The problem is we looked shaky and leaked silly goals before this season when we've gone gung ho to attack.
Overall, we haven’t looked shaky in defence this season. The majority of the goals we’ve conceded have been from set pieces which suggest that from open play, we’ve got a solid defensive structure.
I'd suggest if you cant defend a set piece, when you have time to organise and pick up your opponent and defend a cross that you know full well is coming into the box, then your not very solid at all
Just on the eye test I think we’ve started home games very complacently and had to go behind in order to be jolted into action. That’s something I really want to see changing.
We've been caught out a number of times pressing a high line, and a simple ball behind the centre backs has caused huge problems.
That applies to WBA, not so much the other games. Charlton, Sheff U and Norwich were all games where we conceded against the run of play.
Did you read what I said? We've played a number of ways over the last few seasons and always leak sloppy goals. And not just on the break.
Over 20 games, to cite 2 examples demonstrates my point to be honest. In any case, Ipswich was different, we were chasing the game. The pertinent point about that game is the goal we conceded in the first half was against the run of play and soft. We situationally play a high line when we’re chasing a goal or expecting to dominate possession so we will get caught on the odd occasion.
And yet whenever we’ve played a back 5 it’s looked pretty solid.
That’s actually not true because we’ve conceded more goals than our xG.
And despite our style of play we still have the joint most clean sheets in the league. It's just people looking for problems honestly.
The eye test does matter in fairness, data can’t capture everything that matters. The biggest issue is clearly set pieces though, I have my own standard rant on what would help there but nobody needs to hear it again!
The goal we conceded against Preston was soft too, a simple set piece ball into their only striker who was not marked anywhere near well enough. You cant rely on a keeper bailing you out when the team continually fails to defend.
We need more strength at left back given that we’re asking Dasilva to play 90 minutes every game at the moment. Defence wasn’t the issue Tuesday though.
100% it’s the usual unnecessary and manufactured moral panic.
How do we compare to the rest of the league on set pieces?
I agree we need to add depth at LB, Bidwell will move on at the end of the season, maybe sooner, and ive no idea what's happened to Brau, if hes not ready then maybe a loan move would be on the cards, that would get him off the squad list and free up another place. (Same for Lats)
One clean sheet since we beat Blackburn 2-0. It’s somewhat redundant because we’ve often scored 2-3. When you’re scoring as much as we are, there is a trade off.
Still think we'll sign Villads Nielsen at CB, hopefully that means Lati can move on somewhere. Don't think we'll touch LB until the summer. I'd like more quality there but we're just carrying too many of them to justify it.
If we’re signing permanent players on long contracts they need to be players we think can step up a division. If he is one, sure.
He’s on the bench for a UCL team but he’d strike me as a ‘one for the future’ and therefore, don’t think it fits the mould.
We have conceded 15 in 11 away games, and 9 of those were conceded in 3 games, Derby, Wrexham, and Ipswich. in the other 8 games we have conceded 6 if my maths is correct.
While you are 100% right, the irony is that for extended periods this season, we actually have had it both ways!
Exactly, some of the concerns here are being overstated essentially because we lost 3-0 to Ipswich.
No. If Hull weren’t willing to sell him when they were one of preseason favourites for relegation, why would they sell when they’re in the Top 6?
