[Albion] Will defence be the key next season?
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Kalimantan Gull
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Missed off Dunk & Igor, one of our best defensive displays of the season away at Newcastle
London Irish
Well-known member
I don’t think this is a mystery, our depth at full back is poor and has been neglected by the recruiters. Other defenders have aged before our eyes. The style of football moving to less possession based has also put extra stress on our defensive game. Fab needs better players in these areas to suit his preferred style of play. If he gets them, I would hope that we will see far less of the ugly patches of form that have weighed down our season
I gather Bloom's invested £100million in a time machine and some genetic engineering, and we've bred an unholy combination of Harry Kane, Michael Owen and Alan Shearer to play up front for us next season.
Fortunately this counts as infrastructure spending for PSR purposes, so nothing to worry about on that score.
I think estupinan has served us very well but now needs to be upgraded
We’ve spent a bit of the season with midfielders as cb and right back and for most of the season we’ve always looked shakey at the back
Summer surgery should be all on the defence imo . Another cb in addition to boscagli , new lb and new rb
Keeping Mitoma and baleba also key especially with pedro likely to go
We’ve spent a bit of the season with midfielders as cb and right back and for most of the season we’ve always looked shakey at the back
Summer surgery should be all on the defence imo . Another cb in addition to boscagli , new lb and new rb
Keeping Mitoma and baleba also key especially with pedro likely to go
- Oct 20, 2022
- 8,596
IMO, yes.
I’ve been saying for a long while that I think emphasis on the possession based football in the modern game is shifting - I think more and more teams are moving towards a style typified by mid/low blocks out of possession and fast/direct counter-attacking (and one of the reasons why I thought FH could improve our defensive performance) whilst creating more intensity at the other end of the pitch.
https://www.northstandchat.com/threads/fabian-huerzeler-singed-15-06-2024.408345/post-11495688
I also think it is one of the reasons that the Liverpool match was so exciting - Slot and FH both seem to be developing very similar styles where keeping players back behind the ball and using numerical superiority in both defence and attack, is more important than 85% possession - both teams shared 50% of the possession on Monday and it made for exciting football. Both FH and Slot and rely on wing play to break down the opponent’s defences and faster, more direct progression.
BLOG | Liverpool FC: Arne Slot’s Tactics Explained
Discover how Arne Slot has transformed Liverpool into a top team with fast transitions, high pressing, and smart wing play.
ekkonocoaching.com
If our defensive stats have not been good this season, IMO it’s because of injury and constant rotation - I think Monday night’s football gave us a taste of the sort of football we’ll be playing next season if we maybe can sign a couple more defenders in the summer - that said, Wieffer has been impressive at RB and Kadioglu and Igor will be back to fitness.
That really was.
Got everything spot on tactically.
Shape was perfect, we can do it…..
Kalimantan Gull
Well-known member
Oh no doubt we can do the low block thing when needed. I don't want that all season though, low block teams rarely finish top half. But what we need to sort out is how to defend a break against us when committing men forward.
Tbh I think it just comes down to fewer loose mistakes in possession. Their best chances came in those events, for example when Gruda lost control on a break of our own, which led to Salah's shocking miss. Thats when we find ourselves out of shape.
The RDZ 22-23 team looked after the ball so well - Caicedo, MacAllister, Gross, Lallana, March
- Sep 3, 2010
- 6,498
We are far too easy to play against. How many chances have you seen opposition teams have this season with one or two simple passes that has someone rushing in in goal? Brentford being exhibit A. A problem exacerbated when Baleba isn't about. (Bournemouth are as bad, which is why our games against them were so good)
If we were as good off the ball as say Arsenal are we would be nailed on for a Champions League spot.
If we were as good off the ball as say Arsenal are we would be nailed on for a Champions League spot.
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Yes, but you have to be able to react in transition, from memory our FBs were too high (again), which left us exposed. Pervis did well to get back and give him a gentle nudge.
Re your top para think we’ve just said the same thing!
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So Webbo down to 4th choice?
That team would of finished top 4 this season without a doubt
el punal
Well-known member
You do realise that this season we will have lost the least number of games since being in the Premier League? As it stands, just 9 defeats with one game to go. That stat alone blows your ’theory’ out of the water. It is true that on occasions we have looked flaky at the back when conceding late on from winning positions - Wolves (H) and Leicester (A) spring to mind. Counter that with the number of late goals (last 10 minutes) we’ve scored to win games - Man Utd, Liverpool, Fulham, West Ham as examples.
el punal
Well-known member
Could have, but we got found out and opposition teams nullified our threat.
Tom Hark Preston Park
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- Jul 6, 2003
- 74,165
Fixed that for you
Kalimantan Gull
Well-known member
Should have finished top 4 that season as well. The league was a lot weaker then
severnside gull
Well-known member
We play adventurous possession football that’s good to watch…….but high risk.
We could play without the ball, defend deep and hit on the break……..but it would be dull and boring for the most part and horrid to watch.
Notably our possession percentage stats seem to have dropped off as the season has progressed……towards “a middle way”?
Personally I would rather watch good football than defensive shite.
We could play without the ball, defend deep and hit on the break……..but it would be dull and boring for the most part and horrid to watch.
Notably our possession percentage stats seem to have dropped off as the season has progressed……towards “a middle way”?
Personally I would rather watch good football than defensive shite.
severnside gull
Well-known member
But lots on here are suggesting that we are only top ten because this year’s Premier League is so weak……
Not for me.
City and Arsenal were driving the standards up.
With the exception of Chelsea the so-called ‘big 6’ were more competitive.
I think our team was stronger as well.
I just want to win, whilst attacking football is enjoyable, results justify the means for me.
I’d rather win 1-0, than lose 4-3.