Match Day Thread Time to look at our defence 2023/2024

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all you need know is senderos peeled round the back in a very obvious move twice and both times he was let go. the only switch made as badontelly was pulled off him and lovern took over.

One feels our data analysts could at lest spend a few moments more figuring out the standard practice of sides from set piece and inform out team. It does look like we figure it out on the day then react... hoping by the time we do we've not conceded.

Basically as the game went on villa didn't get any more chances like they did from free headers first half. however that could be clouded by the fact the sat very deep and defended seeing how easy we made it.
 
Well the first goal v west ham was all henderson's fault. he coudl see the guy and then just switched off.... if we go man to man and hold shirts and **** can can stop the crap but the basics are missing if a tactical gobshite like long ball allardyce can pump long deep crosses at our far stick and be grinning like a Cheshire cat after 18minutes.

its individual sloppiness.... and i have to wonder if we even work on it at this point. its unforgivable in a team to go do this week after week even if we are 5 games in.


pulis would take 2 weeks max and no player would slip up like this. what does that say???
 
moreinjuredthanowen said:
Well the first goal v west ham was all henderson's fault. he coudl see the guy and then just switched off.... if we go man to man and hold shirts and **** can can stop the crap but the basics are missing if a tactical gobshite like long ball allardyce can pump long deep crosses at our far stick and be grinning like a Cheshire cat after 18minutes.

its individual sloppiness.... and i have to wonder if we even work on it at this point. its unforgivable in a team to go do this week after week even if we are 5 games in.


pulis would take 2 weeks max and no player would slip up like this. what does that say???
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Harsh to blame Hendo for that goal - yes he could have done better but he was up against Tomkins who is 6'4 and Hendo is around 5'10. Tomkins also had the run on him and he was always going to win. It was a poor decision to put Hendo on that man.

The annoying thing for me is the second ball - not sure what Skrtel was trying to do. It looked like he was trying to get Reid and then let Lovren have him. Skrtel made that decision far too late for Lovren to position himself accordingly.
 
Jimmy Squarefoot said:
Harsh to blame Hendo for that goal - yes he could have done better but he was up against Tomkins who is 6'4 and Hendo is around 5'10. Tomkins also had the run on him and he was always going to win. It was a poor decision to put Hendo on that man.

The annoying thing for me is the second ball - not sure what Skrtel was trying to do. It looked like he was trying to get Reid and then let Lovren have him. Skrtel made that decision far too late for Lovren to position himself accordingly.
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He lost his man, he should have been on him and jumped with him to at least put him off... even that can make all the difference! also is henderson is a leader he really ought to be able to call that mismatch out.
 
moreinjuredthanowen said:
He lost his man, he should have been on him and jumped with him to at least put him off... even that can make all the difference! also is henderson is a leader he really ought to be able to call that mismatch out.
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Agreed he could be doing better but I maintain that the centre back pairing definitely should have more for the second ball.

Comical stuff all round.
 
Wecanplayyoueveryweek said:
Do you think our defence have any chance against Jagielka goal?. We actually defended too deep in the last ten minutes.<ok>
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bad clearing header, case for mingolet to have claimed an earier phase ball, no closing down, our defence could have done many things but your main oint of team defending too deep was correct.

I felt we stopped playing and the energy dropped off at 60odd mins. this encouraged everton and we started dropping off as well... we should have rolled subs for up front energy earlier.

coutinho did ok but badontelly was done on 70mins.
 
Wecanplayyoueveryweek said:
Do you think our defence have any chance against Jagielka goal?. We actually defended too deep in the last ten minutes.<ok>
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I think it would be harsh to blame Migs for that goal - sitting back far too deep was our only error.

Having said that - we should have buried a couple of other chances beforehand. Everton were sh*te and were there for the taking.
 
I don't think the four individuals that make up the back four matter so long as Johnson's not included. The poor defensive record is about more than just the back line and I'm not talking about the keeper, nor is this a Gerrard bashing either. Our setup doesn't offer any protection to the defence, whilst we continue to play like this our defence is going to continue to look very poor. Hell, stick the best defenders in the world together but if you leave them exposed they will look **** (no, I'm not claiming we have the best defenders in the world)
 
Gerrez said:
I don't think the four individuals that make up the back four matter so long as Johnson's not included. The poor defensive record is about more than just the back line and I'm not talking about the keeper, nor is this a Gerrard bashing either. Our setup doesn't offer any protection to the defence, whilst we continue to play like this our defence is going to continue to look very poor. Hell, stick the best defenders in the world together but if you leave them exposed they will look **** (no, I'm not claiming we have the best defenders in the world)
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I think a lot of players are hiding behind that we play an attacking style. Yes, we play fast expansive football and we will be exposed from time to time.

But are you telling me that the system is at fault for basic concentration levels for set pieces? Or the system is at fault for the miscommunication between centre backs and keeper?

The truth of the matter is - Skrtel is a sh*t defender. He always has been bar one good season when the whole team were poor and we played a deep line. He constantly makes mistakes - most are basic positioning errors which aren't clearly visible.

Lovren is a £20m defender - he's basically Skrtel with hair.

Gerrard is not a DM - never has been and never will be. He was sh*t last season but he rode on the back of set pieces and penalties and our world class attack.

Migs is an average keeper but he's not helped the dross in front of him. That whole half of the pitch bar the full backs are dross. simple as.
 
I think personally there are three key factors at play and perhaps bodies are not important as gerrez says, perhaps they are.

1. You need a keeper who'd pushing the line up much more. someone who'll be out like a hot snot on anything over the top. this gives you comfort to push 10 yards up and compress play.

2. you need cohesiveness and toughness. too many heads are down, poor clearances and just plain shaky decision making. we are piss poor at the far post and from any set piece. I and absolutely 100% sure tony pulis would have this sorted in 2 weeks. is he a genius? no.. but a wee bit? come on rodgers... get a grip. its every game.

3. You need everyone else working for the team. its not about one guy its about everyone tracking and hassling ans that means you WORK. rodgers mouthed about resting on the ball... buy extension that means you f'n work your socks off without the ball.. did coutinho, didnt markovic... nope big no in fact. Sterling tried to cover enrique. Everyone needs to work as one to get that ball and that starts at the front. with a higher defensive line the midfield can press higher and the forwards come into play as well. With a deep line the forward.. one guy gets isolated and can't close down three players so inevitably trots about. if you lads think sturridge would do different you are mad.


so.. push the line higher. develop cohesive unit... all 11 men defend.. not 5 or 6. if you've a weakness on deep crosses work hard to cut out crossing... if you are poor at set piece go man to man, if you've guys not working drop them no matter who.


it really is simple...
 
Things won't improve we get rid of the 3 clowns from our defence; Lovren, Skrtel and Jonhson.

Then drop Gerrard.

Until then, we will continue to defend like a bunch of amateurs.
 
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