Its the Defence!

[stanistheman]

I know it's a difficult transfer window that just passed and the club tried their best but when we didn't land Alex or Samba my worst fears came true! The defence hasn't been good enough all year, especially in the middle and now with Young's injury we're back to where we were, not Premiership quality!

Maybe true, but don't tell me that Norwich have better defenders, but they are organised and keep the ball better.

Defenders don't have to be great quality to get a tackle in or head the ball away etc.

[CroydonCaptainJack]

I know it's a difficult transfer window that just passed and the club tried their best but when we didn't land Alex or Samba my worst fears came true! The defence hasn't been good enough all year, especially in the middle and now with Young's injury we're back to where we were, not Premiership quality!

I am not sure either of them would have made that much difference. One is on strike and one is a mercanary. Hardly the 'sleeves rolled up' mecrchants we seem to need at the moment.

[gator]

I am not sure either of them would have made that much difference. One is on strike and one is a mercanary. Hardly the 'sleeves rolled up' mecrchants we seem to need at the moment.

Maybe so with Alex although I think he is quality but Samba is out of the Rovers side because he wanted desperately to transfer to us and be re-united with Hughes! They both would have helped IMHO and may have been the difference in survival, how much is that worth?

[DouDou_87]

Anton's been solid enough for us this season, considering everything else that's gone on.

The problem is we haven't had a partnership in the middle. Gabbidon and Hall are too injury prone to establish a partnership with AF.

Anyone know how long Youngs out for as we need Onuoha back in the middle.

[winalotto]

our current form is definately down to our ropey defence, no wonder we were trying to get alex and samba. Out of all our areas on the pitch this is woefully the worst.

Two big problems have happened recently as well

1. Faurlins shielding was phenomenal and he really protected our dodgy back line before he got injured.

2. Mark Hughes seems to like an attacking style of play (good thing ) but this has resulted in us playing a number of more offensive minded players and leaving our dodgy defence unprotected.

I really hope Diakte will be that holding player we are missing, hopefully over the next 2 weeks they can get it together

I dont think the defence have ever been properly shielded, they've always been exposed.. Hughes likes his sides to play two banks of four, really need a defence midfielder with legs, then i reckon we will be ok..

[silvercue]

Defence is looking poor and that is partly organisation and team drill. We all knew we had issues up front.

However, the midfield have definatley been the biggest let down. SWP would be dropped by any manager if he wasn't a "big" player. And Joey is a total failure as a player and captain IMHO and possibly one of the big reasons we are failing.

I think our Defence cannot be singled out for the blame here.

[winalotto]

Defence is looking poor and that is partly organisation and team drill. We all knew we had issues up front.

However, the midfield have definatley been the biggest let down. SWP would be dropped by any manager if he wasn't a "big" player. And Joey is a total failure as a player and captain IMHO and possibly one of the big reasons we are failing.

I think our Defence cannot be singled out for the blame here.

Joey Barton +1 in the middle simply doesn't work, he isn't quick enough, neither are Derry of Ali. Its why im really praying Samba is the answer, that will allow Barton and co.. to think forward moving. He can also cover at centre back as he has played there before.

[Timmy the Doc]

Our defense looked quite solid in some games when Young, Ferdinand, Gabbidon and Traore played. But I think our attack has looked good only when Cisse was there. He amazingly found lots of space with his great movement.

[waggadaddy]

makes you wonder if the stalwarts of our 27 clean sheets last year (Gorkks and Connolly) would have been a better partnership in the middle?? At least they had an understanding. I know i'd prefer both of them over Hall and Gabiddon!

[PedalR]

makes you wonder if the stalwarts of our 27 clean sheets last year (Gorkks and Connolly) would have been a better partnership in the middle?? At least they had an understanding. I know i'd prefer both of them over Hall and Gabiddon!

People moaned about them two a lot last year too.... You'd think 27 shut-outs would keep people happy but it wasn't the case. Personally I'd rather have got shot of Fitz and kept Kaspers.

[1cliveallen]

any team reliant on hall and gabbidon are rudderless ships..2 shocking players..hall is a 6 4" inch midget in the air... gabbidon is a lumux..done for pace by kevin davies opening game and aint been at the races since.. connolly whilst not the answer did ok against man u and arsenal...cant get rid of hall due to wages but pretty both of their contracts end in june....just aggy,borrowdale to go

[kingy10]

Buzz is not Faurlin.

Buzz is not a CM.

Defence has no protection. Barton runs around a lot, but cannot do it on his own.

Too many non tacklers in the midfield. Buzz, SWP, AT will never win the ball for you. Good when they have it crap when they haven't

[SteveQPR1975]

Hall for a big bloke is useless in the air and his footballing positional play is useless
As for our midfield SWP and Barton both give the ball away far to many times when we are on the attack which is putting far to much pressure on our defence

[SteveQPR1975]

Also kenny aint been at the races this season he seems to me more interested in waving to his family in south Africa rd

[Shania]

Any team's 1st line of defence is their forward line followed by their midfield to cover their defence and we dont do any of that ,our loss of Faurlin has proved to be drastic at both ends