Defending (if thats what you call it)

Why do our players run away from the ball when defending. Steven Taylor did this every time yesterday and Simpson , Perch and Willo (to a lesser extent) also do it.

I can't get my head around this, why let the player advance another 30 yards before trying to tackle him? Surely if someone is running at you, you stand your ground and tackle him or actual move towards him and tackle rather than running away and therefore letting him advance into a position where he can shoot or cut inside.

When I play in defence I'm always straight up to the player with the ball and I either kick it away, try and take it of him calmly or my favourite, slide in. I would never run away and let the opposition into my box. So why do our players insist on doing this?

On a different note has anyone got any news on Jose's injury, fingers crossed it's not too bad.

 

Taylor was the dreadfull yesterday.

I was pleased Pardew took him off.

 

True to an extent. If the player is sprinting at you, you need to back off or else he'll just skip past you. However you can only let them get so far so eventually you will have to in for the tackle

 

Bit harsh, he was good going forward but was poor defensively.

 

Dont think Taylor actually got one tackle in yesterday.

Defence coach need's to do some work with them.

 

Yeah I understand that but we were backing off and then letting the skip past us. It would be alright if they backed of slightly then won the ball but they run away and don't even attempt a tackle.

 

His forward runs were great, if only his crossing was slightly better.

 

We were woeful all over the park. A game it's best to try and forget.