| Defense how we feeling? 15:53 - Aug 16 with 2907 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
Our starting back 4 last time in the PL was very often;
Axel Tuanzebe, Dara O'Shea, Jacob Greaves, Leif Davis.
It didn’t fair too well at times. Diop is a brilliant signing, so that should help plenty and I know they’ll have better cover from Midfield, so this year should be different in that sense. We’ll be fluid but I just worry that’s not quite been upgraded enough on the left side.
I like Greaves but he kind of fits in that bracket of very good champ defender and questions mark in if a true PL defender for me. Will Diop play LCB in a 4? Not his natural side but guess that will be the plan.
It’s clear we are going with Davis for all his attacking attributes and bombing forward on the transition is such an asset. I know we haven’t got unlimited funds and will be at 150-160M spend by tomorrow night but if we could find some extra player sales I’d love to be going back in from Alessandro at Lille or similar.
Will be interesting to see if the new Strasbourg lad comes in and plays RB from early on as well. [Post edited 16 Aug 15:55]
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| Defense how we feeling? on 16:02 - Aug 16 with 2254 views | DarkBrandon |
That back four was better than people give it credit for. Three of the four are still here and playing, and Axel could have been if he’d stayed.
The issues were elsewhere really (although Davis did struggle defensively).
Goalkeeper, centre midfield, up front (once Delap went off the boil). And a fair few injuries.
I think that defence was good enough. |  | | |
| Defense how we feeling? on 16:04 - Aug 16 with 2231 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Defense how we feeling? on 16:02 - Aug 16 by DarkBrandon |
That back four was better than people give it credit for. Three of the four are still here and playing, and Axel could have been if he’d stayed.
The issues were elsewhere really (although Davis did struggle defensively).
Goalkeeper, centre midfield, up front (once Delap went off the boil). And a fair few injuries.
I think that defence was good enough. |
Valid, I do agree you can’t look at goals conceded as just a back four unit, especially when they were constantly under pressure and we had a weak midfield but I’d like to see at least one more addition as well. | |
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| Defense how we feeling? on 16:05 - Aug 16 with 2224 views | NthQldITFC |
Greaves has been quietly improving in my opinion. He always had that bit of pace and reach to win balls, but he's learned when to commit and when to jockey (rather than over commit and get levered off the ball) much better now, I think. I fancy him for a good solid season in the PL. |  |
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| Defense how we feeling? on 16:08 - Aug 16 with 2181 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Defense how we feeling? on 16:05 - Aug 16 by NthQldITFC |
Greaves has been quietly improving in my opinion. He always had that bit of pace and reach to win balls, but he's learned when to commit and when to jockey (rather than over commit and get levered off the ball) much better now, I think. I fancy him for a good solid season in the PL. |
Hope you’re right, very good in the air and decent on the ball. Still think there’s some questions on pace, at times being out muscled and intercepting/cutting out crosses. | |
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| Defense how we feeling? on 16:09 - Aug 16 with 2163 views | jasondozzell |
Diop is going to be player of the season I think.
Brilliant brilliant signing. |  | | |
| Defense how we feeling? on 16:10 - Aug 16 with 2164 views | PrideOfTheEast |
Goalkeeper is massive too - we need to have got that right this time. |  | | |
| Defense how we feeling? on 16:12 - Aug 16 with 2137 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Defense how we feeling? on 16:10 - Aug 16 by PrideOfTheEast |
Goalkeeper is massive too - we need to have got that right this time. |
Quite literally in this case. | |
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| Defense how we feeling? on 16:17 - Aug 16 with 2064 views | Dennyx4 |
I can’t see Diop playing left centre back.
In pre season, O’Shea has started right back, and when Greaves goes off, he moves to left sided centre half. Diop has been consistent at right centre back, whenever he is on the pitch. |  | | |
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| Defense how we feeling? on 16:17 - Aug 16 with 2066 views | bsw72 |
| Defense how we feeling? on 16:02 - Aug 16 by DarkBrandon |
That back four was better than people give it credit for. Three of the four are still here and playing, and Axel could have been if he’d stayed.
The issues were elsewhere really (although Davis did struggle defensively).
Goalkeeper, centre midfield, up front (once Delap went off the boil). And a fair few injuries.
I think that defence was good enough. |
Defending as a team was one of our failings last time in the PL, in pre season this time it has been very interesting to see how the team has become much more compact and solid without the ball.
In 24/25 the loss of Burns and Ogbene impacted our unit down the rhs which frequently left us exposed wide in the midfield.
The squad under GON already feels more solid but I guess we will know more 6 days from now. |  | | |
| Defense how we feeling? on 16:22 - Aug 16 with 2006 views | ITFC_Forever |
Given a few too many chances away in pre-season that better teams would have punished.
But more worried about where the goals are going to come from…. |  |
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| Defense how we feeling? on 16:29 - Aug 16 with 1947 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Defense how we feeling? on 16:17 - Aug 16 by Dennyx4 |
I can’t see Diop playing left centre back.
In pre season, O’Shea has started right back, and when Greaves goes off, he moves to left sided centre half. Diop has been consistent at right centre back, whenever he is on the pitch. |
Ok good, not ideal for Dara but I think we need Diop wherever he is most suited. | |
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| Defense how we feeling? on 16:36 - Aug 16 with 1896 views | jas0999 |
Depends if we end up,playing five at the back. I think we’d need another CB. I’m not sure whether Kipre is good enough. I’d like to have seen a right back come in. | | | |
| Defense how we feeling? on 16:38 - Aug 16 with 1876 views | AYACCA |
They'll be fine. |  | | |
| Defence how are we feeling? on 16:59 - Aug 16 with 1750 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
Whilst I hear what you are saying, it also shouldn't be forgotten that each of those players is a better player than they were 2 years ago. O'Shea especially. They are also used to playing together apart from Diop. The other factors that have changed are how we will be set up under O'Neil and whether Sherpen will prove more effective than Muric (one would hope so). [Post edited 16 Aug 17:03]
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| Defense how we feeling? on 17:12 - Aug 16 with 1678 views | Len_Brennan |
Greaves & Davis would be perfectly capable of playing in the PL as part of a back 5 (3 CBs with wing backs), where we would benefit from their abilities going forward, while having additional cover in defence should either lose possession or be caught out of position. I fear a bit for both (us) if we are playing a back 4 & they are both playing; so much so that I think we would be targeted again on that side.
I would prefer to see O'Shea swapping over to the left to partner Diop in a back 4. Also, with Scherpen looking a little unsure at times, I wouldn't want us to be leaving him too exposed, early on, before he has acclimatised to the PL. | |
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| Defense how we feeling? on 17:15 - Aug 16 with 1589 views | Ryorry |
Excuse me, we call if “defence” here, we’re not playing American football! |  |
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| Defense how we feeling? on 17:16 - Aug 16 with 1588 views | Garv |
| Defense how we feeling? on 16:29 - Aug 16 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
Ok good, not ideal for Dara but I think we need Diop wherever he is most suited. |
Means you're giving up on the O'Shea right footed switch which was brilliant at times last season, and in pre season for Akpom's goal at Colchester.
I haven't seen anything of Diop so he could be equally as good as O'Shea with the ball, but I'd be disappointed to see O'Shea moved to LCB based on a what I know of him. |  |
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| Defense how we feeling? on 17:17 - Aug 16 with 1578 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Defense how we feeling? on 17:16 - Aug 16 by Garv |
Means you're giving up on the O'Shea right footed switch which was brilliant at times last season, and in pre season for Akpom's goal at Colchester.
I haven't seen anything of Diop so he could be equally as good as O'Shea with the ball, but I'd be disappointed to see O'Shea moved to LCB based on a what I know of him. |
Fulham fans seem to suggest he’s much more comfortable on the right of the pairing. | |
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| Defense how we feeling? on 17:17 - Aug 16 with 1570 views | Garv |
| Defense how we feeling? on 16:02 - Aug 16 by DarkBrandon |
That back four was better than people give it credit for. Three of the four are still here and playing, and Axel could have been if he’d stayed.
The issues were elsewhere really (although Davis did struggle defensively).
Goalkeeper, centre midfield, up front (once Delap went off the boil). And a fair few injuries.
I think that defence was good enough. |
Goals and general attacking threat was the issue. When you lack that much up from your defence is inevitably going to come under constant threat and therefore look vulnerable/poor. | |
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| Defense how we feeling? on 17:18 - Aug 16 with 1561 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
O’Shea was superb last year. Jury is still out on Greaves for me, especially at PL level.
Diop is exactly what we needed - physical unit and plenty of PL experience. Could do with some cover as well imo. | | | |
| Defense how we feeling? on 17:19 - Aug 16 with 1553 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Defense how we feeling? on 17:15 - Aug 16 by Ryorry |
Excuse me, we call if “defence” here, we’re not playing American football! |
Let’s go D! | |
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| Defense how we feeling? on 17:22 - Aug 16 with 1537 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
Left side of that defence scares me right now. I like Leif and Greaves I dont know if I see them as a strong enough left side defence in the premier league. I just think between them they make too many mistakes.
Leif has the elite athletic profile though and is without doubt a premier level chance creator. I would just prefer someone a bit more robust and safe next to him. |  |
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| Defense how we feeling? on 17:24 - Aug 16 with 1507 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Defense how we feeling? on 17:22 - Aug 16 by TRUE_BLUE123 |
Left side of that defence scares me right now. I like Leif and Greaves I dont know if I see them as a strong enough left side defence in the premier league. I just think between them they make too many mistakes.
Leif has the elite athletic profile though and is without doubt a premier level chance creator. I would just prefer someone a bit more robust and safe next to him. |
Yes this is what I was trying to articulate in my first post really. Greaves and Davis starting against some of the best wingers in the world scares me. There is lapses of concentration in there for sure. | |
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| Defense how we feeling? on 17:58 - Aug 16 with 1370 views | Ryorry |
Nope, I refuse to sit on de fence about this. | |
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| Defense how we feeling? on 18:09 - Aug 16 with 1325 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Defense how we feeling? on 16:09 - Aug 16 by jasondozzell |
Diop is going to be player of the season I think.
Brilliant brilliant signing. |
We could certainly do with a couple more of his calibre back there. I’d keep Leif for his attacking outlet, but the rhs bothers me. And I’d prefer another quality CB in too. |  |
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