Match Thread Coventry City - Millwall FC Match Thread - Tuesday 20th Jan (7 Viewers)
- Thread starter Nick
- Start date
Jamesimus
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shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Yeah it’s great but it doesn’t make Liam Kitching a good defender.
Jamesimus
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Pretty sure he’s just doing what he’s told, which I’m happy about. He’s a good footballer and if we have to play in a way that suits the players we have, then that should be the way.
clint van damme
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But it does excuse some of the defending when we're so gung ho.
When we played 5atb for a period of games last year we were far tighter defensively with the same players and a far worse keeper.
Brighton Sky Blue
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We defended brilliantly at Southampton with 10 men, it's not as though the defensive skills aren't in the side.
Hutch11
Well-Known Member
Just opened the door to "yeah but kitching didn't play in that one"
Jamesimus
Well-Known Member
Exactly this. Kitching and Thomas can play in a low block, but they can also play forward thinking football and that’s their strong point.
Latibeaudiere for example would be / is really good in a team playing a low block, being a ball playing centre back in a high line however is not his strong suit.
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Yeah I think it makes sense to use him/set us up like that. I just think Kitching is a poor defender who often loses both his man and his head and it costs us. He should have cost us two goals last night and both were rushes of blood not about his instructions. I also think him and Thomas can’t defend their box and often loses both their man. Also not related to being broken on. I actually think last ditch defending suits them both the most probably.
shmmeee
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Might want to look up the lineup for that game
Brighton Sky Blue
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Don't need to, I was there.
Ccfcisparks
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Christ the whingeing is pretty tiresome. We can sit in all games, but I can guarantee we probably wouldn't be top if we did that.
Shannerz
Well-Known Member
Not just that, but we are often guilty of giving it away very cheaply, either in advanced areas and getting caught on the break, or with poor, risky clearances.
Millwall played very well last night, but the majority of the danger they posed was the result of lackadaisical play from us.
The goal itself was pure stupidity; not from the defenders, but Rudoni throwing himself to the floor rather than protecting the ball.
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
Check the xG for the games we played 5 atb. The strength of schedule wasn’t all that either. Ultimately, who cares if you concede just over a goal a game if you’re creating chances to score 2-4? We also scored considerably less goals back then too.
Millwall’s goal against us was pretty unstoppable, great cross and finish. The defence was set and wasn’t because we were hung ho.
The incident most frustrating was the JDS header that went straight to Azeez and he shanks it wide.
Cally Fedora
Well-Known Member
But they don’t do either.
Rodders1
Well-Known Member
100%. The other point is we’re committed to this ultimately now. Which is stressful and fun and the same time!
covcity4life
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Being a good defender is what makes Liam kitching a good defender.
mmttww
Well-Known Member
well it works to an extent, because we've got a reasonable defensive record and we score a lot of goals. It could be better defensively but we are a chunk of points clear at the top so I'm not sure the situation is as bad as you seem to want to make out.
SeaSeeEffCee
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Lampard must be an incredible manager to have us on autos form throughout his tenure while starting shit defenders every week.
covcity4life
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He didn't rate lampard as a manager either
shmmeee
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I feel like we’re going round in circles here but yeah he’s been smart in how he sets us up so it’s not such an issue.
COVKIDSNEVERQUIT
Well-Known Member
I suggest you take a look at how many conservative clean sheets we have kept, Rushworth holds the record.
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
So? Their defensive records aren’t that bad, the problem with those teams is the goals scored, both have less goals than games played.
5th in the league when it comes to goals conceded
- Ipswich 24
- Stoke 25
- Boro & PNE 29
- Cov & Bristol 51
Meanwhile, we’ve scored 61 goals and have a GD of +30. We’re the only team that’s averaging 2+ goals a game so mathematically, we’re averaging 2-1 every game…
Van Ewijk's defending a 2 v 1 near the end was excellent defending. He got his distances spot on, preventing a pass to their player alone in the penalty area.
Skyblueabo1111
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Thought he played well, in an open system, of Frank's choosing.
Skyblueabo1111
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They don't play like that
Skyblueabo1111
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Skyblueabo1111
Well-Known Member
Do that against Norwich, we will be 3 down
Shannerz
Well-Known Member
I think MvE's a very good defender, but he's a very good defender who is asked to play in a very attacking way (which he is also extremely good at).
He's had a bit of a wobble in form recently, probably due to the sheer amount of work we ask of him, but he's one of the division's top players,
Skyblueabo1111
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shmmeee
Well-Known Member
You are about the fourth person to repeat back to me the idea that we are prioritising attack over defence and to you I say: yes?
Gibbo
Well-Known Member
It's nothing to do with Lampard's strategy, high blocks, low blocks. Or any of that. That is just excuses.
It's just that JDS and Kitching are emphatically not good enough defenders for a team at our level and with our pretensions. And any amount of good passing or nifty footwork does not change that. Thomas has made himself good enough this season and MVE always has his speed to bale himself out.
Only a blind partisan can not see that neither is good enough for a top of the Championship team
I used to like KItching, but how can you when he makes so many errors and lacks the speed to get himself out of trouble