Clean Sheets (1 Viewer)

Kilclines curly mullet

Well-Known Member
Whilst we all get frustrated by the amount of chances we miss, its worth noting that we only have 9 clean sheets all season - ranked 20th in the division.

Is it actually the defence that we should be frustrated with ?
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
We’ve got the worst defence in the top half looking purely at goals conceded. Squad depth hasn’t helped, but the three CBs we own have been with us since L1 and all have their flaws (pace mainly). I don’t think our WBs defend crosses particularly well either, and even the midfield two in front of the defence have some questions to answer.
 

Jamesimus

Well-Known Member
We’ve got the worst defence in the top half looking purely at goals conceded. Squad depth hasn’t helped, but the three CBs we own have been with us since L1 and all have their flaws (pace mainly). I don’t think our WBs defend crosses particularly well either, and even the midfield two in front of the defence have some questions to answer.

Yeah I can't single out anyone in particular because as you say, they've all got different things they get wrong.

But certainly worth mentioning if our centre mids aren't scoring and assisting goals, they need to be more effective at shielding the defence.
 

Sky_Blue_Dreamer

Well-Known Member
The defence needs improving over the summer as a main priority after a goalscoring AM, but I think part of it is that we try and get forward and attack. 90% of the time we deal with stuff more than adequately and get punished for the lapses.

I'd hate for use to not try and get forward in order to be more solid in defence as I think we'd lose more than we'd gain overall. We create numerous chances and only convert a small number of them so imagine what would happen to our goalscoring if we stopped creating as much.
 

clint van damme

Well-Known Member
It was the same last season. For a long time we had the 2nd or 3rd worse defensive re Ord but people kept banging on about goals even though we hovered around 6th or 7th lowest scorers.
 

Jamesimus

Well-Known Member
The defence needs improving over the summer as a main priority after a goalscoring AM, but I think part of it is that we try and get forward and attack. 90% of the time we deal with stuff more than adequately and get punished for the lapses.

I'd hate for use to not try and get forward in order to be more solid in defence as I think we'd lose more than we'd gain overall. We create numerous chances and only convert a small number of them so imagine what would happen to our goalscoring if we stopped creating as much.

I think the the defence needs sorting as a priority BEFORE a goal scoring attacking midfielder. Also, think this would be more cost effective for the club.

I don't think we need to sacrifice our attacking play in order to be slightly more defensively solid. Better centre backs who suit / can play the system might help.
 

CDK

Well-Known Member
Sort this out we need a different system of play ,maybe 3 at the back.bidwell would be perfect for left back and Kane the other side as it's in both players experience.
2CBs 2full backs that would tighten it up I think.
 

CovBrummie94

Well-Known Member
We certainly need to look at the CB situation in the summer. 4 CBs and no under 23s who are at the level to step up isn't great for a team that plays 3 at the back.
 

Terry_dactyl

Well-Known Member
I’m not sure it’s necessarily entirely players faults…well, maybe it is but it’s possibly because they’re not good enough for the system we play. We take risk, risks that top sides, with top players can execute really effectively or if they make a mistake players are able to cover.
 

edgy

Well-Known Member
We've also conceeded the first goal 19 times this season. That is really poor.

And only scored in both halves, once.
 

rob9872

Well-Known Member
We've also conceeded the first goal 19 times this season. That is really poor.

And only scored in both halves, once.
I think it's 23 not 19, but the both halvesvis only once at home, 3 over all (Reading and Peterborough away)
 

SAJ

Well-Known Member
Yeah I can't single out anyone in particular because as you say, they've all got different things they get wrong.

But certainly worth mentioning if our centre mids aren't scoring and assisting goals, they need to be more effective at shielding the defence.
Got to agree with both these posts. Far too many goals have come through poor defending in midfield. Regularly the midfield can be out of position or fail to do the cynical side of the game higher up the pitch. We do at times lack that since Doyle left the club.
 

wingy

Well-Known Member
It comes with the shift in approach, tactics this season doesn't it.
Were approaching first half in a totally different manner to previous seasons where we focused on negating the threat of dropping behind using a game management focus around being solid .
 

Earlsdon_Skyblue1

Well-Known Member
Got to agree with both these posts. Far too many goals have come through poor defending in midfield. Regularly the midfield can be out of position or fail to do the cynical side of the game higher up the pitch. We do at times lack that since Doyle left the club.

If the midfield aren't breaking up play enough, and they also aren't contributing to the goals, it might make sense to target this area in the summer.

I'm not sure which part of the pitch needs the most work. We miss so many chances but also concede so many stupid goals.
 

blunted

Well-Known Member
Tough one. We want attacking football and have seen some of the best games at this level for a long long time. Very few games have we been outplayed. The problem is our back three lack pace so we are sometimes going to be caught out. Our wing backs play so high up the pitch, we are going to be exposed on the break. I would always try to play the way we are rather than defend and try and snatch a 1-0. Entertainment over dourness or parking the bus, passing over route one. The answer is not the style of play but an upgrade on the players we have. Difficult with a small budget. Next year with the dreadful number of games in such a short time is really going to make life difficult for us, as injuries and suspensions kick in. If we can keep at least two of our stars and add quality to the squad, we will move forward, as we have ever since MR and AV have been here. My concerns now are that whenever we are in for a player, teams with more money may gazump us.
 

mark82

Super Moderator
Defence feels like the biggest issue we need to fix this year. If we can keep JCS would be great, but think we need another too, preferably with a bit of pace.
 

Sky Blue Harry H

Well-Known Member
I’m not sure it’s necessarily entirely players faults…well, maybe it is but it’s possibly because they’re not good enough for the system we play. We take risk, risks that top sides, with top players can execute really effectively or if they make a mistake players are able to cover.

Agree - we also have had injuries/issues in both wing back positions that have affected our solidity at the back. We have still looked better overall in terms of the quality of our play. Much easier on the eye, Compared to say, Birmingham .
 

Terry_dactyl

Well-Known Member
Agree - we also have had injuries/issues in both wing back positions that have affected our solidity at the back. We have still looked better overall in terms of the quality of our play. Much easier on the eye, Compared to say, Birmingham .
We’ve definitely been held back by not having much quality and depth.
I love the way we play…we’ve got an identity.
 

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