| The importance of a settled defence 07:51 - Oct 27 with 2636 views | Dubtractor |
In the first 6 games we made just one change in total (O'Shea for Woolfy), and we let in 10 goals in 6 games, which isn't too bad considering the opponents.
Last 3 has seen a lot of changes, all (I think) enforced rather than choices, and we've let in 10 in 3 games.
Play those last 3 games with Tuanzebe and Greaves available for all 3, and I would be certain that we pick up some points. |  |
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| The importance of a settled defence on 08:23 - Oct 27 with 2523 views | MK1 |
Part of football I'm afraid. Injuries and suspensions are going to happen. I think the squad is just about strong enough to cope. Having Greaves and Axel available would obviously be a massive bonus, but these injuries are going to take their toll throughout the season. I think the squad will cope. |  |
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| The importance of a settled defence on 08:26 - Oct 27 with 2506 views | Kieran_Knows |
Well that’s just it, for the last 2 years we’ve basically had;
League 1 - 46 games
Walton
Donacien/Clarke Woolfenden Burgess Davis
Championship - 46 games
Hladky
Clarke/Williams/Axel Woolfenden Burgess Davis
Pretty much a settled back 5 in both seasons, with the exception of right back. |  |
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| The importance of a settled defence on 09:02 - Oct 27 with 2428 views | Swansea_Blue |
Yeah, we've been unlucky. That was a Championship level defence in the main part yesterday. Only Leif is PL quality and his strength isn't the defending part. The way poor old Harry Clarke was getting turned inside out by Lewis-Potter made me feel sorry for him (although I only saw the highlights).
It wasn't the best part of our game last season, so no surprises to see us shipping goals at a higher level. |  |
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| The importance of a settled defence on 09:59 - Oct 27 with 2326 views | Back2Back |
I can relate to your observation but I do wonder when it may become settled?
I guess the instant reaction would be to say on the return of Tuanzebe and Greaves.
That in it self will then open up the decision making on Wolf vs O’Shea.
I do wonder how long Woolfenden and Burgess will be genuinely content sitting on the bench? Knowing they may only be getting a game because someone else is injured?
I do wonder if Burgess may want to be more certain of regular football knowing a World Cup place for Australia may be at risk if he plays second fiddle to Greaves?
I did wonder if the timing of a new contract for Davis was more about ensuring a good sale price rather than him having a longer term commitment to town. Good business practice but does it support a let’s settle things down.
Pause for breath before we even think about the keeper role. [Post edited 27 Oct 2024 10:02]
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| The importance of a settled defence on 10:10 - Oct 27 with 2264 views | bobbyramsey |
KM really has to sort this shambles out. Should it really matter who plays and who doesn't? Don't they train together every day, don't they all know one and others style of play, don't they all know the patterns of play? They're all decent professional footballers who have played at a very high level. Even when Greaves and Tuanzebe were fit we were still shipping stupid goals
They honestly play like a bunch of strangers.... [Post edited 27 Oct 2024 10:13]
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| The importance of a settled defence on 10:18 - Oct 27 with 2224 views | bsw72 |
| The importance of a settled defence on 10:10 - Oct 27 by bobbyramsey |
KM really has to sort this shambles out. Should it really matter who plays and who doesn't? Don't they train together every day, don't they all know one and others style of play, don't they all know the patterns of play? They're all decent professional footballers who have played at a very high level. Even when Greaves and Tuanzebe were fit we were still shipping stupid goals
They honestly play like a bunch of strangers.... [Post edited 27 Oct 2024 10:13]
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You have to give some allowance for the fact that we have had injuries to Greaves, O'Shea, Johnson and Tuanzebe, some for longer periods than others.
It is hard to play a settled defence when you can't choose the players you want versus wheb you don't. |  | | |
| The importance of a settled defence on 10:55 - Oct 27 with 2151 views | bobbyramsey |
| The importance of a settled defence on 10:18 - Oct 27 by bsw72 |
You have to give some allowance for the fact that we have had injuries to Greaves, O'Shea, Johnson and Tuanzebe, some for longer periods than others.
It is hard to play a settled defence when you can't choose the players you want versus wheb you don't. |
But don't they all train together..... ? | | | |
| The importance of a settled defence on 11:25 - Oct 27 with 2090 views | Swansea_Blue |
| The importance of a settled defence on 10:55 - Oct 27 by bobbyramsey |
But don't they all train together..... ? |
Yes, but our better players are out injured. I could train with them each day but I wouldn't improve things  | |
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| The importance of a settled defence on 12:36 - Oct 27 with 1992 views | bsw72 |
| The importance of a settled defence on 10:55 - Oct 27 by bobbyramsey |
But don't they all train together..... ? |
Not during international breaks, we’ve been losing Muric, O’Shea, Burgess etc. | | | |
| The importance of a settled defence on 12:50 - Oct 27 with 1954 views | DublinBlue84 |
Not just a settled defence, but a settled defence and keeper combination. The problem for me is it's not even just about whether Hladky is better or not in terms of the keeper debate.
I think we've all seen that some of the errors come from a lack of communication and misunderstandings between defenders and goalkeeper and effectively that is something that happens often when a goalkeeper leaves and is replaced by a new one. The problem is when you combine that with playing at a level as unforgiving as this. It feels like somewhat of an unforced error and we have the injury situation on top of this.
Our defensive players and by that I mean our back line and defensive midfielders had a lot more confidence in Hladky than they appear to have in Muric. You already know going into a Premier League season it's going to be a vast difference in class and having to build up a relationship from scratch with a brand new goalkeeper, whoever they are, is always going to take time. a constantly changing backline makes that even worse.
If you add into that the fact that Muric is clearly inferior with the ball at his feet, which itself is a large part of the way we played last season, then you have both implications in terms of players not only not having the confidence or experience in playing in front of a new keeper, but also having to adjust their game to the fact that Muric cannot distribute in the same way that Hladky does, and a constantly changing back line at a much higher level. It's a huge amount of change.
I am not saying that Muric is worse than Hladky as a goalkeeper overall, but what I am saying is that to me it is a gamble to change your goalkeeper and force those relationships to be build up from scratch in a scenario where there is little margin for error. If we were a mid-table Premier League team already who was relatively safe then I think you can afford to take somewhat of a risk, but in a team fighting relegation every point counts. Muric may well be better long-term, but in the short-term may be worse than sticking with what we have as by the time things have bedded in, it may have cost us too many points. | |
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| The importance of a settled defence on 13:06 - Oct 27 with 1924 views | pointofblue |
I think the big issue is losing Tuanzebe. I think we may have been able to muddle on through without Greaves as Burgess hasn't been too bad on his return, but we had Johnson's nightmare at West Ham, O'Shea not providing any attacking guile versus Everton and Clarke picking up an unwanted hat trick at Brentford.
If Tuanzebe hadn't had his accident I'm pretty sure we would have picked up some points from the last three games. Despite what I said above, if we also had Greaves alongside him I'm almost certain of it. And I'll add my usual comment that, at this stage, I'd still prefer Woolfenden to O'Shea at RCB. | |
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| The importance of a settled defence on 13:09 - Oct 27 with 1916 views | bobbyramsey |
| The importance of a settled defence on 11:25 - Oct 27 by Swansea_Blue |
Yes, but our better players are out injured. I could train with them each day but I wouldn't improve things |
But I'm guessing you're not a Premier League football player? | | | |
| The importance of a settled defence on 13:35 - Oct 27 with 1865 views | jasondozzell |
Completely agree. That's been a big part of our shakiness at the back I think. O'Shea, Woolfy, Burg and Davis I suspect for next run of games. |  | | |
| The importance of a settled defence on 14:22 - Oct 27 with 1801 views | FrimleyBlue |
| The importance of a settled defence on 10:10 - Oct 27 by bobbyramsey |
KM really has to sort this shambles out. Should it really matter who plays and who doesn't? Don't they train together every day, don't they all know one and others style of play, don't they all know the patterns of play? They're all decent professional footballers who have played at a very high level. Even when Greaves and Tuanzebe were fit we were still shipping stupid goals
They honestly play like a bunch of strangers.... [Post edited 27 Oct 2024 10:13]
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Time for maguire in January :) |  |
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