Basics in defending

Yet again really bad defending has cost us!
In almost every game this season we have given teams goals via our lack of basic defending.By this I mean not cutting out crosses that have lead to goals, not closing down on players shaping to shoot and not tracking runners from deep etc.
Each week we hear Moyes talking about cutting out these basic errors and "LEARNING" from these mistakes,yet in every match we continue doing the same things.
WTF are our defensive coaches doing in training?
Our record of 1 defeat in our last 12 last season was based on our solid defence with our midfield tracking back and helping out.
Surely our problems cannot be down to the loss of Kaboul alone.
I am so annoyed that we cant get simple basic defending right.
Top marks yet again to the fans who attended yesterdays game.
I still remain positive but need to see improvement defensively and putting a stop to gifting goals
Rant over

 

I totally agree, we seem to be using a zonal defending system which has our defence confused,as they don't know who is supposed to be marking where. My suggestion would be to go back to man for man marking. We lack quality throughout the squad but at least try and make ourselves difficult to beat if we are not going to produce many goal scoring opportunities.

 

Yep and that means one thing get Sam back in next week (him taking the England job could have changed our club history). It is not just the defence man they just hoof the ball away and poor Defoe and Watmore must be thinking what the hell is this ?. Getting it right at the back is a must first even 0-0 at WHU would be a start, then £100 m spent in Jan but of course under Short that ain't going to happen.

 

Watching Kaboul play now for Watford and Im gutted we lost him for peanuts. Him and Kone looked solid.
Watching the build up to the Palace match yesterday it showed Bentekes goal against us again and I honestly cant believe how pathetic our defence was leaving him of all players stood alone. Were an absolute shambles all over the pitch this season.

 

And Virgil, what a player, and I was daft enough to think we were going to sign him before he went to Southampton. I would have Vergini and Coates back before some of these latest acquisitions tbh.

 

Well given both goals came from Rodwell's marker and he was nowhere near for both I'm putting the defeat firmly with him for this one.

 

Basics of defending - do not give the ball away cheaply in your own half. Both goals came from that and the back line was thrown into disarray, no good blaming all on the defence when those in front of them surrender possession.

 

I think we can blame both. Like I said were a shambles all over.

 

That new lad N'Dong was piss poor for both goals.

 

Agreed that is part of the problem but once you have given away possession cheaply it is then the responsibility of the person who done that (in many cases a midfield player),to trackback and help out with the defending.This is part of what I said that closing down opponents and tracking back are things that we are NOT doing well enough,if at all this season.Obviously that has put added pressure on the defence but that does not excuse the fact that on numerous occassions (ie at least two of the Palace goals,two of the Everton goals and yesterdays first goal ),players were left unmarked or not picked up to give them the simple task of scoring

 

Know what you are saying Bri.How many games has he started and has still NOT been in a winning side.Must be approaching 25
Not good enough!!!!

 

When you think about it, our defence have to cope with at least twice as much but probably three times as much defending as other teams.
With us being almost constantly under attack, getting battered every game, it's a small wonder we haven't conceded more.
The one positive is that our defenders are certainly getting lots of experience at defending.

 

Harsh - agree for the first one, he tried to pass him on to PVA which he shouldn't have in that position. PVA could have done better with it but also just let Allen wander past him as easy as you like.
2nd one was Billy Jones - he was pointing at Allen on the edge of the box as if to say 'He's mine' but then got caught ball watching and didn't move out to close Allen down. Rodders was covering front post area as you would expect for one of the taller players. N' Dong also needs to put his hands up - shocking pass that was intercepted in the build up to the first ( I think ).

 

Absolutely - I watched Southampton yesterday and their centre forward, from a defensive corner, ran to 40 yards from his own goal to receive the ball. Defender picked him out easily and the ball was cleared and retained by Southampton. No offence to Defoe, but he rarely comes back past the half way line to receive a ball - and our defence normally boot it up the other end to the defender. So little composure in our side in defence.

Kaboul definitely had composure - still hope the twat gets injured in training! Homesick my arse. I do reckon his sale has cost uis a lot this season. KJone is an OK defender - but he's that big solid unit - he needs a footballer and an organiser alongside him. I think him and O'Shea would be our strongest partnership now. I saw some promise early on in Djilobodji but his confidence is shot now. My biggest worry is how long can Pickford remain confident behind that defence?

 

Not sure how true it is but apparantly the reason Kaboul wanted to move to London is because his kids getting treatment at a hospital down there.

 

I would love to know who it was who authorised the purchase of Djilabodji

 

That was one of the stories doig the rounds - if his kid is poorly, how did he still have time to negotiate a contract with Watford?

Another one was that his wife would leave him if he didn't move.

Never heard or seen any of them corroborated - the other one was that he's "Homesick" - why has he gone to London insetad of France then?

He can **** off - he will get booed by me when he returns. He's a part of the reason we are in this **** IMO. If we'd offered him £150k a week I wonder if he'd be homesick/wife want to leave/personal circumstances? He has said "personal circumstances" and the club were very understanding. If your kid is seriously ill, you ask for a leave of absence to go to spend time with them. No chance - I've only heard minor rumours about it and very few of them.

Can find nothing official on it all the same

 

Don't worry about the basics of defending anyway, I'm sure Moyes has a Phil Jagielka DVD he can dig out to fix all of the problems.

 

I wonder if Vidic kept it as a reminder of his successful times!