Defence

[stainrodisalegend]

Last year defence was our one really strong area and so in the close season most of the debate was about our supposedly poor forward line. However, we have been scoring lots of goals, the problem has been stopping other people scoring. Partly this is the inevitable consequence of playing more open, free flowing football and I'm not going to complain about that, but there have also been a number of really sloppy errors. Even against lowly Barnsley we let in two and very nearly let in an equaliser; then even Reading could have had a few; there were the two at Derby, the first of which was a shocker; and then two sloppy goals at home to Leicester.
I'm not going to lay into Cerny after one mistake but I felt both full backs were very poor against Leicester, particularly Ramage. All those who say he has turned the corner - principally because he claps the fans: big deal - are deluded. Whether or not Stewart was ill he is never going to be reliable enough to be the centre half of a promotion winning team. The only half decent defender on Fri was Gorks. I'm not Hall's biggest fan but think we need him back in the team in the absence of Connolly and Legs needs to go back to right back, where he looked hugely better than the woeful Ramage. That still leaves left back, where Borrowdale offers virtually nothing going forward and also lets a lot of crosses past him. Crucial this is addressed in Jan - any word on this?
Also think we should think about bringing in a specialist defensive coach because we can't afford many more of these schoolboy errors. There will be games when our forwards are not doing the business and then the back line has to be a lot tighter than Friday.

[shania]

From what I have seen in two matches on the trot, I really agree. Leigertwood should be a natural choice on the back. Concerning Borrowdale, maybe he isent allowed to go that much forward? I am not sure our forward line do track back that much, really.

[winalotto]

Last year defence was our one really strong area and so in the close season most of the debate was about our supposedly poor forward line. However, we have been scoring lots of goals, the problem has been stopping other people scoring. Partly this is the inevitable consequence of playing more open, free flowing football and I'm not going to complain about that, but there have also been a number of really sloppy errors. Even against lowly Barnsley we let in two and very nearly let in an equaliser; then even Reading could have had a few; there were the two at Derby, the first of which was a shocker; and then two sloppy goals at home to Leicester.
I'm not going to lay into Cerny after one mistake but I felt both full backs were very poor against Leicester, particularly Ramage. All those who say he has turned the corner - principally because he claps the fans: big deal - are deluded. Whether or not Stewart was ill he is never going to be reliable enough to be the centre half of a promotion winning team. The only half decent defender on Fri was Gorks. I'm not Hall's biggest fan but think we need him back in the team in the absence of Connolly and Legs needs to go back to right back, where he looked hugely better than the woeful Ramage. That still leaves left back, where Borrowdale offers virtually nothing going forward and also lets a lot of crosses past him. Crucial this is addressed in Jan - any word on this?
Also think we should think about bringing in a specialist defensive coach because we can't afford many more of these schoolboy errors. There will be games when our forwards are not doing the business and then the back line has to be a lot tighter than Friday.

That's the difference last year we had solid formation and this year we are wide open, makes for great viewing , but you will be under pressure as so many of our players commit to bombing on and when we lose the ball we have to many players wrong side, Mahon makes a massive difference in this system.

[Scarlet pimple]

Would like to know what % of crosses attempted from oppo wingers our fullbacks have cut out...........bet its very very low, hence one of our big problems, another is a good defensive midfield anchor, dont think fourlin can do that job, so its out of Mahon or Watson.....Mahon is ours Watsons not........