Our lack of clean sheets dating back nearly 30 games is clearly one of the reasons we have struggled so badly under Kean and why we almost went down last season.
The problem existed last season with J. Jones, P.Jones, Samba and Nelsen all at the club as we changed our style of play and became more attacking, but struggled to find the correct balance.
The problem continued into this season as little was done to address the issue and then firstly Salgado, then Dann and Robinson all underperformed, whilst the Jones's had gone, Nelsen / Givet were unfit and Samba was at odds with management resulting in Hanley, Lowe and Henley all being thrown in at the deep end, often out of position.
Playing the likes of Rochina, Goodwillie, Formica and Hoillett outwide has been problematic all season as other than Formica the others are reluctant to track back and defend at anytime. MGP for all his work rate has also been poor when played on the wings and clearly his best position now is part of a central three as Allardyce ably demonstrated. Playing Lowe and Henly out of position, even though they have both done well, has not been ideal.
Nzonzi, Dunn and Petrovich have struggled to provide the cover required by our central defenders when playing centre midfield, whilst Grella remains a total waste of space.
The removal of established PL quality at the heart of our defence is a major reason we have struggled defensively this season. Players used to playing together.
The lack of support provided by wingers for fiull-backs has also proven costly.
The lack of effective cover from central midfield as teams pass through us has also been notable.
Continued lack of form, errors and individual mistakes have hurt us badly.
Playing players constantly out of position damages team effectiveness.
Recognising that we need at least four / five clean sheets from the last 12 games and our inability to achieve any for many months now, has anyone any suggestions as to how this can be achieved with the players at our disposal, or are we resigned to having to score one more than the opposition to win games and score enough points to stay up?
Clean Sheets - Remember Them!
posted on 6/3/12
Yeah i agree with that but i still fancy a win at the weekend and i think their are 3 teams worse than us
posted on 7/3/12
Did an article on this a couple of months ago asking what the heck was wrong with our ability to defend and I think it was you oojw who replied with its a lot of little thing all adding up. Which I pretty much agree with.
1. Playing wingers who are too attacking.
2. Trying to play passing football.
3. Lack of a defensive coach (Hughes had Niedzwiecki) or a manager with experience of defending (Allardyce had himself).
4. Petrovic, Dann and Hanley all failing to meet the required standard.
5. Lowe and Givet often played out of their best position.
6. Losing J. Jones, P. Jones and Samba.
I can't see these problems being fixed before the summer, so it'll be a matter of trying to score our way to safety. Always a hard thing to do.
posted on 7/3/12
"with its a lot of little thing all adding up"
In a nutshell. That is why competent management is so important at this level. There is very little difference between many teams and squads and gaining 10% extra performance in all areas through knowledge, experience, expertise, training, fitness, strategies, tactics, formations and perhaps most importantly through inherent confidence are vital.
posted on 7/3/12
Why do I keep getting sounded out?
I can feel the love Pie
posted on 7/3/12
"Why do I keep getting sounded out?"
We are all mates on here Maccy. We just get a tad confused being in the bottom three whilst you say all is fine and dandy.
posted on 7/3/12
Just as I wrote it I chuckled to myself Maccy...
posted on 7/3/12
"But in all seriousness, it is strange that he isn't getting much game time, as each time he has played he has scored or assisted and tracked back well defensively."
I have read elsewhere today that Vukcevic has an appearance based monetary clause in his contract. Don't know if true, evaluate the possibility yourself and don't shoot the messenger!!!
posted on 7/3/12
I have read elsewhere today that Vukcevic has an appearance based monetary clause in his contract. Don't know if true, evaluate the possibility yourself and don't shoot the messenger!!!
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Now that would really hack me off
It also wouldn't make any sense as it is one of Kean and Venky's signings unlike Sally and Roberts...
posted on 7/3/12
It also wouldn't make any sense as it is one of Kean and Venky's signings unlike Sally and Roberts...
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makes perfect sense. Appearance based clauses are common place in football, nothing under-hand about putting them in contracts. However there is something extremely underhand to not play a player (to the detriment of the team) because of the clause.
Would fit in with the "venkys didn't know what they were doing and are now soiling themselves" theory.
posted on 7/3/12
Underhand is a nice way of putting it. There's something unimaginably moronic about doing that. We'd have saved a lot of money and hassle by not buying him in the first place.
Not that I rate him anyway, but then it could be argued he hasn't been given a decent chance.