26 Oct 2015 08:58:39
I think out issue in defending is the type of player we have gone and bought.
We (BR and TC) have sought to purchase players who are confident on the ball and can pass their way out of trouble.
However, you have to win the ball first and that means competing in each final 3rd -w e simply haven't got enough players to do this

For an opposition corner we have, realistically, 2 players who can attack the ball - Skrtel and Sakho, who both unfortunately have a tendency to go to sleep.

If I was the opposition I'd love to be matching up against Moreno, Clyne, Coutinho, Milner, Lucas, Lallana etc. I'd be gutted if I didn't get on the end of a set piece.

Winning game starts with defending and clean sheets and no matter what else happens in January, 2 centre halves, a true destroyer and a keeper would fix us. If that means we have to sell a star (I said Coutinho a year ago) then so be it.

1.) 26 Oct 2015
26 Oct 2015 09:32:10
Really I don't think the problem lies in the defense. The problem is we simply don't have players who are aggressive enough to score goals. They are hesitant and their final attempt is the worst possible choice they can make most of the time. This is the problem.
Sakho is a top defender, Moreno this year shows how great he is, Clyne needs to be better and well Skrtel needs to be replaced. But the Southampton goal yesterday was pure luck. Can't blame anyone for it. And you can't expect to be keeping clean sheets every game when our main game is pressing the opposition and not parking the bus.

2.) 26 Oct 2015
26 Oct 2015 09:42:11
Pirate

If we didn't have any problems with defending we would have won the EPL instead of coming 2nd.

Southampton's goal was not luck, no-one attacked the ball at the far post and the header across goal saw Mane come in and bundle in virtually unopposed.

It starts with keeper, you need a keeper who is going to come and total everyone to get the ball.

Time and time again yesterday from set pieces Saints players got free, there has to be a desire to stay with your man and not let him get free.

3.) 26 Oct 2015
26 Oct 2015 09:44:27
Sakho is top defender and Moreno to show how great he is. LOL this must be a joke right.

4.) 26 Oct 2015
26 Oct 2015 10:03:26
The goal was not bad luck. It was a stupid foul by Milner followed by Lucas going to sleep at the back post added to terrible positioning by Migs. We are an absolute shambles at defending set pieces.

5.) 26 Oct 2015
26 Oct 2015 11:26:41
irish al i agree with you mate but milner had to make the foul to stop the break, but if you watch the game before the foul you will see that lucas gave the ball away to the southampton player who passed the ball out wide to the player milner fouled, the ball was not won from lucas he actually had no one near him and he just gave the ball away with a pass straight to the southampton player, i wish the fans who sont blame lucas see this he is always at fault for our goal that we let in, if the ball was won from lucas by a tackle i could not say anything about him but it was not he just gave the ball away straight to the southampton player then he let the player go at the free kick, he needs to be dropped asap because his mistakes are costing us points and stops us from winning games.

{Ed001's Note - how can you defend Milner for that? What a load of crap that he 'had to make the foul', there was no danger until Milner decided to get petty revenge on someone who had wound him up. Milner was solely and utterly at fault for forgetting he was the captain and deciding to be a spoilt brat and boot the lad. Good news is that Milner will at least miss one game due to suspension, as he has already picked up 5 yellow cards this season.}

6.) 26 Oct 2015
26 Oct 2015 12:44:07
As soon as Milner got booked, I thought he did it deliberately to take his suspension for the cup game and therefore be available for the Chelsea game.

{Ed001's Note - he did it deliberately because he had clashed with the player, nothing to do with being available for a later game. He was getting revenge.}

7.) 26 Oct 2015
26 Oct 2015 13:03:44
We need a leader in defence, not Sakho but a partner for him.
Someone good in the air who is vocal and can read the game.
Someone like Hyypia. And we need a left back.

8.) 26 Oct 2015
26 Oct 2015 14:03:15
We need Wisdom back before we need a left back.

9.) 26 Oct 2015
26 Oct 2015 15:35:49
A decent DM destroyer to protect the back 4 and Lovren will do the job.

He was great at Southampton with protection and alongside Sakho we will stop conceding silly goals.

10.) 26 Oct 2015
26 Oct 2015 17:11:56
@AggerDo How can you seriously compare this team to the one two years ago? Totally different makeup, focus and style. The defending is different, but has become better. The difference between Roger's tinkering and the stability of playing the same back 4 every week is there. But changes to approach and tactics will come.

11.) 26 Oct 2015
26 Oct 2015 18:26:16
MapleRed14

I haven't compared the 2

I was stating we have not fixed our defensive frailties despite them obviously not being addressed.

We have conceded 11 EPL goals already and whilst this may improve, replicate over course of season and we would be close to conceding 40 goals - that would be a push for 4th unless we suddenly start scoring hatfuls.