A-man
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For those thinking our defence is too poor for challenging for the title or even top-4, I’m curious, what teams have a defence that is good enough to be challenging for the title?
Liverpool, City and Chelsea maybe - decent record but they just lost 2 matches in a row. But none of them would if Lindelof was starting for them.For those thinking our defence is too poor for challenging for the title or even top-4, I’m curious, what teams have a defence that is good enough to be challenging for the title?
If we look at the back lines of those teams I wouldn’t say they are better than us. City have a better defence considering the whole team, maybe also Chelsea. Liverpool don’t look very solid imo, they have no clue on counters for example. Agree what you wrote about Spurs.Liverpool, City and Chelsea maybe - decent record but they just lost 2 matches in a row. But none of them would if Lindelof was starting for them.
Spurs have the best record but I give a lot of credit to Hojberg in front of them and a lesser extent Sissoko, not sure Tobi and Dier is it without that help.
I quite like Soyuncu and Fofana at Leicester but I dont think they're ready this season to be a title winning defence so maybe in 2 years if they progress.
100%. All the other top clubs would be very happy for us to keep our defence as it is. That says it all.I think our propensity to leak unnecessary goals will eventually cost us any chance we have of fighting for the title.
I was thinking the same. Sheffield Utd are not exactly a renowned pressing team but still, they spooked our back 5. Why don't we lump it forward for Rashford, Martial, Greenwood to run on to - if the ball is behind them, the pressing team will stop pressing. Once that has happened a few times, the game will calm down and we can start to play through midfield again.why do always have to toss about with it at the back in the first 10 minutes?
just fecking launch it
when the game settles a bit then you can start doing that
Because ‘Arry thinks he is Franz FeckinBauer and wants to pass and sweep up all the time when all he is good at is heading - Lindelof is a much better passer than him as shown again last night with the assist for the first goal. Big ‘Arry is a good old English defender - a far lesser version of Tony Adams and he should stick to what he is good at and not try to be something he isn’t.I am not shifting blame here but why the feck was Harry passing it back to Henderson? He had no clear angle to play to, plus a player pressing him. If Henderson's next move was to lump it up field why didn't our captain just lump it himself? Every single game we are conceding from a set piece. We don't win headers and again corner to our near post ends up in the net. Comical
At their best they have conceded as little as 22 and 23 goals for a prem season. they genuinely concede less than us whilst also playing attack minded football. We play kinda reserved, score less and concede moreIf we look at the back lines of those teams I wouldn’t say they are better than us. City have a better defence considering the whole team, maybe also Chelsea. Liverpool don’t look very solid imo, they have no clue on counters for example. Agree what you wrote about Spurs.
I’ve been watching a lot of football this season and I think all “top teams” have been full of mistakes and poor performances in the defence. Our team is not different in that perspective.City seem to have adjusted and start to look solid, at the expense of not scoring goals however...
All started from Matic running out and completely losing his duel, then not having any desire or speed to recover.This is truly shit defending.
Thats not Matics fault. Losing duels happens. The problem was no one tracking the midfielder.All started from Matic running out and completely losing his duel, then not having any desire or speed to recover.
Then Maguire decides to come out of position to stop him and leaves a gaping hole.
You can see why we give up so many chances, there's just no understanding between our players and they've all got a mistake in them.
My god though Matic was SO POOR that first half.
I think you need to watch it again but before the clip starts.Thats not Matics fault. Losing duels happens. The problem was no one tracking the midfielder.
Pogba casually ignored the left side of the field... he should make that recovering run for Matic.This is truly shit defending.
Is this based on goals allowed overall?There are 15 teams better than us on HOME game defence.
All defences make mistakes its about how often. And as importantly, what they do when they arent making mistakes and are playing well. I believe all of them offer more defensively with less help than our CBs get from the fullbacks. Some obviously have better DMs in front of them than ours, especially when Pogba plays as one of them. But overall despite less quality its still 2 players who are deep, dont get in front of the ball and do some defending to help break up attacks so the defence dont have to deal with itIf we look at the back lines of those teams I wouldn’t say they are better than us. City have a better defence considering the whole team, maybe also Chelsea. Liverpool don’t look very solid imo, they have no clue on counters for example. Agree what you wrote about Spurs.
I’ve been watching a lot of football this season and I think all “top teams” have been full of mistakes and poor performances in the defence. Our team is not different in that perspective.City seem to have adjusted and start to look solid, at the expense of not scoring goals however...
At their best...? I’m talking about this season, which is different than other season because of the no pre-season. And even last season no team was close to 22 goals conceded. I have watched every Liverpool game so far and am not impressed. They have bigger problems than us imo.At their best they have conceded as little as 22 and 23 goals for a prem season. they genuinely concede less than us whilst also playing attack minded football. We play kinda reserved, score less and concede more
Well their best CB is out injured so there's that.At their best...? I’m talking about this season, which is different than other season because of the no pre-season. And even last season no team was close to 22 goals conceded. I have watched every Liverpool game so far and am not impressed. They have bigger problems than us imo.
The balance between scoring goals and conceding is of course important. It’s hard to say if a team sacrifices goals for a better defence or if they are simply poor at scoring. City are the ones who scored least amount of goals and it looks to me they have clearly sacrificed scoring for a better defence. Liverpool is doing the opposite and sacrifice defence with playing a high line with players who don’t have the competence of doing that. But Klopp think it is worth it and is now in the lead.
My point is that I don’t agree with people we can not win the PL because of our back line. The other title contenders don’t have back lines that are a level higher. Maybe slightly better but not a level higher. They all look vulnerable and make mistakes. If our back line is to poor for a team who wants to win, then there is no other team that could win either. Which obviously makes no sense.
Yes I agree but my point is thats the lesser of evils. The team should cope when a man gets beat and it didnt. When United broke through midfield we created chances based on skill, speed and movement. Their shape and positions were correct but there was nothing to be done .When Matic got done we left a man charging from the center circle without getting tracked! Thats what was truly criminal and what happens all the time.I think you need to watch it again but before the clip starts.
Matic runs out to him, completely gets done with a ball flicked over his head and then fails to get back and challenge him. He leaves a gaping whole in the first place (matic was poor all first half)
He is the reason the attack starts and finishes, you can't move blame anywhere else.
Ball watching midfielders.This is truly shit defending.
You can't use Lindelof's one assist ever to try and prove he's a better passer.Because ‘Arry thinks he is Franz FeckinBauer and wants to pass and sweep up all the time when all he is good at is heading - Lindelof is a much better passer than him as shown again last night with the assist for the first goal. Big ‘Arry is a good old English defender - a far lesser version of Tony Adams and he should stick to what he is good at and not try to be something he isn’t.
Fabinho and who else?With Fred and Scot in the middle,our defence is ok
It’s all abou your defensive midfielders
Liverpool play Henderson and 2 others
Chelsea have Kante and kovavic
Spurs have Sisoko and Holsberg
WijnaldumFabinho and who else?
What goals had been avoided by a fast CB you reckon?What do you think is the best way for us to get by without a fast CB or proper CDM until the summer because think we will need to prepare ourselves for that situation
He gets forward a lot. He presses but doesnt do much defending in defensive areas. More like BrunoWijnaldum
Winjaldum,Milner,ThiagoFabinho and who else?
Has Thiago even played?Winjaldum,Milner,Thiago
This is shocking. Maguire has nearly 20 yards to get in position and force the attacker to the touchline, but stands there flat footed and lets the attacker play a ball straight through the middle.This is truly shit defending.
Certainly the Son one against Spurs at Old Trafford and would say at least one of the goals in Istanbul as well. We also would have avoided some with proper leadership in that defence as wellWhat goals had been avoided by a fast CB you reckon?
Interesting choices. You picked goals from matches where Lindelof was replaced 1. Bailly and 2. Tuanzebe, both who are considered very fast.Certainly the Son one against Spurs at Old Trafford and would say at least one of the goals in Istanbul as well. We also would have avoided some with proper leadership in that defence as well
Also CBs who arent playing weekly so arent able to play themselves into form so we probably dont see the best of them.Interesting choices. You picked goals from matches where Lindelof was replaced 1. Bailly and 2. Tuanzebe, both who are considered very fast.
This kind of illustrates my take on this. Most of the times we have conceded goals for not being fast enough, is when we play CBs who are poor at: anticipation, positioning, decision making and awareness. Didn’t help at all that we played two very fast CBs.
Yes but still, it’s funny that the only goals that could have been avoided by a fast CB is when we played a fast CB instead of Lindelof...Also CBs who arent playing weekly so arent able to play themselves into form so we probably dont see the best of them.
Isnt that the point? That people want us to sign a CB with pace, not play Bailly every week because he has pace? And obviously not sign a CB with a bunch of weaknesses despite his pace.Yes but still, it’s funny that the only goals that could have been avoided by a fast CB is when we played a fast CB instead of Lindelof...