Skip to main content

Central Defence

Central Defence

Lee Trundle

Lee Trundle

Joined
Jan 5, 2015
Messages
7,865
After yesterday's late collapse decided to have another look at how our defence has performed over a season's worth of games. Found a website that lets you filter the table between two specific dates:

2026/27 Championship Date Range: 23-OCT-2022 to 10-JUN-2024

TWTD provides the most comprehensive coverage of Ipswich Town Football Club with current news, forums, blogs, videos, ratings and more.
www.twtd.co.uk www.twtd.co.uk

Results are honestly shocking. In our last 46 championship games, we've conceded 71 goals (1.54 per game). Only Blackpool (72) conceded more goals last season. Our xGa this season is 1.44, so not as though the number is particularly anomalous. Woodman ranks 19/30 for qualifying keepers on Save %. Not great, but again, goes on a little of the way to explaining why we've been so poor.

Ive never been one to hide the fact I dont rate Storey, but would be unfair to lay all the blame at his feet. Generally Im of the opinion that Potts is a good defender, Hughes is among our best players and Lindsay has massively turned a corner since the start of last season. Yet somehow we find ourselves with a unit that are performing awfully.

On the Transfer threads, prevailing opinion seems to be that we need 'cover' for our wide central defenders. A player that would be nice to have in the squad but not essential. For me, we need to prioritise at minimum a right sided central defender who can come into the starting 11 straight away. And as much as I rate Hughes, he's proven to not be a 40+ game a season man, so I think we need someone who can come in and start on his side too.

The good news is we're 6th with a really poor defence. We just need it to be average and then we've a real shot of staying in the play-off hunt for a long time
 
Gordon Bennett said:
There’s no point recruiting anybody as ‘cover’ - that would mean they’re not as good as the players we already have. We need to sign players who are going to displace current first teamers if we want to improve.
Click to expand...

Easier to say it that way because some people start crying if you suggest that it would be a good idea to upgrade on Storey.
 
The defence is a massive issue. Alex Neil recognised it when Ben Davies left, Frankie knew it, and Ryan Lowe has even shut up shop this season to protect them.

Everyone loves Woodman. Everyone loves Storey. Everyone agrees Lindsay has been a bit better this season, and it's unanimously agreed that, when Hughes is fit, he's very good.

So why have we only kept two clean sheets all season? Our goalkeeper and defenders really aren't as good as people seem to think.
 
It's the lack of pace.

None of the backline has any real recovery pace, which necessitates us sitting deep and consequently invites teams onto us because we are terrified of the ball over the top.

We would be fine with just one of Storey/Lindsay, but having both means we are severely immobile at the back.

Furthermore, excluding Holmes, Millar and Osmajic, no one in the squad seems to have any notable pace or capable to run at a man.

As decent as the summer recruitment was, the team is still rather one-paced, just as it was last season.
 
MattPNE17 said:
It's the lack of pace.

None of the backline has any real recovery pace, which necessitates us sitting deep and consequently invites teams onto us because we are terrified of the ball over the top.

We would be fine with just one of Storey/Lindsay, but having both means we are severely immobile at the back.

Furthermore, excluding Holmes, Millar and Osmajic, no one in the squad seems to have any notable pace or capable to run at a man.

As decent as the summer recruitment was, the team is still rather one-paced, just as it was last season.
Click to expand...

It's worse than last season, in that respect, as we don't have Diaby there to ever allow a higher line of engagement.
 
Bobbage said:
6th in the League

We lost purely down to the physical/mental fatigue from playing 50mins with 10men.
Click to expand...

Great, now explain the other 45 games included in the point im making, cos we conceded 69 in them too.

Do you not see the parallels between this season and 19/20? Or did you think then, because we were first in November, that Maguire, Moult, Nugent and Stockley were more than good enough and didnt need replacing?

We've added nearly a goal a game to our team with some real positive attacking signings. Are you not somewhat excited by the prospect of doing the same for our defence?
 
Lee Trundle said:
Do you not see the parallels between this season and 19/20? Or did you think then, because we were first in November, that Maguire, Moult, Nugent and Stockley were more than good enough and didnt need replacing?
Click to expand...

No, I agree. That's a really, REALLY shit back four.
 
The old adage is the best form of defence is attack. We constantly sit back, start games cagily and don't use our flair players. Maybe if we pushed the opposition back more we would concede less. Yesterday the lack of forward play was alarming even before the sending off.
 
tonypne44 said:
The old adage is the best form of defence is attack. We constantly sit back, start games cagily and don't use our flair players. Maybe if we pushed the opposition back more we would concede less. Yesterday the lack of forward play was alarming even before the sending off.
Click to expand...
This! What was it yesterday 35% possession and 4 shots compared to their 19. 4 shots at home ffs. Even our goal came out of nowhere
 
Aitch said:
This! What was it yesterday 35% possession and 4 shots compared to their 19. 4 shots at home ffs. Even our goal came out of nowhere
Click to expand...

We literally went down to 10 men minutes after scoring!

Do you seriously expect us to dominate against Cardiff with a man less for pretty much a whole half of football?!

We were 4mins away from a win and we are still in the play-offs.
 
If we were able to remove Bauer and somehow Cunningham and upgrade them with suitable replacements that would be an excellent January window for me. I like both players but age and injury has caught up with them both. At the start of last season we had several 0-0 draws, not sure what's changed to leak so many goals?
 
Bobbage said:
We literally went down to 10 men minutes after scoring!

Do you seriously expect us to dominate against Cardiff with a man less for pretty much a whole half of football?!

We were 4mins away from a win and we are still in the play-offs.
Click to expand...
What were the stats up to that point. From what I recall, and I'm happy to be proved wrong, we've been underwhelming all season in regards to having more shots & Possession. I quoted a post that said the best form of attack is defence. Something RL doesn't seem to advocate
 
Aitch said:
What were the stats up to that point. From what I recall, and I'm happy to be proved wrong, we've been underwhelming all season in regards to having more shots & Possession. I quoted a post that said the best form of attack is defence. Something RL doesn't seem to advocate
Click to expand...

It was 1-0.

Happy to help.
 
Bobbage said:
6th in the League

We lost purely down to the physical/mental fatigue from playing 50mins with 10men.
Click to expand...
Bobbage said:
It was 1-0.

Happy to help.
Click to expand...
I usually like what you post but think your attitude on this thread is pigheaded to say the least.

I agree that the Cardiff game should not be treated as symptomatic of our defensive woes but the OP is making a valid point that applies to a whole season’s worth of games (one that you seem to be trying to shut down?). Does the fact we’re 6th automatically rule out any constructive criticism? Why wouldn’t you try to improve something if you’ve managed to spot an obvious flaw? We’re doing well, yeah, but it doesn’t mean we’re perfect.
 
Pumba said:
I usually like what you post but think your attitude on this thread is pigheaded to say the least.

I agree that the Cardiff game should not be treated as symptomatic of our defensive woes but the OP is making a valid point that applies to a whole season’s worth of games (one that you seem to be trying to shut down?). Does the fact we’re 6th automatically rule out any constructive criticism? Why wouldn’t you try to improve something if you’ve managed to spot an obvious flaw? We’re doing well, yeah, but it doesn’t mean we’re perfect.
Click to expand...

Are we in the bottom 6 or the top 6?
 
Back
Top