Defensive issues
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Why not Hunts, he’s our best centre back.
Storey is going to need time to develop, in his current state he’d struggle at champ level
Hunts was first choice, dont know why he is suddenly down the order seems strange.
Would be pretty simplistic and oblivious just to pass off the first goal as a 'screamer'. It's a good strike but their full back is free in our box with bags of time to shoot about 2 minutes after we've scored. It's poor marking, tracking back and concentration.
The second goal I agree there's not much to be done with the quality of delivery and the height of Crouch but it's giving away a daft foul in that area just minutes after Crouch came on which was ridiculous.
I don't think our deficiencies at the back at the moment are tactical or down to lack of quality, just concentration and doing the basics defending crosses.
The defence is almost identical to how we started last season. The only differences being Hughes, who has been solid at left back, and Rudd.
An on form Maxwell does so much for our backline, and I think it's mad that Rudd has the number 1 shirt over him.
An on form Maxwell does so much for our backline, and I think it's mad that Rudd has the number 1 shirt over him.
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Rightly so. People blaming Rudd for the 2nd goal are being incredibly harsh. It was a flat delivery that barely came past the front post, no keeper in the world comes for that and if they do they would get nowhere near it.
For some reason a bit of defensive uncertainty - just a bit - crept into our back line in the final pre-season friendly and has persisted since then. My guess is that AN thinks that compared with Huntington Clarke brings some extra organisational skills and leadership to help counteract that. Maybe if Huntington had been playing on Saturday his extra bit of height might have helped prevent both the goals we conceded.
OP
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I respect the differing opinions on the GKs but to say it’s “mad” it’s a bit far-fetched IMHO.
The last 2 competitive games Maxwell has played (Derby, Morecambe) he’s let shots in which he should be saving fairly comfortably, so it’s hardly mad that he’s not the no.1 right now.
It would help his cause if he just did the basics right first and foremost when selected. Rudd’s all-round game probably isn’t as rounded as Maxwell’s but he is clearly viewed as a much safer bet at the moment by AN, and if we’re chasing the top 6 we can’t afford to drop points due to rash decision making or mistakes, however much Maxwell offers sweeping up or collecting crosses.
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Yeah but in 2 games against decent opponents Clarke has struggled and Davies has made two or three big errors that lead to goals or great chances.
We might see him in the line up on Wednesday, I hope so too, he is the least error prone player in our backline
I know it’s boring to some to keep mentioning the tactical side but I do feel as though our system has changed *slightly* this season, we seem to me to be playing more like Neil’s Norwich side in the fact that our wingers are tucking in and our full backs more advanced.
This leaves us a lot more open down the sides imo. Not sure if it will continue but it’s something to consider.
Easy to mention Clarke’s height, Davies losing his man, Rudd on line etc, but do feel like we will naturally concede more goals as we are setting up slightly more expansive - it’s only small details but it’s made a difference imo.
(Can’t post them on here as they are behind a locked database but our average positions on the pitch are very different to last seasons)
This leaves us a lot more open down the sides imo. Not sure if it will continue but it’s something to consider.
Easy to mention Clarke’s height, Davies losing his man, Rudd on line etc, but do feel like we will naturally concede more goals as we are setting up slightly more expansive - it’s only small details but it’s made a difference imo.
(Can’t post them on here as they are behind a locked database but our average positions on the pitch are very different to last seasons)
I agree that Clarke has not looked as authoritative so far this season as previously. There certainly is a case for restoring Huntington.
Although Hughes has said that his role is a full back is much less attacking than it was at Peterborough.
We have two defensive full backs and whilst part of a full backs job is to naturally get forward and help your winger, their main job is to defend and I don’t think we’ll ever see them be as attacking as Pinto and Djiks were for Norwich.
Plus the role of full backs chances from game to fame. From experience, it’s literally as simple as before a game they might be told to get round them at every opportunity, then others they are told just to half-support and leave the winger to it.
Comparing the average positions to last season both full backs are a good 10 yards higher up. We are definitely more open down the sides now. Fisher winning an attacking header in Stokes box from open play in the 30th or so minute highlights this.
Our average positions lined up more like a 2431 on Saturday. Maybe not as attacking as Posh but definitely slightly more advanced than last season. Maybe it’s a natural progression.
I think it’s more to do with the fact that in all the games we’ve played so far, we’ve been well on top for prolonged periods of the game.
Suppose we will see as the season progresses. There seems to be a few subtle changes to the way we’re playing now though.
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Fisher needs a rocket up his arse for me. It’s not number 1 priority and I’ll be in the minority I know but I’d be looking for an alternative. He’s far to lax on the ball, he is forever looking for fouls, the ‘dive’ leading up to the Berahino chance was a prime example, dives in far to often, the 2nd Stoke goal another good example and takes an age to take throw ins etc which just slows everything down needlessly.
Fisher was brilliant last season! Yes, his last two performances haven't been great and he has given away a couple of free kicks which have led to goals. But come on! An alternative? I agree about his performances they need to improve, but we do not need a new right back. Fisher is class and two bad performances isn't going to change my view on that.
There isn't much better right backs in this division.
That's all way over the top imo.
Well if true, can't find that on the official site yet, and can’t say I am too surprised.
As I have said before distribution very good, but gets caught out to many times in defensive situations, which again as I have said before, effects the confidence in his partner who ever that maybe at the time.
If he can solve that, top defender on our hands