6 clean sheets in last 7 matches - are we defensively solid now?

[SinNombre]

One goal conceded was the 92' equalizer against Milan in the first leg.

Kept Chelsea, City, Sociedad(x2), Milan and West Ham goalless.

Have we turned a corner on defensive solidity?

 

[Berbasbullet]

Excellent statistics, not sure what has changed but Ole must have done something right.

 

[Samid]

not sure what has changed

Deano. Soon on top

 

[Berbasbullet]

Deano. Soon on top

True! He must have played the large majority of them games?

 

[giggs-beckham]

Got to be the goalie.

 

[Brightonian]

Currently, yes

Credit to Maguire and Lindelof and also to Ole. And maybe Henderson too.

But we also shouldn't forget that this is the flip side of having FBs like Shaw and even more so AWB, who prioritise defence first and foremost. Every time someone is moaning that they don't create enough and why can't we buy the latest flavour of the month glorified wingback, the flip side is that defensively-sound fullbacks are very rare these days and they allow you to put solid defensive performances like this together even if you don't dominate possession with your midfield.

 

[TrustInOle]

Yes, I would say so, even some of the goals we have let in tend to come down to an individual error. We don't seem to let by to many clear chances these days.

 

[Marwood]

I think the opposition have helped to some degree. Going very defensive themselves like Chelsea and West Ham. Or for instance Milan tonight not playing a centre forward in the first half. That's perfect for Lindelof.

But I'm not that surprised. I've always rated most of our players defensively. Set pieces aside.

 

[sullydnl]

We've seen runs of clean sheets before that then fell apart to bad defending later.

We won't really be defensively solid until we have a better CB pairing. And even then, it will depend on how the team functions as a unit.

 

[Infra-red]

Rumours were that Darren Fletcher gave the coaches a few training ground pointers. If so, seems to have worked.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Unless it's a set piece...

 

[Crashoutcassius]

A mix of good performances and Chelsea and west ham being such negative teams

 

[Siorac]

Yeah, all of a sudden we're keeping clean sheets but we did that last season, post-lockdown, as well, only to then fall apart for the first half of this season. Like the entire bloody team, the defending is also incredibly streaky.

 

[Ludens the Red]

Darren Fletchers work on the training ground working wonders.

Currently, yes

Credit to Maguire and Lindelof and also to Ole. And maybe Henderson too.

But we also shouldn't forget that this is the flip side of having FBs like Shaw and even more so AWB, who prioritise defence first and foremost. Every time someone is moaning that they don't create enough and why can't we buy the latest flavour of the month glorified wingback, the flip side is that defensively-sound fullbacks are very rare these days and they allow you to put solid defensive performances like this together even if you don't dominate possession with your midfield.

I think they should be able to do both. We’ve seen that Shaw has been a beast going forward for the last month with goals and assists and we’ve maintained a solid defence so it’s proven that it doesn’t have to be one or the other and one doesn’t come at a cost to the other.

 

[ivaldo]

Apart from the beginning of the season, where we were clearly unfit after our grueling end to the season, we've not been bad. Recently though, we look as good as anyone defensively.

 

[VivaRonaldo85]

Goalkeeper has made a huge difference - more just his presence and commanding nature in the box. Looks like Maguire and Lindelof playing with more confidence and belief and crucially defending higher up the pitch. We even look slightly more organised at set pieces recently which is saying something. I’m convinced it’s the impact of the keeper getting a run of games.

 

[Feed Me]

We conceded 11 goals in the first three league games. If you discount that aberration of a start to the season, we’ve been fairly solid throughout. We look very resolute in the last month though. Pleasing.

 

[cyberman]

I said this at Christmas when talking about a title challenge but its still applicable. We are seemingly guarenteed to go on runs where its 2 goals conceded in 12 games or something stupid that didnt come that could see us over the line.
It doesnt mean we have sorted ourselves defensively, its just a run we go on

 

[Luffy]

It’s just a phase. I won’t be surprised if we’re defensively liquid or plasma tomorrow. Still appreciate not being on the verge of a heart attack when we lose the ball, even if the football has been dire to watch since we’ve tightened things up at the back.

 

[YAMS49]

It's a keeper who commands his area, simple really. It exudes confidence in all around them. If we go back to De Gea I guarantee we go to shit again defensively.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

D
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[pascell]

Rumours were that Darren Fletcher gave the coaches a few training ground pointers. If so, seems to have worked.

Where did you see/hear this mate?

 

[cyberman]

We conceded 11 goals in the first three league games. If you discount that aberration of a start to the season, we’ve been fairly solid throughout. We look very resolute in the last month though. Pleasing.

Apparently its 11 goals conceded from open play after those 3 games which is surprisingly impressive.

 

[Brightonian]

Darren Fletchers work on the training ground working wonders.



I think they should be able to do both. We’ve seen that Shaw has been a beast going forward for the last month with goals and assists and we’ve maintained a solid defence so it’s proven that it doesn’t have to be one or the other and one doesn’t come at a cost to the other.

Yes, and I'd also like strikers who are brilliant tacklers and work their socks off and score with every shot.

Being realistic, there are only a handful of FBs in the world who are world-class both in attack and in defence. We have one of them in Shaw. AWB is one of the rest - a human being whose strengths are balanced by weaknesses. My point is that it's very fashionable to crave more attacking fullbacks but no-one ever acknowledges the practical reality than in almost every case that means a less solid defender, and you won't get as many clean sheets.

 

[Eire Red United]

D
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Absolutely. Difference in him and De Gea is night and day.

 

[keithsingleton]

One goal conceded was the 92' equalizer against Milan in the first leg.

Kept Chelsea, City, Sociedad(x2), Milan and West Ham goalless.

Have we turned a corner on defensive solidity?

Don't get carried away with the stats. We need a CB with Maguire more than any other postion. FACT.

 

[Judas]

We look less nervy at the back, less scatty and desperate. I wonder why.

 

[Desert Eagle]

Henderson comes out more than de gea. His kicking is better. He actually comes for crosess and is great at collecting them. He allows Mclof to push up a bit more knowing they have less space to cover

 

[Gator Nate]

I chalk it up to Henderson. I mean, the whole back line is getting into a good stride, but Dean offers so much more to the defense than just shot stopping. DeGea's a one-trick pony, and losing his edge on that front.

 

[harms]

It's all in the balance (and, sadly, we struggle to get it right). At one point we sacrificed a lot to increase our attacking potential and became a free-scoring team, but our defense was hurting as it wasn't good enough on its own. Now we play very defensive (again), our forwards struggle a lot, but our defenders look great.

Henderson coming in and Shaw stepping up really helped though.

 

[Robertd0803]

Henderson is making a massive difference. Maguire and Lindelof seem much more confident with him behind them. There was several balls in to the box tonight that De Gea would have approached totally different for example.

 

[SuperiorXI]

Wait until 30 matches. I don't trust Maguire and Lindelof at all. They're not Man United quality. Lets see if they prove me wrong.

 

[Ludens the Red]

Yes, and I'd also like strikers who are brilliant tacklers and work their socks off and score with every shot.

Being realistic, there are only a handful of FBs in the world who are world-class both in attack and in defence. We have one of them in Shaw. AWB is one of the rest - a human being whose strengths are balanced by weaknesses. My point is that it's very fashionable to crave more attacking fullbacks but no-one ever acknowledges the practical reality than in almost every case that means a less solid defender, and you won't get as many clean sheets.

True. But I think what probably makes it more frustrating is that AWB has it in his locker to be better going forward. I don’t think you need to be technically brilliant to be a good attacking full back. It’s far easier to be a good attacking fb than a defensive one.

 

[Brightonian]

True. But I think what probably makes it more frustrating is that AWB has it in his locker to be better going forward. I don’t think you need to be technically brilliant to be a good attacking full back. It’s far easier to be a good attacking fb than a defensive one.

Absolutely agreed. But we should see that as a good thing. He can improve that side of his game in the way that a defensively-limited player rarely can. We've already seen a big improvement this season, and he's at an age where there's surely more to come too.

 

[Bubz27]

Has it come at a cost of scoring goals? Scored 9 by my count in those games, 4 in one game v Sociedad. Have to strive to find the balance.

 

[slyadams]

Playing two DMs in every game plus a very defensive RB, we shouldn’t concede many. The problem is during this run we’ve often looked completely toothless going forward.

Now Pogba is on his way back perhaps we can get a little more balance.

 

[Eire Red United]

Has it come at a cost of scoring goals? Scored 9 by my count in those games, 4 in one game v Sociedad. Have to strive to find the balance.

I don’t think it has- it’s not as though we have been sitting back any more than usual, I would say the injuries and extremely poor form of our attackers is to blame.

 

[Brightonian]

Playing two DMs in every game plus a very defensive RB, we shouldn’t concede many. The problem is during this run we’ve often looked completely toothless going forward.

Now Pogba is on his way back perhaps we can get a little more balance.

But we've been missing so many attacking players. Not just Pogba but Cavani for ages, Rashford, Martial. And we've had to run Bruno and Rashford into the ground as a result. I don't actually think the improved defence is at fault at all. We've played two solid CMs almost all season - some combination of Fred, McT and Matic. So you can't blame our reduced goalscoring recently on that.

 

[Fitchett]

Difference is having a keeper who commands his area, in Dean Henderson. It means that the centre backs don't have to defend as deep and are more confident. De Gea was the best shot stopper I have ever seen, but that ability has diminished in the past three seasons and doesn't compensate any more for his weaknesses. Don't forget that Romero had a higher percentage of clean sheets than De Gea did, during their times as our two first choice keepers.

 

[Lentwood]

It’s massive for the two CBs to trust the GK.

I keep saying this but I’ll tell you for a fact - Lindelof and Maguire KNOW De Gea is vulnerable and I guarantee it will be on their mind all of the time, with every decision they make.

It remains to be seen whether Henderson is a world-class GK but his presence alone is helping the back four and the CBs in particular