Adel just cannot defend

[kingy10]

Just watch Adel for Wigan's first goal today and then watch Villa's goal last week. Just stands and watches both times.

I know he can be a dangerous player for us, but his total lack of any defensive ability leaves our already crap back four so exposed.

Time for Hoillet to be given a chance.

Got to get Faurlin, Mbia and Granero in the middle. Derry past it and Diakite useless.

[SuperHoopNik]

He's getting better at it though, tracks back and tries to get the ball back after his mistakes. He's not suddenly going to turn into Vidic straight away you know.

[Shania]

Adel shouldn´t be allowed anywhere near our backline IMO.

[theblackmafia.]

He's better at defending than Boswinga coz at least Adel tries now!

[kingy10]

Not even a case of defending, its just trying and making it hard for the opposition, not watching and casually pretending to go for the ball. Total bottler.

[Geng]

Adel has created third most chances from open play in the Prem this season. Only Suarez and Pienaar are ahead of him. And that's despite him often being double marked, playing in one of the worst ever Prem teams, with pathetic movement in front of him and few other threats to draw defenders away from him.

He needs to improve his defending, sure. That stupid move he always does when going in for headers - the exaggerated pretend effort, followed by running round behind to pick up the ball... he needs to not do that in our own box (Wigan's first today).

But he's put in so much more effort into tracking back and not giving up this season. And his attacking play is head and shoulders above the rest of our team, and most of the rest of the league.

But yep let's drop him for Hoilett, our own Dirk Kuyt.

[kingy10]

Close one as Bosingwa doesn't try either, but he occasionally wins a tackle. I've never seen Adel even go in for one.

[theblackmafia.]

Not even a case of defending, its just trying and making it hard for the opposition, not watching and casually pretending to go for the ball. Total bottler.

It's your thread and you said he can't defend! I agree he bottles out of ariel challenges and his defensive positioning is woeful, but what do you expect from him? Wegerle weren't any good at defending either.

[MYU]

Not even a case of defending, its just trying and making it hard for the opposition, not watching and casually pretending to go for the ball. Total bottler.

That's it.

[kingy10]

Adel has created third most chances from open play in the Prem this season. Only Suarez and Pienaar are ahead of him. And that's despite him often being double marked, playing in one of the worst ever Prem teams, with pathetic movement in front of him and few other threats to draw defenders away from him.

He needs to improve his defending, sure. That stupid move he always does when going in for headers - the exaggerated pretend effort, followed by running round behind to pick up the ball... he needs to not do that in our own box (Wigan's first today).

But he's put in so much more effort into tracking back and not giving up this season. And his attacking play is head and shoulders above the rest of our team, and most of the rest of the league.

But yep let's drop him for Hoilett, our own Dirk Kuyt.

Amazing stat. Where is that from? Be interesting to know how a chance is defined.

Adel has been anonymous since Harry has taken over, mind you so has Diakite, I don't remember either player doing anything of note today.

[Pey]

Adel has created third most chances from open play in the Prem this season. Only Suarez and Pienaar are ahead of him. And that's despite him often being double marked, playing in one of the worst ever Prem teams, with pathetic movement in front of him and few other threats to draw defenders away from him.

He needs to improve his defending, sure. That stupid move he always does when going in for headers - the exaggerated pretend effort, followed by running round behind to pick up the ball... he needs to not do that in our own box (Wigan's first today)

But he's put in so much more effort into tracking back and not giving up this season. And his attacking play is head and shoulders above the rest of our team, and most of the rest of the league.
But yep let's drop him for Hoilett, our own Dirk Kuyt.

oiiiiii...... whats wrong with Dirk??
we only could wish we had such a natural goal scorer in our squad.

[gator]

Close one as Bosingwa doesn't try either, but he occasionally wins a tackle. I've never seen Adel even go in for one.

You missed his Yellow Card then?

[Geng]

Dirk Kuyt reference was sarcasm! I'd love to have a player like that on the right, to complement Taarabt on the left. Someone who is direct, scores goals, gets in behind the defence, and works hard defensively.

[Geng]

Amazing stat. Where is that from? Be interesting to know how a chance is defined.

http://www.teamtalk.com/premier-league/8289917/Harry-should-try-to-harness-Taarabt-talent

Only seven Premier League players can boast a better key pass rate than Taarabt this season (as can be seen on WhoScored.com's Premier League statistics page), and most of those rely on set pieces to lay on those chances. In fact, only Everton's Steven Pienaar (2.5) and Liverpool's Luis Suarez (2.46) create more chances in open play on average than the Moroccan (2.33); an astounding statistic for a player at a team that has scored only 10 league goals and are bottom of the table.

That's from a couple weeks ago though, it seems he's now third in the 'key passes' stat:

http://www.whoscored.com/Regions/252/Tournaments/2/Seasons/3389/Stages/6531/PlayerStatistics/England-Premier-League-2012-2013

click 'KP' at the top of the table, if it isn't already sorted

[Shania]

He is a vastly talented player,but he is somewhat short of defensive fibres. Hence he should have been played(ideally) almost as a striker.