Brown Nose
Well-Known Member
We cannot defend. It doesn't matter what the formation is, the personnel that play, or the tactics we employ. We just cannot defend.
It matters not whether it is tracking runners, marking, blocking, tackling, winning headers, or whatever. We can't do it.
Between 23rd August and 26th December, we've played 25 matches in all competitions. All sorts of games against all sorts of opponent. We've played three central defenders or two, wing backs or full backs.
However, the cold hard truth is that we've shipped 49 goals in those 25 matches. We have one clean sheet in our last 19 matches in all competitions. Wherever we go and whoever we play, we expect to conceed a couple of goals.
We don't have anything much wrong going forward. We create chances, we have good enough forward players. But how long will they continue to give everything when it is pointless? When they know that whatever they do, it probably won't be enough?
Yes, we've missed Fofana and Justin all season. But we're delusional if we think that is the problem here. We've played plenty of these 25 matches with a perfectly capable defence. Experienced, international quality players making basic errors over and over again. Our problem is a fundamental one. We simply don't know how to defend typical game situations.
For me, heads have to roll. Changes have to be made. We need to make some changes to our coaching staff. Who is responsible for the set piece defending and why do we still employ them? Who drills these players on how to maintain a defensive line? They should be sacked. If the players are not taking instructions, they need to be moved on. Whether it's the players or the staff, it is time for people to be held responsible.
In any one off game, excuses will be made. Be it a referee, a VAR, an injury, a slip, or whatever. But this is not a blip. It is not a freak situation. It is endemic now. It won't change unless we do something that makes it change. And if the manager fails to address it during January, then he must be the one that takes the fall instead.
It matters not whether it is tracking runners, marking, blocking, tackling, winning headers, or whatever. We can't do it.
Between 23rd August and 26th December, we've played 25 matches in all competitions. All sorts of games against all sorts of opponent. We've played three central defenders or two, wing backs or full backs.
However, the cold hard truth is that we've shipped 49 goals in those 25 matches. We have one clean sheet in our last 19 matches in all competitions. Wherever we go and whoever we play, we expect to conceed a couple of goals.
We don't have anything much wrong going forward. We create chances, we have good enough forward players. But how long will they continue to give everything when it is pointless? When they know that whatever they do, it probably won't be enough?
Yes, we've missed Fofana and Justin all season. But we're delusional if we think that is the problem here. We've played plenty of these 25 matches with a perfectly capable defence. Experienced, international quality players making basic errors over and over again. Our problem is a fundamental one. We simply don't know how to defend typical game situations.
For me, heads have to roll. Changes have to be made. We need to make some changes to our coaching staff. Who is responsible for the set piece defending and why do we still employ them? Who drills these players on how to maintain a defensive line? They should be sacked. If the players are not taking instructions, they need to be moved on. Whether it's the players or the staff, it is time for people to be held responsible.
In any one off game, excuses will be made. Be it a referee, a VAR, an injury, a slip, or whatever. But this is not a blip. It is not a freak situation. It is endemic now. It won't change unless we do something that makes it change. And if the manager fails to address it during January, then he must be the one that takes the fall instead.
