Velvet Revolver
Full Member
so Lindelof is this year's scape goat. when the defense does well its a defensive effort when we concede Lindelof is at fault. It's clear and obvious no VAR needed
The second goal against Palace was just as bad. It was unfortunate for us that it fell so perfectly to Aanholt after AWB dispossessed Zaha, but the shot was straight at DDG.I don't think we have been bad defensively if you look at the saves De Gea has needed to make, it's very few. The problem is we have been punished for the one or two bad mistakes we have made in the game.
The Southampton one was terrible. About 6 players in the box all pointing at each other whilst the tallest player for Southampton has a free run. Palace also the first goal was very poor to concede.
As someone else has pointed out it's our forward play that needs sorting.
to be fair that goal shouldnt be entering if we got a decent keeper, DDG has become a liability.The second goal against Palace was just as bad. It was unfortunate for us that it fell so perfectly to Aanholt after AWB dispossessed Zaha, but the shot was straight at DDG.
There's no point in restricting a team to a few shots per match if your keeper is going to let what should be an easy save slip through him.
Yep. While we're so absolutely mediocre in attack at the moment, it's utterly essential we don't give those sort of goals away.Whilst Smalling cant even pass a parcel, He definitely wouldn't have lost those 2 headers. Which directly led to equalising goals, against Crystal Palace & Southampton. We should have atleast 5 more points on the table!
I can't pretend I watched him 30+ times or anything, watched Villa maybe 5/6 times last year. He was good in the air but probably worse than Smalling in terms of actual aerial challenges. Was much better at other aspects such as positioning and marking though and of course he's still very young for a centre back.Genuine question. How good do you think Tuanzebe is in the air? Did you watch much of him last season in the championship? Why are you confident he is much better?
Not really an excuse, neither Terry or Carvahlo were blessed with pace and they were the foundations of that Chelsea squad.Maguire's biggest problem is probably his lack of pace. Well Lindelöf does nothing to combat that either, because he's slow himself. So we've kind of got this partnership of two pretty slow, comfortable-on-the-ball CBs. Which I don't like to be honest, we need someone quick alongside Maguire. Smalling had lots of flaws but he's fecking quick and he very rarely is beaten in the air - I'd probably have been more confident of a Smalling-Maguire partnership to be honest.
Lindelöf is the best of a bad bunch now, and Axel is the unknown quantity. I'd love to see Ole show some decisiveness here and give Axel a few games alongside Maguire.
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We should have signed 2 centre backs, a right back, 2 central midfielders and a right winger in the summer as the minimum.We already spent 80m in Maguire and now you want another CB? Even if we have Maguire next to De Ligt, we are going to concede goals.
We need to invest in other positions first, if we sign another defender it should be someone cheap or even free, maybe Alderweireld.
It’s been incredibly tough even when scoring first.Yep. While we're so absolutely mediocre in attack at the moment, it's utterly essential we don't give those sort of goals away.
The Chelsea game was superb to be at, but it gave a lot of us a very false idea of how many goals we were going to be putting away this season!
When we concede first this season it's going to be tough, as our forward line is totally not built to get after a deep lying defensive layout.
To be fair, it was in the dead zone between legs and arms. The Athletic ran a piece on this which basically said it is one of the worst places for a keeper to save when the shot is started so close. And also that it is a myth that near-post shots should be easily saves every time.The second goal against Palace was just as bad. It was unfortunate for us that it fell so perfectly to Aanholt after AWB dispossessed Zaha, but the shot was straight at DDG.
There's no point in restricting a team to a few shots per match if your keeper is going to let what should be an easy save slip through him.
No one picked up Vestergard even on the corner, he ran in unapposed towards the near post, then he moved back out again, where he remained alone, Pogba was the nearest player to him, and should have closed him down, and/or prevented his run, Lindelof could have also picked him up as he was reasonably close, but Vestergard was allowed a free run, so got the jump on Lindelof who was pretty much jumping from a standing start, not sure Maguire would have got to the ball if he had been in that position, but he may well have put Vestergard off from a clean header. I like Tuanzebe, but I don't think he would have done any better.Against Southampton, a couple of things surprised me. Firstly, Lindelof had to take on players in foot races down the left channel, and he also had to man mark a 2m giant. Where the heck was Maguire?
Also, that goal, where was Ddg? Any half decent goalie picks that easily enough.
I think most of the Caf would have saved that shot blindfolded. He goes with his hands when he could have just stuck his foot out, and he goes with his feet when you expect him to save it with his hands, very unconventional! He seems to be doing it regularly, I'm anxious these days with any half decent shots coming at him.To be fair, it was in the dead zone between legs and arms. The Athletic ran a piece on this which basically said it is one of the worst places for a keeper to save when the shot is started so close. And also that it is a myth that near-post shots should be easily saves every time.
But, DDG had some bad body positioning in the seconds before which made it even more difficult.
Id agree with this . Our defence wont be anything special while we have a midfield as weak as we do.Defences conceed goals, even good defences. Our current midfield options don't offer the defenders much protection, and whilst De Gea could do with a confidence boost, I believe he's still got greatness in him.
I see potential in this partnership, and given time I think we could have one of the top 3 best defences in the league with the current lineup. Is that good enough? Let's give it time. This is a young team I'm proud to support with patience.
It's pretty certain we're going to have one super long hard season.It’s been incredibly tough even when scoring first.
Don't know if it answers your question, but Bailly is one of the worst in the league when it comes to heading the ball.I would like to see Bailly as Maguires partner, if he can stay non-injured for more than 20 minutes. Lindelof flatters to deceive and can't head the ball. What f..king use if a centre half who can't head the ball clear?
Smalling was good in the air but his abilities get more and more exaggerated for every day. Last season he lost 2 aerial duels per game on average which corresponded to 35% of all his aerial duels. So I wouldn't say he "definitely wouldn't have lost those two headers" as it is highly likely he had lost one of them actually.Whilst Smalling cant even pass a parcel, He definitely wouldn't have lost those 2 headers. Which directly led to equalising goals, against Crystal Palace & Southampton. We should have atleast 5 more points on the table!
Palace and Southampton did nothing all game, the only two moments he was asked to defend he completely messed up! Smalling was average but I feel like he would of dealt with those two moments.Smalling was good in the air but his abilities get more and more exaggerated for every day. Last season he lost 2 aerial duels per game on average which corresponded to 35% of all his aerial duels. So I wouldn't say he "definitely wouldn't have lost those two headers" as it is highly likely he had lost one of them actually.
It is also a bit exaggerated to say that if he played those two matches we would have had 5 more points, at least- maybe even more how that is possible.
Ole just loves British players. That's it.So is it fair to say Ole has no intention of playing high pressing football, considering he went and bought Maguire for 80m?
It is very speculative to guess the outcome of the two matches if he had played instead. Maybe also the outcome of the Chelsea game would have been different.Palace and Southampton did nothing all game, the only two moments he was asked to defend he completely messed up! Smalling was average but I feel like he would of dealt with those two moments.
You can't talk about the goal being a positioning issue. Maguire dropped to give Tuanzebe a passing option. In that area, that mistake was absolutely costly.That was Tuanzebe's fault the most, but such positioning from our entire set of ball playing defenders. It's good that they know how to pass the ball though.
Edit: And another one, great stuff.
There is a clear difference between Aubameyang's reaction and Lindelof and Maguire's. That for me is a difference between good striker and poor defenders, or defenders that are there to attack first and defend second. Maguire didn't even think about defending(his reaction was probably even worse than linesman's), while Auba immediately noticed it was a bad pass and started running. Lindelof was in no man's land and had no right being there in line with Tuanzebe so high up the pitch, one of midfielders should be standing there.You can't talk about the goal being a positioning issue. Maguire dropped to give Tuanzebe a passing option. In that area, that mistake was absolutely costly.
But aside from that, they don't look the most inspiring partnership yet.
Maguire was never getting to that ball once the mistake was made. We'll have to agree to disagree on him making a mistake there.There is a clear difference between Aubameyang's reaction and Lindelof and Maguire's. That for me is a difference between good striker and poor defenders, or defenders that are there to attack first and defend second. Maguire didn't even think about defending(his reaction was probably even worse than linesman's), while Auba immediately noticed it was a bad pass and started running. Lindelof was in no man's land and had no right being there in line with Tuanzebe so high up the pitch, one of midfielders should be standing there.
Defenders pretending to be midfielder's and doing what they aren't supposed to do will probably cost us a win today.
You don't know what you're looking at. Players position themselves to receive the ball. You can't do that and position yourself on the off chance another player gives a simple ball away on the edge of your box.That was Tuanzebe's fault the most, but such positioning from our entire set of ball playing defenders. It's good that they know how to pass the ball though.
Edit: And another one, great stuff.
Of course he wasn't, but even his reaction was late. Compare him with Aubameyang.Maguire was never getting to that ball once the mistake was made.