Why don't we keep clean sheets anymore?

[Samid]

No clean sheets in the last 7 league games. Only 1 in the last 11. Why is this?

Worldies, deflections and set pieces. We seem to alternate between these ones. Even in games where we look comfortable there is always a lapse in concentration and the opponent capitalises.

Goals conceded by title winners in the past 5 seasons:
20/21: 32
19/20: 33
18/19: 23
17/18: 27
16/17: 33

You can't concede almost every game if you're serious about competing for the title. If you by default need to score at least 2 goals every single to win you're eventually going to fall short.

So how do we improve our poor defensive record?

 

[11101]

We could start by playing the world class centre back we just bought.

 

[Chairman Steve]

We won’t keep clean sheets this season because we have a jizz-worthy team

 

[dove]

We don't defend well. Doesn't matter who we play, we always concede about 10 shots against us so it's inevitable some of them will go in. I can't remember the last time we completely nullified the opposition without them creating any decent chances to score.

 

[DoomSlayer]

We lose composure and start panicking as a team in certain moments of the game. I think some of the players still can't fully handle the pressure of Manchester United.

 

[Flytan]

Last season it was like our players lost focus for a few minutes every game (often during free kicks) and we gave up a goal. We also often start slow. Both of which is a sign of poor coaching

 

[horsechoker]

The 2 goals we've conceded:

1 was a worldie, the other was arguably a foul and took a deflection off Fred.

Let's see how we do once Varane is playing

 

[JB08]

As much as it pains me to say, our goalkeeper department is certainly lacking right now.

 

[SirAnderson]

Definitely need to get better at keeping clean sheets, doesn't help that we usually concede first. Slow starts was the main problem for that last season, so hopefully our starts are better, and blitz the opposition right from the start to give them no hope and kill it off instead of hanging on to a goal lead.

 

[sullydnl]

Looking at the stats from the last 9 games of last season:

1) We had the 4th best xGC in the league over that period, behind City, Chelsea and Brighton (who incidentally were the three teams better than us in that regard across the season as a whole too).
2) We conceded +2.88 more goals than we "should" over that period, with City conceding +3.81 and Chelsea +3.49.

And from the two games so far this season we have the third best xGC, behind Chelsea and City.

So I'm inclined to say a) we actually weren't that bad over the last 9 games of last season and b) we've just been a bit unlucky this season. After all, we've conceded one world class strike and a deflected goal, neither of which our goalkeeper could do much about.

 

[Havak]

Everyone seems to score the least likely of goals against us. Of course, it does often come from us not tracking someone, or failing to clear the ball despite having multiple opportunities...

If we look at the two goals we let in so far:

1-1 vs Leeds

Ayling's run isn't tracked properly by Pogba. Pogba half arsed the tracking run, so Fred didn't take the full initiative and come across, which led to Maguire being static. Shaw could have also closed him down, but that would have left a man over out wide so he gets a pass. I feel like if Pogba didn't pretend to track, Fred probably would have reacted quicker and closed him down.

Of course, Ayling then goes on to hit an absolute worldie which is rare.

1-0 vs Southampton

All of Shaw, Matic, Maguire etc had multiple opportunities to lump it, instead they try to play out and put their team mates under pressure. Eventually it gets to Bruno who is probably fouled, but we don't get the decision. This came by inviting the pressure from Southampton's high press, rather than making an actual meaningful forward pass or clearance to relieve the pressure.

Then of course, they end up getting the deflected own goal from Adams' strike.

These are super shit goals to concede, because they are fortunate. Normally, the right back isn't going to burst the net with a thunderbolt nor is a deflection going to go against you quite as badly as that one. This seems to happen a lot.

But still, we could have defended much better overall.

 

[Red Shorts]

As much as it pains me to say, our goalkeeper department is certainly lacking right now.

The goals so far weren't really down to goalkeeping errors, were they? Nor were pretty much the ones at the end of last season.

We leave too much of a gap between CBs and our midfield, and we prefer to sit back rather than push into a tackle. Hopefully having Varane in will reduce these chances, as well as a proper DM who can provide better cover than the current options

 

[arnie_ni]

As much as it pains me to say, our goalkeeper department is certainly lacking right now.

Actually can't remember the last goal we've conceded that I thought either keeper should save.

 

[Red Shorts]

Actually can't remember the last goal we've conceded that I thought either keeper should save.

Because there haven't been! Henderson did let one in which I thought was very doable, but that was 5 or 6 away from the end of last season

 

[tenpoless]

I hope Varane can change things around. Not only by himself but also telling others on what to do in certain situation during the game. Sometimes the CB and midfield look like they dont know what to do, ended up passing back and forth before misplacing a pass/long ball. We cant keep creating chances for other team if we want to challenge.

 

[lex talionis]

The 2 goals we've conceded:

1 was a worldie, the other was arguably a foul and took a deflection off Fred.

Let's see how we do once Varane is playing

This.

It’s also far too early in the season to jump to sweeping conclusions. That said, we knew we had a weak link in Lindelof so we brought in Varane, a quantum upgrade. I’m still a bit concerned about Wan-Bissaka, but who’s a good RB but can be exploited at the back post on crosses. As for Dave, we shall see if he returns to his top form but you’d have to say is at the very least a very good keeper bast on last year’s form. The previous two seasons, he clearly struggled to maintain concentration.

 

[Poborsky's hair]

It's way too early for a thread like this. Just look how big difference Varane will be in very regularly 3 men defence past few seasons. Except from open play we will be much stronger in set pieces, along with good organization. Next step would be to get that DM, or at least not play fecking grandpa Matic. But let's see how that pans out but just by replacing Lindelof we are a tier up defensively. Hope he starts today, there's no time to feck around, especially for a player with a CV and ability like that.

 

[morbidsaint]

Starts with our midfield. Doesn't help that our center-halfs isn't a good pairing either. But lets see if Varane can help change this. He is at least not going to be bullied by opponents like Lindelof does.

 

[Samid]

The Fred Factor.

 

[Siezard]

You saw how many times De Gea save against Wolves?

 

[PeteManic]

Don't control the ball in the middle of the park. No central midfielder receives the ball. Everything is down the flanks and then the team gets caught.

 

[U99ted]

We only keep them in goalless draws.

 

[U99ted]

We only keep them in goalless draws.

You're welcome

 

[Caius]

Nice timing with this thread mate

 

[lilcurt]

Was just missing a Varane

 

[Jacob]

Champions League Varane! Clean sheet and assist.

 

[spaceboyRSA]

Today answered that. Varane

 

[Abraxas]

I don't think it was anything to do with Varane, we deserved to concede 2 or 3 today. If you give the ball away and let people dribble right through you and face up the back 4 you will concede chances no matter who is playing. Cannot do that at this level.

 

[Gator Nate]

I don't think it was anything to do with Varane, we deserved to concede 2 or 3 today. If you give the ball away and let people dribble right through you and face up the back 4 you will concede chances no matter who is playing. Cannot do that at this level.

And yet... We didn't.

 

[Crashoutcassius]

We don't defend well. Doesn't matter who we play, we always concede about 10 shots against us so it's inevitable some of them will go in. I can't remember the last time we completely nullified the opposition without them creating any decent chances to score.

We don't always concede ten shots

 

[Borys]

We face 20-30% more shots than other top teams. I think compared to City the number is about 80% more shots against United.
We can't defend as a team, as a result we face many shots so obviously some will turn into goals.
Yesterday we had a good defense and still conceded a great number of quality changes (xGA 1,8). We were just lucky, but that'll even out in another game.
We had a below average keeper last season as well, at least now DDG started strongly.

 

[dove]

We don't always concede ten shots

Yea, sometimes more.

 

[Gator Nate]

We face 20-30% more shots than other top teams. I think compared to City the number is about 80% more shots against United.
We can't defend as a team, as a result we face many shots so obviously some will turn into goals.
Yesterday we had a good defense and still conceded a great number of quality changes (xGA 1,8). We were just lucky, but that'll even out in another game.
We had a below average keeper last season as well, at least now DDG started strongly.

In 20-21, City conceded a league-best 7.4 shots per game. United were 8th at 11.3 shots per game. That's a difference of 3.9 shots per game, so a touch under 53% more. But, realistically, 4 shots per game more.

But... City gave up 32 goals, where we gave up 44 goals. That's a difference of 8 goals over 38 games, so even though we allowed 50% more shots, we only gave up 25% more goals.

Fortunately, we were also second best at scoring goals.

 

[Borys]

In 20-21, City conceded a league-best 7.4 shots per game. United were 8th at 11.3 shots per game. That's a difference of 3.9 shots per game, so a touch under 53% more. But, realistically, 4 shots per game more.

But... City gave up 32 goals, where we gave up 44 goals. That's a difference of 8 goals over 38 games, so even though we allowed 50% more shots, we only gave up 25% more goals.

Fortunately, we were also second best at scoring goals.

You're right, 50% difference in total shots, 25% in goals conceded. Which is massive.

 

[Gator Nate]

You're right, 50% difference in total shots, 25% in goals conceded. Which is massive.

And yet we beat them and drew them. And, on such a small sample size, it's not massive.

 

[U99ted]

Only 1 in 6 games then. And it’s not like Wolves didn’t have a bunch of shots.

 

[T00lsh3d]

Sod clean sheets, they’re for football’s monks. We’re no monk, we’re more like an STI-ridden sexy junkie motherfecker of attacking football

 

[Kush]

Only 1 in 6 games then. And it’s not like Wolves didn’t have a bunch of shots.

We've been unlucky to not keep more CS tbh. Leeds/Newcastle didn't create much, even today West Ham goal was fortunate.

It doesn't help chances opponents create are big though, mostly because they come through our own mistakes. We get countered easily and therefore chances of that resulting in a goal is high. This team needs to become a better side at applying pressure/pressing. It's still all too individual based in that regard.

 

[Samid]

1 clean sheet in the last 17 games. Outrageously bad stat.

 

[Kag]

Individual errors and midfield options that opposition can cut through like butter.

This problem isn’t going away.