Firstly let's get this one out the way, on paper Manchester City are probably the best team in Premiership, they can score goals and tear teams to pieces like us yesterday. I've been going on for months that we need another centre back and two new full backs. Don't you think after last dozen or so games where we've struggled to keep a clean sheet that this is evident? We've suffered badly with injuries at the back this season I'm sure if we had are full defence we would of conceded less, but yesterday it was evident we looked like a bunch of amateurs I think we need some more quality in this area. I feel sorry for Ruddy his had an excellent season but I think the players who protect him let him down sometimes.
How much did Man U defenders cost? They lost at OT by the same scoreline, and I'm pretty sure that was before the Vidic injury! If that amount of defence can't stop them, how much should we spend?
We haven't had any consistency in being able to pick a settled defence. If we had had a settled back 4 we would be better at not conceding. Do think we need another 2 full backs.
Not sure I agree with that, Bennett and ward were superb against spurs. We would conceed less if we setback but we take the game to the opposition which is probably why we have scored so many this season. We tend to conceed on the break, I just think we lack some pace. Ryan Bennett is deceptively quick so I think the partnership with ward will come good. We have tierney out and Martin has been superb for us. We will need more strength in that department but I doubt we willbe looking for straight replacements. We've done brilliantly to stay up, just enjoy it. Lambert will bring in what he thinks we need,and I trust him, McNally and culverhouse to make the right decisions.
Let's not look at other teams lets look at the fact we struggle to keep clean sheets this season. I agree with your theory Kent but on the full back subject Naughton is on loan and Russell Martin doesn't convince me as a full back at this level, Drury can do the job but lets be honest age isn't on his side he has a mare with injuries in the past now Tierney is great but how long has he been out for?
You have that opinion based on one game? The juries out for Ward his been OK but he doesn't fill me with confidence, Bennetts new I'll give a chance. Yesterday though they were **** they made us look like a pub team. I am but I'm not happy about being battered 6-1, I was at that 7-1 game so being beaten by Manchester City isn't bad but being trashed isn't on. Some stupid mistakes made in that game they were school boy errors. I would like to see us keep some clean sheets Ruddy deserves it.
I'm sure Lambert will look to strengthen the team where he sees fit and I do agree we need a bit more quality in defence, especially against quality counter attacking teams such as Man City and Arsenal. However these players go out and give 100% every game and it is much better to have that then players who have more quality but play within themselves. Its important not only to get quality but also work ethic and good character. Also part of the reason we concede more than some other teams is the way we play. We're an attacking team and always go for the win, maybe naively at times but because of this we are bound to concede a few more. Also the blame cannot be solely on the defence, you defend and attack as a team and all players have to take responsibility of both. It is very hard to look good defensively if midfielder's are not putting pressure on the ball or tracking their players. Overall its been an amazing season and everyone has played their part both defending and attacking, we're becoming a bit spoilt with the entertainment they have given us! OTBC
No, not one game. He was great for us last season and he has had some very good performances for us this season (one particular game was west brom where he dragged us back into the game and we won it) whilst also remaining solid at the back. I agree his distribution has been a little poor recently, where he has misplaced some passes but it has been twice in what, 10+ games? You are quickly forgetting some of the fantastic performances they have put in this season. A couple of clean sheets and you'll change your tune, fickle.
It's an injustice to Man City and Arsenal to call them "quality counter attacking teams", they are quality teams that can attack and counter attack...Now Chelsea under Mourinho, that was a team built on soaking up pressure and hitting the opposition on the counter attack, and did it very effectively..Man City and Arsenal play a very different style!
I've stated countless times how well we've done this season on this forum, I'm merely pointing out what I've observed which has been we need to improve defensively. I didn't know that having an opinion on a area we need to improve in was regarded as being fickle. I haven't exactly said we should of beat City or kept a clean sheet against them? I'm talking about fine tuning an area we have suffered with injuries and an area I feel we could deal with more sufficient coverage, they have done a great job in the defence don't get me wrong on that but it could be a lot better and it needs refining. If we ignored that area in the summer it would be foolish and stupid on our behalf. As for the midfield Tipsy back to yesterdays game I don't know why Lambert subbed Johnson, we looked good when Surman and Hoolahan arrived on the scene but once Mancini brought on Yaya Toure it was too much for us deal with he dominated the game against us again.
Sorry I wasn't very clear. I don't mean they are just counter attacking teams. I mean they are good on the counter attack and we struggle sometimes with players running from deep at pace. I completely agree both examples given have much more to their game then counter attacking its just they're very good at that as well.
Hm! Wasn't this the self-same back five that limited Spurs to a single goal last Monday? "Bunch of amateurs"? Seems a tad unwarranted to me and a funny way of saying there's room for improvement. City are a work in progress, just like every team, everywhere.
I'm talking about consistently keeping a couple of clean sheets not every game. Yesterday we looked like a bunch of amateurs that's not unwarranted I'll stand by that comment, do you think conceding 6 goals is acceptable? I don't. I thought with the exception of the first goal the rest were relatively preventable. The defence needs strengthen so do other areas but people who are content with what we've got in this area going into next season need to get their heads out of their arses as far as I'm concerned. We're suffering with injuries badly in that area I would like to us have a settled back four.
Sorry, what I was referring to are those fans that say we need to improve x, y, z and we're not good enough here and there after a defeat and then we win and everything is great - the same players people have a dig about suddenly become the greatest players to have ever lived. That may not be you, but it drives me mad.
No worries. Every club has them I've had a go at players in the past but I've stuck for just as many. You always need to look areas to improve in it's what ensues some degree of consistency we wouldn't do it if we cared for the club. I'm quite sure most people would get pissed if Lambert didn't sign anyone in summer? If we have an area we can strengthen and improve in then surely it's a good thing that people notice. For the moment I'm not content with our defence they're not terrible but they're not world class at the moment, injuries have screwed us up badly and I'm not overly confident with the backup. Also I'll admit I cannot ignore how bare we look at top without Holt but apart from that I think our Midfields quality and Ruddy is a world class keeper.
There was no complaining when we played spurs the other day about the defence! I'm sick and tired of moaning about the defence, when they have a good game we praise them but when we concede loads against arguably the best strike force in the prem we can't wait to replace them. He spent 3mil on bennett in Jan who has been so good up until yesterday but for christ sake look who he was against! He got ayala, Whitbread has been superb for us this season and then weve got ward and barnett. To buy a defender to stop sides like that cost a fortune so don't expect much in the centre of defence in the summer. Martin kept his place cos he had a great game against spurs so fair play, same with drury. Yes we do need more though in lb and rb in the summer but come on, seriously think about what they were facing yesterday before you start slagging them off. Plus for the 1st 70 mins we were superb aswell but in the last 20 money talked and certainly done the walk...
You see it's all very well saying about the defence but I thought the first goal was preventable because a sloppy piece of play from Johnson who got caught out. This resulted in a run on our goal and a shot which flew past Ruddy. Pilkington last week was to blame for Spuds goal because he too got caught in possession and one clinical pass later and the ball is in the back of the net! They are both midfielders!!! The teams that concede the fewest goals are those which make the fewest mistakes. We cannot afford players who hardly ever make a mistake but I'm sure as hell pleased we have a manager that still encourages players to go out there and express themselves even after making a blunder because there's not a lot of difference between any of the teams from 8th down to 20th and heads could go down very easily if people continually moan and groan about players - Wolves is a case in point - they have some good players but they lack organisation and are scared to play for fear of making yet more errors which means they innevitably make extra errors!
Sorry, but JR is NOT by any stretch of anyone's imagination currently a "world class keeper". He is a good keeper, and getting better all the time, but "world class"? And before anyone jumps on me, I've been one of his most vocal supporters from the early days of the "he's not a patch on Fraser Forster" brigade.
Agree Boots. The biggest problem for me has been that we have not had a solid defence. We have not had the same paring on a consistent basis due to injury/changing formation and that will create uncertainty at times. Tierney will hopefully be back but perhaps RB is the area defensively we need to look at if Naughton does not sign.. Must admit that I understand that the Spurs line up deserved to go again but playing Naughton might have been better than RM, but saying that any defence yesterday would have had their work cut out!
