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Shock Horror.... Do we need to shore up our defence???

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Jerry Laser

Jerry Laser

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I would say that our main problems possible are not our attacking, you could argue that we have been giving away too many silly goals in a lot of games recently.

Last night was a prime example, the 2nd goal could and shouldve been dealt with better. The amount of time Young Boys had to maneuver outside our box without being closed down was criminal. If you were to have gone back 5 years Carra wouldve closed that threat down straight away.... We need to go to the player more rather than stand off and let them hit worldies at us. To be fair Reina couldve done a little better maybe but it did take a slight deflection so I wont blame him for letting that in.

Although Skrtel & Agger are both very good CD's, I just worry about whether they are good enough together as a unit. Look back to a couple of seasons ago when Skrtel was paired with Carra (still on form) and they looked a much better unit. I'm worried that both of these guys have a mistake in their locker now and then.

I guess it can also be said that the constant altering of full backs this season doesnt help the defence either, familiarity breeds confidence.... Maybe its a few variables which are contributing to our issues to close out games and giving away silly goals...

I myself would like to see another CD come in probably next summer. I think one of those 2 need to be pushed more, I know we have Coates but he certainly shouldnt be playing ahead of Agger & Skrtel as yet.

Does anyone else agree the need for a top quality centre back to push these 2 in the next year? If so who is a good option?
 
That goal didn't have much to do with the defence, they literally walked through our midfield for that second goal. Everyone just switched after we missed our attempt.

And then to top it off, a great strike
 
I don't see the problem as so much relating to personnel as to strategy. The defence looks cut-off from the rest of the team. There's so little pace, precision and positivity when the ball is with the back four. Instead of moving the ball forward, it gets passed so much back and forth across the pitch it's almost as if they're trying to provoke the other team into scoring. It gets worse and worse as the game goes on. Yesterday was all too typical. Agger could bring the ball out of defence far more often - that's one of his best qualities and yet he rarely uses it these days. The right and left backs could move on and link up with the midfield, but currently they only do so with such premeditation they might as well shout out where they're aiming to go. They need to work on being part of the team rather than a self-contained unit.
 
gkmacca said:
I don't see the problem as so much relating to personnel as to strategy. The defence looks cut-off from the rest of the team. There's so little pace, precision and positivity when the ball is with the back four. Instead of moving the ball forward, it gets passed so much back and forth across the pitch it's almost as if they're trying to provoke the other team into scoring. It gets worse and worse as the game goes on. Yesterday was all too typical. Agger could bring the ball out of defence far more often - that's one of his best qualities and yet he rarely uses it these days. The right and left backs could move on and link up with the midfield, but currently they only do so with such premeditation they might as well shout out where they're aiming to go. They need to work on being part of the team rather than a self-contained unit.
Click to expand...

Agreed, there have been umpteen times Ive seen us trying to play football across the back four and back to Reina.... The amount of times I see Reina passing to Skrtel or Agger and the ball goes past the opposition attacker by only a meter or so is alarming, certainly gets the old brown eye twitching.

I think possibly we are missing that natural leadership quality in defence which Carra always gave us. At present it seems as if no one really steps up to the plate to take control.
 
I've said multiple times this season that the problem is the midfield and the solution until Lucas is back is Henderson, so many people on here seem to have a Henderson sized mental block though.
 
Yep.
Constantly outmuscled and the unwillingness to actually put in a tackle at times.
Sahin is basically Ming without the goals.
 
Mystic said:
I've said multiple times this season that the problem is the midfield and the solution until Lucas is back is Henderson, so many people on here seem to have a Henderson sized mental block though.
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Bullshit. The problem is we're not scoring enough goals and relying too much on Suarez. Agree that sometimes our defense fucked up but not midfield. We just need Kelly to return and we'll be good. Wisdom has a lot to learn. Skrtel, Agger and Enrique has been good but not brilliant. Can improve as the season goes. Lucas have got nothing to do with this mess. Allen is doing good.
 
Le Chacal said:
Id say Allen is the main problem at the moment...
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I wouldnt say that. Clearly we are not scoring enough goals. Sterling has been good on the flanks, Enrique for the past 2 games has been good at left wing. Allen although not a top class player, still can do the job there. Lucas will make us more defensive minded team. He's a poor mans Mascherano.
 
So you dont think we should buy a top Central Defender to put some pressure on Agger and Skrtel?

I think it would be a good idea, as I cant see Carra playing a lot at all next season... he may hang his boots up who knows...

I'd say we should go for someone like Shawcross myself.
 
Glock said:
Bullshit. The problem is we're not scoring enough goals and relying too much on Suarez. Agree that sometimes our defense fucked up but not midfield. We just need Kelly to return and we'll be good. Wisdom has a lot to learn. Skrtel, Agger and Enrique has been good but not brilliant. Can improve as the season goes. Lucas have got nothing to do with this mess. Allen is doing good.
Click to expand...

You're wrong.
 
Jerry Laser said:
So you dont think we should buy a top Central Defender to put some pressure on Agger and Skrtel?

I think it would be a good idea, as I cant see Carra playing a lot at all next season... he may hang his boots up who knows...

I'd say we should go for someone like Shawcross myself.
Click to expand...

Shawcross is a good defender. Wouldnt mind him here. Sakho, Timm Klose, Roncaglia or Kyriakos Papadopoulos are all good defenders.
 
Playing midfielders in defence isn't exactly helping. Particularly when there are defenders sitting on the bench. It's the type of crap other managers might get stick for.
 
Agreed, i couldnt believe he put Downing in Defence to begin with, but then to put Henderson aswell.... its beyond a fucking joke...

Fuck it we are short of Strikers, why dont we put Brad Jones upfront....
 
Jerry Laser said:
So you dont think we should buy a top Central Defender to put some pressure on Agger and Skrtel?

I think it would be a good idea, as I cant see Carra playing a lot at all next season... he may hang his boots up who knows...

I'd say we should go for someone like Shawcross myself.
Click to expand...

Weve got quite a few holes in the squad, but buying another centre back isn't one of them, we've got 4 out and outs, and possibly more that can play there. We need forward players, no one scores apart from Suarez, that's a much bigger problem than the odd mistake at the back. Overall our defence isn't 'that bad' compared to our attacking play and reliance on Suarez which is woeful.
 
Midfield is a problem, but I would like to see us play with a settled back 4 as I think it'd help no end.

Does anyone know what the official line was regarding Wisdom last night?
 
Midfield isn't so much a problem if the defence does its job. The problems didn't start last night in midfield. If the defence starts to fail the midfield comes back and everything falls apart.
 
We're linked with Iborra today, he's a defensive midfielder from Levante.

The problem with the 2nd goal was that we didnt track back and went all out attack with our entire midfield. The defence will look unbalanced and be under much more pressure when teams just run past our entire midfield.

Iborra is a 24 year old lad, 6'3 and a ball playing defensive mid. That might be a good start.
 
We have problems all over the pitch but I think the easiest one to solve is the balance of the midfield and organization. Lucas coming back should help and it's easier to find bargains for the midfield. That will go a long way towards helping us because the defence needs protection and the attack needs less pressure to score 2/3 a game.
 
With a dm in the team, Rodgers can play with 2 attacking midfielders aswell.
We'll look a much better and more balanced team when that happens.
 
Was gonna say it isn't like we aren't scoring goals..... if midfield and defense were better organised we only need to score one and a clean sheet to win.... so to say it's attack midfield or defense issue is wrong.... the whole team needs to defend better in my eyes.... didn't see much evidence of this 7 second rule in said goal other night as were standing off.
 
Jerry Laser said:
Was gonna say it isn't like we aren't scoring goals..... if midfield and defense were better organised we only need to score one and a clean sheet to win.... so to say it's attack midfield or defense issue is wrong.... the whole team needs to defend better in my eyes.... didn't see much evidence of this 7 second rule in said goal other night as were standing off.
Click to expand...

Whenever we attack, the midfield and defense will be exposed unless you want Suarez alone to go all out and beat their 4 defenders and 1 goalie to score goal. Which is going to be ridiculous. The whole team need to help in attacking play except the keeper. Its not as easy as you said although the best form of defence is to attack.
 
Indeed, and you could also see him running back to get into position while only looking at the ball.

Reminded me of Flanagan vs Sunderland
 
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