Defence Today...........

[Beach Hut]

I think we need an experienced plyaer bought in to help as today was diabolical.

I am sorry to say this but I have no confidence in either Elphick or Virgo and El Abd cannot cope as an emergency defender. How many times do we clear the ball straight to the opposition these days ?

It really was comical when we conceded the 3rd goal, I rarely see that bad defending in youth football.

 

[pasty]

Totally agree Mr Hut. The defending that lead to the three goals today was appalling. There seems to be no natural leader, organising the back four, geeing them up and generally keeping them together.

 

[BensGrandad]

Virgo was a great improvemnt on Elphick when he came on. I didnt agree with the substitutions but they appearred to work.

In the 2nd half I would have taken Davies off and brought on Virgo and played Tunnicliffe at left back with El Abd just in front of the back 4 to break up play as he was often used by Wilkins.

Elphick needs to come out of the firing line for a couple of weeks or his confidence will be destroyed. At fault for 2 goals again today.

 

[sir albion]

The defence has been shite most of the season so whats diffrent?

 

[portlock seagull]

Not at the game but the calls I had at half time were all about our inempt defending. Truely shocking is an understatement apparently. You've gotta feel for the strikers at our club. Even if they hit 4, the result's still in doubt each week......

 

[Wilko]

I do not think I have seen 3 more comical goals conceeded in one game. Elphick needs to be dropped for a while before his confidence is shot to pieces.

 

[Napper]

We haven' the personel to have a good defence. Needs shipping out and starting again. Awful. What do the coaching staff do all week with them ?

 

[Rookie]

How was Smith, being asking for him for a while and then we let in 3 at home

 

[Theatre of Trees]

Actually I think the addition of an experienced centre back in the mould of Butters or Simon Morgan is all we need just to organise the defence it is missing leadership and a bit of backbone and is incredibly fragile at the moment. To be fair to El Abd today he was not helped at all by Aaron Davies' woeful protection in front of him. The first goal was completely down to him ball watching during a one two leaving El Abd exposed. His constant drifting in does not help and just allows any opposition full back freedom to press forward.

 

[smudge]

Defence lacking confidence & an extremely poor keeper in Smith.
I think Virgs & Tommy are the best pairing, with Virgo needing to step up & show he can lead from the back. Things must improve with the full backs fit.

 

[Silverhatch]

TE needs a rest and some specialist defensive coaching or a very experienced old pro to tell him when to step up or back off. Whoever plays central defence one should attack the ball (Virgo) and one should drop (Tunnicliffe - better footballer). Wholehearted pro El Abd may be but it's not fair on him or the team to play him at left back - and it's even worse for him when the left of midfield has no defensive capability whatsoever (Davies cannot defend at all - never gets in front of his man).

If we could defend we'd be dangerous - we need a defensive system to suit our players and that's down to the management team. They must know this. They must sort it.

 

[Billy the Fish]

Today was the closest you'll ever see to a team letting the opposition score three goals on purpose.

It really was like watching park football defending. Elphick is a shadow of the player he used to be, I think Slade subbing him for Virgo was a bit of an admission that he dropped the wrong player.

 

[BensGrandad]

Not sure about Smith he let in 3 goals but I dont think that he was at fault for any of them although Ben thinks he was bad for the first goal and could have saved it, or so it appearred from the family stand where he sat today.

 

[Beach Hut]

I thought Smith did OK and was certainly no worse than Kuipers has been.

 

[Blackadder]

I thought Smith did OK and was certainly no worse than Kuipers has been.

Agreed. The goals were not Smith's fault. Our defence was an EMBARRASSMENT in the first half! Totally amatuer! It was like a kid's football game. You have scored against us! We will pop up the other end of the playground in a minute and score against you!

Mr Slade I am not a football manager but if it was down to me, I would start the next game with the team that finished on the pitch. We will defend better and we will have the option of using both wings!

 

[Spanish Seagulls]

It did seem the team on the field at the end were actually playing for a win, unlike in the first half.

I am open to correction as I wasn't even there just following on BBC, Seagulls world & NSC

 

[pasty]

It did seem the team on the field at the end were actually playing for a win, unlike in the first half.

I am open to correction as I wasn't even there just following on BBC, Seagulls world & NSC

No correction needed. I thought we could have, and possibly even should have won it in the end. Had a good few chances to win it after 3-3, and was ultimately disappointed we didn't.

 

[grummitts gloves]

Smith is no better than Kuipers, no advantage in dropping Kuipers. Re the defence, GET SOME DECENT FOOKING COACHES IN NOW!!!!!

 

[ewe2]

Slade has had poor luck with defenders this season.This IMO has caused loss of conffidence and hence form of the whole defence unit. If Slade cannot solve this problem he will lose his job.