Defending Woes

[timdrfc]

Just seen the goals from yesterday & our defending was dreadful again,The first goal was a straight forward ball across the back line & Thomas just lets it go past him, 1 nil. The second was  a ball in box & Thomas again gave it a fresh air shot 2 nil  woeful.

Now with Copps out i'm very worried for our survival in this division, god nows what the board are thinking with all things that are happening at the club.

[Spankster]

what do you expect?

moron!

[Wellred]

Intelligent reply

[Spankster]

Just pissed off with the negative stuff on here

What do we expect when nearly all our first team players are injured?

Sorry Tim/Wellred, didn't mean to have a go but am just pissed off with negative remarks

Our fate is in our own hands and we have to be positive, if we go down so be it, but there is a long way to go yet & some players will be back so lets do it fighting

it ain't over till my missus sings

[Wellred]

I think fans have a right to be negative sometimes especially when you consider most of the problems we have had this season have been of the clubs own making.
Centre Backs.
I think we took too much for granted thinking that Jason Shackell would sign during the summer. When he went to Barnsley we were well and truly up s**t creek without a paddle. Like much of our play this season we didn't have a plan B.
We have been making do for 2 seasons with 1st division centre halfs and a full back who has been filling in at centre half.
We signed Thomas who has been dire, signed Souza who has been playing in the middle east (hardly a good standard of football)
Signed Martis on a long contract who was injury prone before we signed him and has since confirmed he cannot play two 90 minute back to back games.
If the budget for wages is tight why have we signed so many very average players on loan or on short term contract this season?
When you look at our squad it is actually quite a big squad.
What we need however is more quality not quantity.

[timdrfc]

Just pissed off with the negative stuff on here

What do we expect when nearly all our first team players are injured?

Sorry Tim/Wellred, didn't mean to have a go but am just pissed off with negative remarks

Our fate is in our own hands and we have to be positive, if we go down so be it, but there is a long way to go yet & some players will be back so lets do it fighting

it ain't over till my missus sings

First of i expect Championship defenders to be able to defend the basic balls into the box , not letting them go straight past them or complete fresh air kick to a basic pass into the box.
Secondly i'm not negative & i hope SOD  & ROK can sort it out , but 8 defeats in 9 games with our injury list doesn't look good  & it's being realistic not negative thank you very much,or am i not able to express my views on here ?
I don't leave early  i cheer the lads on and always will, what ever league were in.

[SpaceShowerTeleVision]

The defending was poor for those goals and statues would be the best description. Injuries aside I question why a goalkeeper hasn't been signed. It's obvious Sulli has entered the twighlight of his career, and Woods seems to need a few years before he would be ready to take over regularly. The issue should have been addressed at the beginning of the season, and most certainly should be a priority in the summer. I still believe we will be safe this year, despite the recent run. Once the 13 or so injured players are back, and we off load the crocks - Brooker for certain - we still have a decent Championship side.

[grayx]

Just seen the goals from yesterday & our defending was dreadful again,The first goal was a straight forward ball across the back line & Thomas just lets it go past him, 1 nil. The second was  a ball in box & Thomas again gave it a fresh air shot 2 nil woeful.

Pretty awful wasn't it. Comical defending, invisible midfield which allowed the opposition to stroll
through and NO strikeforce. Shambolic to be honest.

[Chrisd_123]

I'm sorry but the second goal wasn't all bad defending. Yes the ball wasn't cleared well but if you watch the replay Sulli pulls off a fantastic save. Any other team on any other day and it would have bounced anywhere else in the ground and been cleared or gone out for a corner or throw. But with our luck recently the save just fell straight onto Williams' head.

[Jimmydee]

Mills was very poor yesterday, he didn't want to know and I thought that he was the reason why the first two goals  were coceded, Moussa? was startled by the headlights, shiels isn't of championship quality, Keegan hasn't done anything to impress me at all yet. Oster couldn't pass and George Friend was the only person that made a good effort. Poor Jason Euele was lost on his lonesome without a touch in the first half and he worked hard in the second half to get into the game.
Swansea were comfortable throughout the game and just had an easy stroll, we could have been punished ruthlessly by other teams because of our vulnerable situation.
I am confident that I will be able to cheer my team in the Championship next season and we are just riding on the crest of a slump at the moment.

[Chrisd_123]

In defence of Mills, He's been out for quite a while and thrown at the deep end a bit yesterday. Not the easiest of games to get thrown back to left back in against possibly the quickest player in the division. He wasn't great but I just put that down to his fitness level.

As for the midfield, the big problem is we're not only down to the bare bones but pretty much every fit midfielder we have is a deep playing player. Having Keegan, Wilson and Oster in the same 11 is never gonna work. I was impressed with Keegan against Burnley when he sat infront of the back 4 and let Stocky and the rest go forward and do their stuff. The problem is that the 3 in there yesterday are all defensive minded players or, in Oster's case, a player who sits back and plays the ball forwards towards the attacking players of Copps etc. The squad needs players like Wilson and Keegan as they can do a very good job in our full team when needed, but never in the same team with no other options.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Mills is playing with injury, simple as.

The first goal was actually offside if you watch the replay.  Goal 2 was kind of unlucky with the save going straight to him and by goal 3 we were stuffed.

Fact is that if the attackers can't keep the ball the defence are under constant pressure as it was yesterday.  They defended well but to do that for 90 minutes when makeshift is a tough ask against anyone.