season feels unsustainable. Asking so much of him until the January transfer window though, with one or two improvements lined up early? Maybe. |
Difficult stat to interpret this one, I think? It's post-shot expected goals, so is as much a reflection of the quality of opposition shooting as the quality of opposition chances. Our xGA is lower (10.8) and roughly reflected in our actual goals conceded (11). Opponents are getting better shots in than you would expect for the type and quantity of chances we're conceding, but Hladky's excellent shot stopping has meant that hasn't really hurt us. (Of course, there might be something unmeasurable we're doing that allows opposition forwards to get in better shots than you'd expect them to) | ![](/images/avatars/2979.gif) |
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Imagine if we could defend! on 09:23 - Oct 2 with 1431 views | BiGDonnie | Imagine if you could engage your brain, you'd be sufferable. [Post edited 2 Oct 2023 9:27]
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Imagine if we could defend on 09:41 - Oct 2 with 1415 views | SamWhiteUK | We have the third best goal difference in the league. | ![](/images/avatars/6853.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Imagine if we could defend! on 11:38 - Oct 2 with 1381 views | Unhinged_dynamo | Could go to 3 at the back tuanzebe, Wolfe, burgess and have Davis and Williams/Clark as wingbacks which they basically are anyway Hladky Tuanzebe. Wolfe. Burgess. Williams/Clarke. Davis Morsy. Luongo. Chaplin/burns Broadhead Hirst Would sacrifice abit of width up top but before transition to attack but would be quite solid off the ball? | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) |
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Imagine if we could defend! on 12:24 - Oct 2 with 1367 views | portmanroadblue |
Imagine if we could defend! on 10:26 - Oct 1 by ArnieM | He’s a right sided CB ( looking at all the videos of him) so I’d say that makes Woolfies place at potential risk. Axel is very good in the air, and excellent at bringing the ball out. It’ll be interesting to see how McKenna wants to play him. |
Could be looking at going 3 CBs at the back. | ![](/images/avatars/254.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Imagine if we could defend! on 13:14 - Oct 2 with 1333 views | Herbivore |
Imagine if we could defend! on 11:38 - Oct 2 by Unhinged_dynamo | Could go to 3 at the back tuanzebe, Wolfe, burgess and have Davis and Williams/Clark as wingbacks which they basically are anyway Hladky Tuanzebe. Wolfe. Burgess. Williams/Clarke. Davis Morsy. Luongo. Chaplin/burns Broadhead Hirst Would sacrifice abit of width up top but before transition to attack but would be quite solid off the ball? |
We're second in the league and doing very well, why change systems and sacrifice an attacking player for a CB? | ![](/images/avatars/438.gif) |
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Imagine if we could defend! on 13:37 - Oct 2 with 1317 views | Unhinged_dynamo |
Imagine if we could defend! on 13:14 - Oct 2 by Herbivore | We're second in the league and doing very well, why change systems and sacrifice an attacking player for a CB? |
It’s not something I would personally advocate I was merely answering the question posed about who might make way | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) |
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Imagine if we could defend! on 13:47 - Oct 2 with 1307 views | portmanroadblue |
Imagine if we could defend! on 13:14 - Oct 2 by Herbivore | We're second in the league and doing very well, why change systems and sacrifice an attacking player for a CB? |
Some would argue 3 CBs is not defensive but more attacking. Also, to maybe switch it up against opposition who may think they know the way we will set up against them. [Post edited 2 Oct 2023 13:49]
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Imagine if we could defend! on 13:56 - Oct 2 with 1294 views | Herbivore |
Imagine if we could defend! on 13:47 - Oct 2 by portmanroadblue | Some would argue 3 CBs is not defensive but more attacking. Also, to maybe switch it up against opposition who may think they know the way we will set up against them. [Post edited 2 Oct 2023 13:49]
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They'd be wrong to argue it's more attacking, imo, especially as we're talking about most likely bringing in Tuanzebe for one of Burns, Chaplin or Broadhead. | ![](/images/avatars/438.gif) |
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