[Football] Defensive coaching

[Barnet Seagull]

I think its about time we talked a bit more about the way we defend.

Very impressed last night with the positional awareness and flexibility of this team
And we managed to not concede from set pieces

Biss/Lallana did a great job in filling gaps and balancing our attack

Good signs.

 

[Curious Orange]

We're difficult to beat, our goal difference sticks out like a sore thumb in the bottom half of the table.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

I think that's been the main difference the last 3 months. Sanchez has made a huge difference, but Veltman and whoever else has played have slotted in seamlessly. We just don't give up many chances now.

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[maltaseagull]

I think that's been the main difference the last 3 months. Sanchez has made a huge difference, but Veltman and whoever else has played have slotted in seamlessly. We just don't give up many chances now.

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If only we could take a few of ours, we would be safe by February!

 

[Icy Gull]

I think that's been the main difference the last 3 months. Sanchez has made a huge difference, but Veltman and whoever else has played have slotted in seamlessly. We just don't give up many chances now.

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True, and most goals against us are very well hit strikes or come about from a lucky bounce. We don’t make many big errors at the back these days.

 

[Napper]

Last night was impressive at the back. Everton hunted in packs when we were playing it about at the back. They pressed as a 3 and had back up runners ready to punce on any mistake. If we had lost the ball at any point during the game back there then we would of been in trouble. Can only really think it happened once when Dunk took the yellow. Takes alot of work and concentration to remain that switched on for 90 mins. Yes we could of got punished at the end but the way Everton pressed with pace I can see how they sniff out so many goals. Not easy to play against and makes the clean sheet and point more pleasing for me.

 

[KeegansHairPiece]

I think its about time we talked a bit more about the way we defend.

Very impressed last night with the positional awareness and flexibility of this team
And we managed to not concede from set pieces

Biss/Lallana did a great job in filling gaps and balancing our attack

Good signs.

Without first or even 2nd choice wing-backs available, or a first choice CB. But we're the only ones fortunate to play teams with players out...

 

[Dolph Ins]

If only we could take a few of ours, we would be safe by February!

I keep reading stuff like this (you are certainly not the only one) and then look at the table and the only 2 teams in the bottom half to have scored more than us are villa and soton. It would seem to me the margins are the draws. I also think if Sanchez had been in goal all season then we would be higher up the table. Not because he is a better shot stopper than Matty but because he commands his box and allows the defenders to concentrate on other things.

 

[Gwylan]

I saw an interesting stat yesterday. It was talking about how home advantage had disappeared in the lockdown and that 15 of the PL teams had lost a home game by three goals or more. For all talk of our poor home form, we're one of the resilient five

 

[maltaseagull]

I keep reading stuff like this (you are certainly not the only one) and then look at the table and the only 2 teams in the bottom half to have scored more than us are villa and soton. It would seem to me the margins are the draws. I also think if Sanchez had been in goal all season then we would be higher up the table. Not because he is a better shot stopper than Matty but because he commands his box and allows the defenders to concentrate on other things.

Good point well made.

I hadn't realised that about goals scored but it seems that there have been loads of games where just one of 20 chances taken would have given us 2 more points.

 

[Clive Walker]

not really surprising considering the entire coaching staff specialise in defensive coaching. Just imagine if we had a striking coach to install a little confidence in the area we have struggled in for a while now.

 

[Dolph Ins]

Good point well made.

I hadn't realised that about goals scored but it seems that there have been loads of games where just one of 20 chances taken would have given us 2 more points.

Could't agree more with chances 'missed'. If next season 10% of those chances don't get blocked/deflected/hit the woodwork then we are mid table. Controversially I think this squad and our strikers are good enough to do that with another season's experience (but I'd not say no to a better striker if one is available/affordable).

 

[Farehamseagull]

We're difficult to beat, our goal difference sticks out like a sore thumb in the bottom half of the table.

Yes it does.

It's also interesting when you look at the goals against column in that post Bozza put up comparing our premier league seasons. Despite playing a lot more open and attacking under Potter, we've conceded less at the same stage under him than we did in both seasons under Hughton where we set up ultra cautious every game.

I do think a big part of that is not just the defence but midfield. Our centre midfield options of Biss/Lallana/White/Gross/Alzate is in a different league to the days of Stephens and Propper.

 

[vagabond]

We're difficult to beat, our goal difference sticks out like a sore thumb in the bottom half of the table.

[emoji106]

 

[Barnet Seagull]

Last night was impressive at the back. Everton hunted in packs when we were playing it about at the back. They pressed as a 3 and had back up runners ready to punce on any mistake. If we had lost the ball at any point during the game back there then we would of been in trouble. Can only really think it happened once when Dunk took the yellow. Takes alot of work and concentration to remain that switched on for 90 mins. Yes we could of got punished at the end but the way Everton pressed with pace I can see how they sniff out so many goals. Not easy to play against and makes the clean sheet and point more pleasing for me.

Yes they miss DCL but Everton worked hard up top trying to unsettle us with zero reward and a different deflection here and there and we'd have scored. Their only real chance in open play (Iwobi) was due to an individual mistake and I agree, Dunk's booking was .
Watching the balance as we progressed the ball was a thing of beauty. The shuttling to maintain defensive control and also an out ball from all the midfielders and defenders was just great to watch.

Make no mistake, they are a good side. Pleasingly, so are we.

 

[Machiavelli]

Yes they miss DCL but Everton worked hard up top trying to unsettle us with zero reward and a different deflection here and there and we'd have scored. Their only real chance in open play (Iwobi) was due to an individual mistake and I agree, Dunk's booking was .
Watching the balance as we progressed the ball was a thing of beauty. The shuttling to maintain defensive control and also an out ball from all the midfielders and defenders was just great to watch.

Make no mistake, they are a good side. Pleasingly, so are we.

Good thread, and you're right about how we've progressed defensively. I think Sanchez has helped in the way he dominates the box aerially, instilling confidence in the defenders which was lacking with Ryan; he's also very good in terms of distribution. The defenders' decision-making is also excellent. We have four top CBs.
Yesterday it was really noticeable to me that James could barely run, so this hampered their ability to press high, although even with DCL I suspect our defenders skills and calmness on the ball wouldn't have induced any mistakes.

 

[SeagullinExile]

I saw an interesting stat yesterday. It was talking about how home advantage had disappeared in the lockdown and that 15 of the PL teams had lost a home game by three goals or more. For all talk of our poor home form, we're one of the resilient five

Strangely, we have the best home clean sheet record in the PL in 2021 apparently.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Without first or even 2nd choice wing-backs available, or a first choice CB. But we're the only ones fortunate to play teams with players out...

100% agree. It frustrates me that we have, or have had, Burn, March, Webster and Lamptey all missing and a complete makeshift back line for a number of games now yet no commentators give this any mention let alone credit us for our excellent defensive displays. Last night was all about Everton’s missing players .......even with some of our miserable supporters.

 

[Change at Barnham]

I think that the way Ben White advances the ball on the right side of defence would make his loss (if sold) as significant as the possible loss of Bissouma.

The four of Sanchez, Dunk, White and Veltman have been immense recently in setting up our advances when in possession.
And with Webster returning shortly it gives us a fifth 'Quarterback' able to advance forward and delivery slide rule passes that breaks our opponents press.

In our home matches we have now kept clean sheets in five of our last seven fixtures.

 

[Seasidesage]

I saw an interesting stat yesterday. It was talking about how home advantage had disappeared in the lockdown and that 15 of the PL teams had lost a home game by three goals or more. For all talk of our poor home form, we're one of the resilient five

This raises an interesting point for me. For all the money needed to improve the squad to get more wins next season would some of it be better spent improving the atmosphere at the Amex? This last season does if nothing else demonstrate the value of home support to clubs and the importance of vocal support at home...

I'd suggest free beer Tony