Let’s discuss the defence

[Dreambeliever]

9th clean sheet in 17 games.

I don’t think many of us saw this coming.

Many saw LB as needed urgent attention, everyone wanted another CB and Trent’s defensive problems are well documented.

However while City and Arsenal’s defences are struggling we seem to look very assured.

Sure we’ve rode our luck at times but with the current set of players, we are well positioned.

Queue them all getting killed on international duty.

While a lot of the improvement is done to our more controlled approach there is no doubt a few of the defenders have had marked improvements too.

Ali / Keller
Trent / Bradley
Virg / Gomez
Ibou / Quansah
Robbo / Tsimi

 

[Modo]

Have to admit it looks good, but there's been some sloppy moments and we've luckily not been punished.
As long as everyone fit, we'll be fine. There is however a significant drop from Konate and Van Dijk to our 3rd, 4th choice defenders, even though Gomez played well last time.

Trent has been good this season, Bradders was fantastic last season expected more of the same this season, but he hasn't been that convincing to be honest.

We can still do with a new first choice left back. Tsimikas has been OK but he's not prime Robbo.

 

[Squiggles]

Has to be said that the midfield is busting a huge gut to get back in shape and defend a few yards in front of them. Grav and Jones have made multiple goal saving blocks, and Szobo has run hard enough to give me a stich on my couch.

There has been individual improvements from Tsimikas and Trent, too. I think Konate is blossoming, too. He's just more switched on and impactful for more of the game now. Those little brainfarts reduced and he's looking very much the defender we hoped he'd become.

Ibou and Grav are my players of the year to date.

 

[binomial]

Let's.

We have 2 incredible keepers, Kells somehow looks better than last season.

Trent purely from a defensive standpoint is better, seen a little more urge in his efforts to get back in position. Chelsea game for example is the best I've seen him defensively in some time / Bradley hasn't been given much game time at all so for that reason alone we can't say he's progressed. Thought he was so so when he came on today, didn't really offer anything in attack and was intent on playing safe.

Virg is Virg, gets in the way of everything. No one gets past him. His long diagonals are still on point / Gomez hasn't really put a foot wrong when called on but he's been very good for over a season now.

Ibou is in with a shout of being our player of the season, he bullies people. Quite amazed how we've kept him fit till now given how much he's played / Quansah I feel sorry for, all started at Ipswich where I really didn't feel he had a poor game. To get subbed off as a defender for tactical reasons when you go into the break 0-0 must be unsettling. For me he's done fine this season but as Arne pointed out, the few mistakes he's made has been punished severely.

Our LB's are the ones who've had to adapt most in this new system as at times they're required to stay back in a 3 and build up from there, other times it's as if the discretion is on them to pick moments to commit and get forward. Kostas has been much improved and it stemmed from a very good pre-season, which Robbo couldn't have & besides a forgettable first half at the Emirates I think he's generally done ok too.

 

[darkstarexodus]

Konate has been outstanding and Virgil is back to his very best. Trent has sacrificed some of his offense to improve his defensive commitment and Tsimikas has been able to spell off Robbo.

We've got a well rounded unit, with plenty of depth, and that extends to Kelleher deputizing admirably for the world's best keeper.

 

[dee]

Has to be said that the midfield is busting a huge gut to get back in shape and defend a few yards in front of them. Grav and Jones have made multiple goal saving blocks, and Szobo has run hard enough to give me a stich on my couch.

There has been individual improvements from Tsimikas and Trent, too. I think Konate is blossoming, too. He's just more switched on and impactful for more of the game now. Those little brainfarts reduced and he's looking very much the defender we hoped he'd become.

Ibou and Grav are my players of the year to date.

This was going to be my reply

 

[doctor_mac]

Have to admit it looks good, but there's been some sloppy moments and we've luckily not been punished.
As long as everyone fit, we'll be fine. There is however a significant drop from Konate and Van Dijk to our 3rd, 4th choice defenders, even though Gomez played well last time.

Trent has been good this season, Bradders was fantastic last season expected more of the same this season, but he hasn't been that convincing to be honest.

We can still do with a new first choice left back. Tsimikas has been OK but he's not prime Robbo.

Bradley hasn't had much of a chance this season so I'm not sure it is fair to judge him. I thought he was excellent when he came on today.

 

[Modo]

Bradley hasn't had much of a chance this season so I'm not sure it is fair to judge him. I thought he was excellent when he came on today.

I wouldn't use the term excellent to describe his performance today he was decent imo.

 

[Markeh]

i desperately want bradley to do well, he looked like his career was about to explode last season but it’s not happening for him this season.

the trent virgil salah thread really irritates me with its lack of updates, virgil is the bedrock of this defence and it’s hard to believe he hasn’t been tied down. virgil leaving is a ticking time bomb for the back 4.

 

[Frogfish]

Hang on Dreamy - I wasn't demanding we sign another CB, I thought the 4 we have is an excellent, experienced unit. I wouldn't have been upset if we signed a 5th though (since VdB left) as keeping 4 fit throughout a whole season of 4 competitions is going to be tough.

Keepers - it's all been said, we're solid for the next 10 years bar a meltdown.

LB - not sold. We're going to get through this season but come the Summer we'd better be buying an improvement.

RB - even less sold. I thought Bradders was going to step up when required but he gets sold the dummy (and skinned) far far too often and he can be clumsy when tackling too. I love him going forward but have serious doubts defensively.
Trent isn't even in my long-term thinking now as I think he will be off, that said his long range passing has been largely shite and though his defensive displays have improved, it's not to the level of a top class RB.
Frankly I don't know what he is at the moment and he seems to be dependent on the team helping him out (esp. Konate who is often left playing two positions).

The midfield is doing a LOT of defensive work on our right-hand side. Witness Gravy, Slobo and Jones, who have all made goal saving track-backs, in that area of the pitch, recently.

 

[Brizzle]

Ibu is thriving with Gravy being basically his partner in crime on that side of the pitch. Between them they are winning duels everywhere, and also doing an incredible job of retaining the ball and starting attacks.

Last season our CBs shared a DM leaving one exposed. The new shape is bringing balance everywhere.

We see fewer moments of a CB charging out of defence to press a player than we did, because the midfield don’t let those situations happen as often.

 

[Tinto]

I think Trent’s contribution to this season has been underestimated.

When we’ve been outnumbered in midfield, Slot would invert him. So far doing this has helped us get back into games and gotten more points than we would have otherwise.

It’ll be interesting to see if Slot will use Bradley in the same way and whether Bradley can offer the same tactical flexibility

 

[Frogfish]

I think Trent’s contribution to this season has been underestimated.

When we’ve been outnumbered in midfield, Slot would invert him. So far doing this has helped us get back into games and gotten more points than we would have otherwise.

It’ll be interesting to see if Slot will use Bradley in the same way and whether Bradley can offer the same tactical flexibility

Well yesterday was a good test since Villa are a Top 4-6 team and with TAA off from the 25th minute. I don't think Bradley inverted at all and we went on to win 2-0 sooooo ... yes I know, tiny sample size.

 

[Tinto]

Well yesterday was a good test since Villa are a Top 4-6 team and with TAA off from the 25th minute. I don't think Bradley inverted at all and we went on to win 2-0 sooooo ... yes I know, tiny sample size.

There was no need for Bradley to invert because Villa didn’t set up to have that extra body in midfield.

I thought Villa’s approach was surprisingly passive. They just sat back and waited for us to make a mistake. They’ve easily been the worst team in this difficult run. Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton all had periods when they dominated the ball. Villa didn’t. They played like it was 0-0 and they needed a draw, even after going behind

 

[doctor_mac]

Hang on Dreamy - I wasn't demanding we sign another CB, I thought the 4 we have is an excellent, experienced unit. I wouldn't have been upset if we signed a 5th though (since VdB left) as keeping 4 fit throughout a whole season of 4 competitions is going to be tough.

Keepers - it's all been said, we're solid for the next 10 years bar a meltdown.

LB - not sold. We're going to get through this season but come the Summer we'd better be buying an improvement.

RB - even less sold. I thought Bradders was going to step up when required but he gets sold the dummy (and skinned) far far too often and he can be clumsy when tackling too. I love him going forward but have serious doubts defensively.
Trent isn't even in my long-term thinking now as I think he will be off, that said his long range passing has been largely shite and though his defensive displays have improved, it's not to the level of a top class RB.
Frankly I don't know what he is at the moment and he seems to be dependent on the team helping him out (esp. Konate who is often left playing two positions).

The midfield is doing a LOT of defensive work on our right-hand side. Witness Gravy, Slobo and Jones, who have all made goal saving track-backs, in that area of the pitch, recently.

In terms of Bradley, he's literally just started his career and I have no doubts that his defensive game can be developed. It is way too early to be passing judgement on him.

 

[keniget]

I wouldn't use the term excellent to describe his performance today he was decent imo.

Agreed.

Bradley is a little too much like an over-eager puppy at the moment. He needs to chill.

I also noted - though was half asleep - that Salah seemed to stay wide right a lot more when Bradley came on.

 

[Frogfish]

In terms of Bradley, he's literally just started his career and I have no doubts that his defensive game can be developed. It is way too early to be passing judgement on him.

To a degree. However that won't help us win trophies if we have to wait. He's either good enough now or we accept we are going to transition and lose the other older squad members (+ TAA of course).

If we (I am) are thinking that this squad has 2-3 more seasons, after this, of trophy hunting then we need better. Of course he may make the step up this season and be ready for when Trent leaves at the end of this. Best case scenario.