Our defence

[dembethewarrior]

Re: Our defence

Could Nelson do what Flint does (defensively) if he was paired with Ng and McGuiness?

Him and Flint or any combination of them with mozza etc definitely doesn't work, but could he survive as one of the "less mobile ugly type" defenders alongside a more suitable 2 others? He's younger and probably on less than Flint as well.

[City123]

Re: Our defence

Could Nelson do what Flint does (defensively) if he was paired with Ng and McGuiness?

Him and Flint or any combination of them with mozza etc definitely doesn't work, but could he survive as one of the "less mobile ugly type" defenders alongside a more suitable 2 others? He's younger and probably on less than Flint as well.

Maybe, and I think there'll probably need to be a spot for him because I think he's one of the few who isn't out of contract in the summer?

I can see McGuinness being moved into the centre of the three

[Rjk]

Re: Our defence

Maybe, and I think there'll probably need to be a spot for him because I think he's one of the few who isn't out of contract in the summer?

I can see McGuinness being moved into the centre of the three

I'm not always convinced by McGuiness in the air

[dembethewarrior]

Re: Our defence

Maybe, and I think there'll probably need to be a spot for him because I think he's one of the few who isn't out of contract in the summer?

I can see McGuinness being moved into the centre of the three

Him having time on his contract is what made me think of it.

If he's there to just do the ugly work and not asked to play like Nesta he may have a chance.

[Lawnmower]

Re: Our defence

I'm not always convinced by McGuiness in the air

Nor me. He’s OK, but he’s certainly not as commanding as Flint or Morrison

[2b2bdoo]

Re: Our defence

That he becomes a squad player.

He isn't RWB because we have a loan player there, and he's slotted in nicely at RCB. We are losing players in the summer.

Why would a young player with time on his contract become a squad player? Only asking, respect your opinion but this one just baffles me, sorry if that's too honest.

I said it’s what I think Morison would do, not what I would do, I think he’s been very good.

If Morison gets the job I think he will look for other defenders, just my opinion don’t stress lol

[BLUEAWAY]

Re: Our defence

There has clearly been some improvement in this area:

We went from having no clean sheets in forever and looking vulnerable to every attack, to now having 3 in the last 5 games (admittedly 2 of those were against Barnsley and Peterborough), almost a 4th against Forest who grabbed a late consolation goal and managed to keep out Liverpool for an hour or so.

I wonder whether the improvement is more to do with the midfield rather than the defence itself.

All season we've wondered if we have the players who can play in a back 3, and for most of that time the defence has been pretty poor.
There have been plenty of individual errors, but none that seem specifically to do with the formation.

When we had Flint and Nelson and Pack passing it around at the back in little triangles it was horrible to watch and you always felt that a clanger was about to happen - however I can't really recall any of the goals we've conceded were down to not having the players to play out from the back - if anything it probably hurt us more as an attacking force, as the transitions to attack were so painfully slow that the oppositions always had the change to reset their shape.

By contrast, a lot of the goals I can remember seem to have been due to a lack of protection in front of the defence, with attackers able to run at the heart of the defence quite often. This seems to happen much less often now.

We have changed the defensive line by putting Ng in there, which has helped us become more mobile and able to pass out better, but at the same time we've overhauled the midfield, and specifically brought Wintle in for Pack.

I think the latter has probably had the bigger effect.

McGuinness and Flint slow the tempo of the game. McGuinness rarely carries the ball forward even when in space and Flint’s distribution is poor. The other players must get into space and make it easier for the balls to be played forward.

[LeningradCowboy]

Re: Our defence

Blackpool were definitely targeting Ng and our wing-backs in the air today.

[Citizen's Nephew]

Re: Our defence

Blackpool were definitely targeting Ng and our wing-backs in the air today.

They were. The first thing I said to one of the guys sitting near me was that they'd done their homework. That first half was hard to watch.

Didn't think it was McGuinness's finest game or first half and the pointless, slow passing around at the back was a throwback to a few weeks ago. Bagan's goal and Drameh's run/assist are the only highlights for me today. At least it wasn't 0-0.

[dembethewarrior]

Re: Our defence

I said it’s what I think Morison would do, not what I would do, I think he’s been very good.

If Morison gets the job I think he will look for other defenders, just my opinion don’t stress lol

:thumbup: thought you meant as your opinion obviously read it wrong.

[dembethewarrior]

Re: Our defence

McGuinness and Flint slow the tempo of the game. McGuinness rarely carries the ball forward even when in space and Flint’s distribution is poor. The other players must get into space and make it easier for the balls to be played forward.

McGuiness doesn't quite have the VVD pass from defence but he tries.

[Rjk]

Re: Our defence

McGuiness doesn't quite have the VVD pass from defence but he tries.

he's still only 21. at the same age VVD was playing for Groningen

[splott parker]

Re: Our defence

:thumbup:

he's still only 21. at the same age VVD was playing for Groningen

Lost me, VVD?

[Rjk]

Re: Our defence

Lost me, VVD?

The centre back that plays for Liverpool

[Dorcus]

Re: Our defence

Lost me, VVD?

It's not a virulent sexually contracted disease