The root of our defensive problems?

[Micky]

Just read Ritchie Wellens comments in the Mercury....

"For me, every time we play against a target-man, we struggle," said Wellens. "That has stuck out for me.

"Against Barnsley it was Andy Gray, who scored two, against Millwall it was Darius Henderson who scored a hat-trick, and the other night at Watford Chris Iwelumo caused us a load of problems".


I think he may have a point. Perhaps a Wes type defender is what we need? Matt Mills does seemed to get bullied when he plays against big centre forwards.

 

[gregs_y2k]

There could be something in this.

I'm sure Wes will start the next match after today's very impressive and composed display so we should be able to put this theory to the test soon.

 

[spionfox]

I'm sure Wes will start the next match .......

I wish I could share your confidence.

 

[Miles Away]

I've been a defender of Mills, but Pearson has been right to drop him.

Something not quite right there. He's obviously highly-rated in the game and I've seen him play well, but he just doesn't look settled at all.

 

[Biffa Bacon]

I've been a defender of Mills, but Pearson has been right to drop him.

Something not quite right there. He's obviously highly-rated in the game and I've seen him play well, but he just doesn't look settled at all.

I sort of feel sorry for Mills, he's not looked good for us but he has moved to Oadby (most of our senior players haven't moved to the county), is a city fan and been dumped by his girlfriend since he came here on a stupidly high fee. Too much pressure on a limited player and we now have better options.

 

[Profondo Rosso]

Is he a Leicester fan? He was only born in Leicester, moved out when he was about 6 months old. Said in the matchday programme a few weeks back he was a glorygrabber and just supported whoever was top of the Prem.

 

[Biffa Bacon]

Is he a Leicester fan? He was only born in Leicester, moved out when he was about 6 months old. Said in the matchday programme a few weeks back he was a glorygrabber and just supported whoever was top of the Prem.

Who knows, he has been reported as one in the past but could be Bollocks, the rest is definitely true. He was very down when he left Carrow Road yesterday, knows he could be 4th choice now (if Bamba ever bothers to come back).

 

[Miles Away]

I sort of feel sorry for Mills, he's not looked good for us but he has moved to Oadby (most of our senior players haven't moved to the county), is a city fan and been dumped by his girlfriend since he came here on a stupidly high fee. Too much pressure on a limited player and we now have better options.

Yes. I'd agree that things haven't worked out for him and mentally he might be struggling a bit. Maybe when things settle a little things will improve both on and off the pitch. I don't think you turn into a bad player overnight and as I said he is highly rated in the game and comes with some pedigree.

Here is the part where people make fun of us for having sympathy for a millionaire player blah blah blah...

 

[Micky]

I still think he has a lot to offer. Unfortunately I believe that the combination of St Ledger and Mills is too lightweight for the hurly burly of the championship. I think a Mills / Morgan partnership would be a good central pairing though there is not a chance in hell St Ledger should be dropped on his current form, he has been outstanding and looked every inch an international centre back, imo.

 

[cafe]

Defensive problems?Spare a thought for Brighton-Andy Carroll scored against them!Should be easy pickings for whoever Brighton play next(on Wednesday)

 

[Blue Maniac]

Yet another Dull City reference.

Shocker.

 

[PEN3]

I sort of feel sorry for Mills, he's not looked good for us but he has moved to Oadby. Too much pressure on a limited player and we now have better options.

To relieve the pressure, can I suggest that he moves to Braunstone or Beaumont Leys?!!

 

[M17TT C]

I sort of feel sorry for Mills, he's not looked good for us but he has moved to Oadby (most of our senior players haven't moved to the county), is a city fan and been dumped by his girlfriend since he came here on a stupidly high fee. Too much pressure on a limited player and we now have better options.

If that's right about splitting up with his Mrs etc then it could most likely have an effect on his performances on the pitch. I've been saying similar to my work mates that I feel a bit sorry for him as you can tell that he puts everything into every match and most likely wants to play a lot better than what he has been doing but for some reason, it's not quite working out.

I know people should be able to not let their personal life effect work but everyone reacts differently to things and maybes this has hit Matt more than it would others. Obviously it's all speculation but a break from the team might give him the chance to sort other things out and come back a stronger & better player than what we have seen from him already.

He was obviously a very good player for us to spend as much as what we have done on him, which probably hasn't helped too, so I'd much rather him come back better than we have seen already as opposed to selling at massive losses as if we did sell him this summer, we'd be very lucky to get back half what we paid.

 

[spionfox]

I sort of feel sorry for Mills, he's moved to Oadby.

As long as he is on the right side of the A6 he should be just fine.

 

[drummindefender]

The thing with Mills is that I can honestly say I've not seen him have a truly great game for us yet. SSL and Bamba have and Morgan was very good against Norwich.

Probably leave in the summer for half the price (or less!)

 

[Jeff]

Probably leave in the summer for half the price (or less!)

Assuming another club will match his inflated wages.

 

[Profondo Rosso]

Exactly! The thing is, who's going to want to pay those kind of wages/a decent transfer fee for him? We've just got to hope that he needs time to settle and he could become a very good defender for us in the future, as I can't see us getting rid even if we wanted to.

Based on this season so far though he should definitely be behind both Bamba and SSL in the pecking order currently, too early to say with Morgan.

 

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

Unless the Club have stupidly given anyone a contract, (other than loans), that guarantees a minimum number of appearances, then the manager should always pick his team on the basis of form, performance and strategic assessment of the opposition, but never on the basis of transfer fee/value or wages.

 

[Macky]

Unless the Club have stupidly given anyone a contract, (other than loans), that guarantees a minimum number of appearances, then the manager should always pick his team on the basis of form, performance and strategic assessment of the opposition, but never on the basis of transfer fee/value or wages.

Yes, great point Mike, but this is apropos of what exactly?

 

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

The view that some have that the most expensive players should be playing the best, so should be picked more often even though they are crap, in case they improve, so we can then say we are getting 'value' from them.

For instance, whatever is preventing Mills from being the 'good/great' player he was, is not being solved by picking him for the team. I have no problem with our most expensive player not being in the squad and we might have to take a loss on him eventually.

That is football. Some come good, others don't.

Sir Les was awesome for us, but W*se was a disaster. In theory both could have been awesome.