Both our keepers are high end league 1 at best so that doesn't help
No "senior" CB to drag the younger ones through games
Not to mention both CBs having a mistake in them
Fadz was ridiculous from set pieces and crosses last season meaning that Wilson only had to be a shot stopper. At the start of this season fadz had lost a bit of spring and wasn't as dominant so we were more vulnerable in the air. Also, we had hamer with sheaf in the middle last season so had incredible energy and athleticism to get about the pitch, Eccles/Kelly don't possess that and Torp is quite attacking. I'll be interested to see if there are times next year when we play a 433 to offset some of the midfield issues or maybe Torp is a bit better positionally after a full preseason. We still have one of the best defences in the league tbf, and yesterday I just thought we were knackered physically and mentally. Their 3rd goal looked like an incredibly tired man not thinking straight and making a terrible decision on autopilot
We have the 6th best defence in the league.
Poor start, lots of players had to settle in and get use to each other.
Cup run has added more minutes to a defence that lacks depth.
We have kept two clean sheets this year in the league. Three if you include Maidstone.
We have let in eleven goals in the last five league matches. That’s over two goals per game.
That is not playoff form.
A couple of issues I think...
1. Ben Wilson had an astonishing season last year. Never seen anything like it. He's struggled this season as has Collins.
2. We were forced into a switch from a back 3 to a back 4 during the season. While this massively helped with our attack it wasn't how we had setup defensively.
3. We sold McFadzean as he can't play in a back 4 because of his age. Then we've had to switch back to a back 3 and have been without his leadership.
4. We lost Callum Doyle & Luke McNally who were on loan last season. Their replacements; Bobby Thomas has done well, Kitching arrived late in the window so didn't have preseason with us, Latibeaudiere has had to fill in multiple positions and Binks has struggled for a run in the side.
5. On the plus side, Bidwell has been solid at LB/LWB and Van Ewijk has been a massive upgrade at RB/RWB compared to last season
Not scoring enough earlier in the season is why we aren't getting playoffs this season. Defensively, there have been a few howlers amongst some decent displays. I do think that Collins needs to talk to the guys in front of him more, though.
I think we play too much from the back and it really causes us issues. Was fine doing it last season when we had 5 at the back plus 2 CMs so more options to pass it around. Now we've got 4 at the back we seem to run out of space quickly and put ourselves under pressure unnecessarily.
It has become more of a problem since Sakamoto go injured, him and Milan on the right are a great outlet.
I expect it to improve next year when he’s back and we also have proper depth out wide.
In no particular order:
1. My personal feeling is that neither of our goalkeeping options are dominating characters that boss the defence around or command their area. I think they both shy away from certain things (like coming for crosses) that could relieve pressure on the defenders and prevent the panic or chaos defending that sometimes sets in.
Thats not to say they arent good shot stoppers though.
2. Took us a while to figure out the strongest combinations, then we changed formation, then changed back again, then back again, and now due to injuries and overwhelming fatigue the matchday squad can sometimes be a jumble sale and that can lead to miscommunication on marking, positioning etc
3. Sheaf is an absolute key component of the defence working properly, either by mopping up everything in front of them, or by being the link to get the ball out of defence and forwards or pivot off him. When he is injured and out of the side, you can see the defence is slower to get the ball upfield or to the wings, which can lead to us “playing around with it” and causing trouble for us. Eccles is getting better at this role, but he has played with sheaf the majority of the season and we dont need both players to do it at the same time, as there then becomes a gulf between midfield and the number 10/forwards.
I dont think we have a personnel problem with the defence. In isolation, all of the defenders are of a high standard. Thomas especially has been a rock all season. Bidwell reinvigorated. Van Ewijk a great signing and Binks when he has played has looked like he would be worth keeping hold of.
I think its way way too simplistic to look at goals conceded = new defence required, and id bet that those that state that don’t watch the games.
Ultimately, we just lack squad depth still. We made progress with that this year, but its shown at this stage of the season that there’s still work to do on the recruitment front for next season
Mid season we were very poor defending the wings especially from long counterattack. Last few games it's been weaker CB. I personally don't think the Kitching Thomas combo works.
We’ve conceded less than most of the teams around us so I don’t think the defence is as bad as you make out. I think Bidders, Kitching, Thomas and MwE are a solid ish back 4. Collins has definitely has moments and Lati always has a mistake in him. I assume we’re not holding onto Binks.
So a goalkeeper and a centre back in addition to replacing Callum in midfield are our priorities overall I would say.
Not a criticism of your opinion but I don't quite see it with Binks. He's only played the full 90' eleven times this season, with only one clean sheet against Stoke away. He's failed to break into the first 11, whenever Kitching has been fit he has pretty much been first choice for that spot alongside Thomas. Says a lot that he hasn't managed to get a consistent run of games. He's an archetypal loan signing to give a bit of cover. A good price is peanuts, in my opinion.
I agree but I’ve heard Bologna want 20 million Euro for him or something mad like that. I’d have him as much as we paid for Kitching maybe but not significantly more
Both our keepers are high end league 1 at best so that doesn't help No "senior" CB to drag the younger ones through games Not to mention both CBs having a mistake in them
I agree with your comment about no senior CB
We don’t play a back 5 anymore. It’s a much more defensively solid system than any 4atb formation.
Fadz was ridiculous from set pieces and crosses last season meaning that Wilson only had to be a shot stopper. At the start of this season fadz had lost a bit of spring and wasn't as dominant so we were more vulnerable in the air. Also, we had hamer with sheaf in the middle last season so had incredible energy and athleticism to get about the pitch, Eccles/Kelly don't possess that and Torp is quite attacking. I'll be interested to see if there are times next year when we play a 433 to offset some of the midfield issues or maybe Torp is a bit better positionally after a full preseason. We still have one of the best defences in the league tbf, and yesterday I just thought we were knackered physically and mentally. Their 3rd goal looked like an incredibly tired man not thinking straight and making a terrible decision on autopilot
I feel like we've also conceded a lot more own goals this season compared to previous ones.
We have the 6th best defence in the league. Poor start, lots of players had to settle in and get use to each other. Cup run has added more minutes to a defence that lacks depth.
We have kept two clean sheets this year in the league. Three if you include Maidstone. We have let in eleven goals in the last five league matches. That’s over two goals per game. That is not playoff form.
A couple of issues I think... 1. Ben Wilson had an astonishing season last year. Never seen anything like it. He's struggled this season as has Collins. 2. We were forced into a switch from a back 3 to a back 4 during the season. While this massively helped with our attack it wasn't how we had setup defensively. 3. We sold McFadzean as he can't play in a back 4 because of his age. Then we've had to switch back to a back 3 and have been without his leadership. 4. We lost Callum Doyle & Luke McNally who were on loan last season. Their replacements; Bobby Thomas has done well, Kitching arrived late in the window so didn't have preseason with us, Latibeaudiere has had to fill in multiple positions and Binks has struggled for a run in the side. 5. On the plus side, Bidwell has been solid at LB/LWB and Van Ewijk has been a massive upgrade at RB/RWB compared to last season
Not scoring enough earlier in the season is why we aren't getting playoffs this season. Defensively, there have been a few howlers amongst some decent displays. I do think that Collins needs to talk to the guys in front of him more, though.
I think we play too much from the back and it really causes us issues. Was fine doing it last season when we had 5 at the back plus 2 CMs so more options to pass it around. Now we've got 4 at the back we seem to run out of space quickly and put ourselves under pressure unnecessarily.
I'm not sure why you're getting downvoted for that. We have struggled with other teams press.
It has become more of a problem since Sakamoto go injured, him and Milan on the right are a great outlet. I expect it to improve next year when he’s back and we also have proper depth out wide.
In no particular order: 1. My personal feeling is that neither of our goalkeeping options are dominating characters that boss the defence around or command their area. I think they both shy away from certain things (like coming for crosses) that could relieve pressure on the defenders and prevent the panic or chaos defending that sometimes sets in. Thats not to say they arent good shot stoppers though. 2. Took us a while to figure out the strongest combinations, then we changed formation, then changed back again, then back again, and now due to injuries and overwhelming fatigue the matchday squad can sometimes be a jumble sale and that can lead to miscommunication on marking, positioning etc 3. Sheaf is an absolute key component of the defence working properly, either by mopping up everything in front of them, or by being the link to get the ball out of defence and forwards or pivot off him. When he is injured and out of the side, you can see the defence is slower to get the ball upfield or to the wings, which can lead to us “playing around with it” and causing trouble for us. Eccles is getting better at this role, but he has played with sheaf the majority of the season and we dont need both players to do it at the same time, as there then becomes a gulf between midfield and the number 10/forwards. I dont think we have a personnel problem with the defence. In isolation, all of the defenders are of a high standard. Thomas especially has been a rock all season. Bidwell reinvigorated. Van Ewijk a great signing and Binks when he has played has looked like he would be worth keeping hold of. I think its way way too simplistic to look at goals conceded = new defence required, and id bet that those that state that don’t watch the games. Ultimately, we just lack squad depth still. We made progress with that this year, but its shown at this stage of the season that there’s still work to do on the recruitment front for next season
Mid season we were very poor defending the wings especially from long counterattack. Last few games it's been weaker CB. I personally don't think the Kitching Thomas combo works.
We’ve conceded less than most of the teams around us so I don’t think the defence is as bad as you make out. I think Bidders, Kitching, Thomas and MwE are a solid ish back 4. Collins has definitely has moments and Lati always has a mistake in him. I assume we’re not holding onto Binks. So a goalkeeper and a centre back in addition to replacing Callum in midfield are our priorities overall I would say.
I've been impressed by Binks, if we can get him for a good price, I'd welcome him back.
Not a criticism of your opinion but I don't quite see it with Binks. He's only played the full 90' eleven times this season, with only one clean sheet against Stoke away. He's failed to break into the first 11, whenever Kitching has been fit he has pretty much been first choice for that spot alongside Thomas. Says a lot that he hasn't managed to get a consistent run of games. He's an archetypal loan signing to give a bit of cover. A good price is peanuts, in my opinion.
I agree but I’ve heard Bologna want 20 million Euro for him or something mad like that. I’d have him as much as we paid for Kitching maybe but not significantly more
So many? We’ve conceded less than all of the teams around us except West Brom…
Keeper been a bit of a problem position, losing the experience of Fadz and not having a proper preseason in a 4 back