It was never that simple. Under Shota especially, we parked the bus most games so it skews both the defensive and attacking numbers. I'm not saying we were good in attack, we weren't but for us to get a top half defensive record, we had to play a back 5 and 2 defensive midfielders I think it's been said by numerous posters but we lack a proper quality centre half too. We need a Pelkas/Tufan/Oscar/Seri level of player back there
Exactly this, we are now trying to attack more than last season, which in turn makes you a bit more open defensively, and apart from Figgy, who frankly I have been a bit disappointed with, we have not improved the back line. Greaves is by far the best of the centre-halves but he needs someone of a higher quality to partner him.
I just don't see that - I think there isn't a lot to choose between Greaves, Jones and Figs so far this season - all hold up the play by constantly turning around and passing backwards and invariably it ends up with either losing the ball or putting Ingram under more pressure - Greaves lacks pace which means he has to dive into a few tackles otherwise the attacker has passed him- I still haven't decided whether we faff about at the back because the back line doesn't have the confidence or the vision to seek out a player to pass to in front of them or whether our midfield isn't finding space to receive the ball meaning the back line stop and pass backwards, sideways - which ever it is we just don't have the quality at the back which is why we're shipping so many goals
Greaves is the only one who as far as I can recall hasn’t made a mistake or been at fault for a goal, made the most goal line blocks and last ditch tackles too.
It's the latter, IMO. Yesterday Woods and Slater offered very few outlets which resulted in us passing back to Ingram far too many times. It's infuriating to watch.
Haven't seen stats for whole game, but very noticeable stat at halftime. Passing accuracy percentage very similar, low seventies for both teams. Passing accuracy in final third for them almost the same, for us in low fifties.
It's worrying to see how bad we are defensively compared to last season. Shota has said he's also concerned about it, as he should be. I just wonder what he's going to do about it. Maybe drop figs for a few games and give McLaughlin a go. Id like to see us stick to a back 4 for the rest of the season, I don't think we have strong enough wingbacks to play with 3 at the back and it also doesn't give you many options in midfield if we're going to insist on playing out from the back.
All professional pitches use hybrid grass nowadays, we've had it for at least ten years, that's not the reason for the injuries.
Agree. Case in point where Tufan was tracking back under pressure down our left wing, kept looking up for an option. Slater, Woods, Greaves all 30 yards away, man marked, just standing watching him struggle to keep the ball. None even made an effort to lose their man and offer him an option, literally just stood and watched whilst Tufan got pressed halfway down the pitch before playing it all the way back to Ingram who inevitably ended up hoofing it straight back to the enemy defence. So poor.
Was like watching a year 11 against year 8s watching them try to get the ball of Berge. Albeit he shouldn’t be playing at this level but really missed a trick signing all these luxury possession footballers and allowing the ever reliable Smallwood to go without a sufficient replacement. Unless it’s Simons
They’re a strong side with a lot of players who played for them in the Premier League. As a few have said on here, we are in a period of transition with a huge injury list. Let’s take this one on the chin and move on. It’s great to have Tufan back even though he was a bit rusty yesterday and we look a completely different side with Seri on the pitch. We had two clear cut chances and against a team like that you have to take them to get anything from the game. Onwards and upwards! Does anyone know what went on with the Sheffield United subs and our fans in the north stand?
Where does pelkas play? Looks a good footballer But him seri and Tufan in the middle doesn’t fill me with confidence Great going forward but no defensive cover at all
