Is the defence the real problem?

[BlackToffee]

I didnt go to the match and I haven't really seen the highligts, but I saw a very telling piece on Sky's show. Cammy showed a short part where after Moyes said "Keep it tight" the Arsenal forwards danced through our midfiIeld, exposing our defence.

1) I think that our midfield don't give our defence enough protection.

2) I think that Moyes idea of sitting on a lead invites trouble

3) Our defence sits too deep, giving too much space between midfield and defence

4) Finally, once again, i'm worried that yet again, Lescott is not goal side of a forward who scores.

Sort out our midfield, and we will be OK, though it doesn't mean that the defence doesn't need to be better positioned when they are attacked, too many "holes".

 

[Dom1878]

The defence have gotten their act together abit...Lescotts improved - Jagielkas just stayed at a constant high level - Yobo has been out...Honestly - i blame the midfield - they need to keep pressure off the defence - keep more possesion - Pienaar has helped out - but Arteta needs to up his game - id do it by playing him in the center!!.

 

[bozzen]

The defence have gotten their act together abit...Lescotts improved - Jagielkas just stayed at a constant high level - Yobo has been out...Honestly - i blame the midfield - they need to keep pressure off the defence - keep more possesion - Pienaar has helped out - but Arteta needs to up his game - id do it by playing him in the center!!.

How long time ago is it since Arteta had a good game? Maybe time to put him on the bench for a game?

 

[Gazdalf]

The defence have gotten their act together abit...Lescotts improved - Jagielkas just stayed at a constant high level - Yobo has been out...Honestly - i blame the midfield - they need to keep pressure off the defence - keep more possesion - Pienaar has helped out - but Arteta needs to up his game - id do it by playing him in the center!!.

good point, well made.

 

[Rook]

I've always thought Carsley was underrated but I was never expecting this.

Lescott may say he's a CB, but its just a lousy piss poor imitation of a CB.

I don't think Baines is much of a defender. Peanut, who we need in attack has to cover for him at times.

I think Moyes can't decide where to play Felanni. It seems like he's supposed to be an attacking and a holding mid. No wonder he was so exausted at the 60min mark.

 

[Gazdalf]

I've always thought Carsley was underrated but I was never expecting this.

Lescott may say he's a CB, but its just a lousy piss poor imitation of a CB.

I don't think Baines is much of a defender. Peanut, who we need in attack has to cover for him at times.

I think Moyes can't decide where to play Felanni. It seems like he's supposed to be an attacking and a holding mid. No wonder he was so exausted at the 60min mark.

Fellaini is like a mid way point that can sort of do what carsley did, and sort of do what Cahill does, problem is, we want both at the same time. I agree with you about why he looks tired.

 

[Rook]

I didnt go to the match and I haven't really seen the highligts, but I saw a very telling piece on Sky's show. Cammy showed a short part where after Moyes said "Keep it tight" the Arsenal forwards danced through our midfiIeld, exposing our defence.

I thought the players played well and played their hearts out. I love Moyes but his tactics were a disgrace. Fulham et.al. have had great success getting in the faces of the Arsenal defenders and unsettling them instead of letting them walk right through the midfield. Fulham even stole a goal after a mistake.

Arteta put pressure on the defenders once caught in the back and almost stole the ball and had a breakaway.

You are never going to beat Arsenal if you just park 10 in the back and let them have possession. There is too much attacking talent and it takes too much energy to defend that way for 90+ minutes. I knew we were going to get shellacked in the 2nd half. We would have lost 6-1 if Van Persie didn't confuse the goal for Row Z.

 

[Chris]

1) I think that our midfield don't give our defence enough protection.

I agree. There were some people on here that were slagging Carsley off something rotten. He is [Poor language removed], he does nothing etc. Since he has been gone, they have not even held their hands up and said how completely wrong they were.
You are spot on however and I totally agree. The current squad don't really cover the backline enough. They do track back and get behind the ball, but nobody really breaks up attacks like Carsely or sweeps in front of them. Castillo looks absolute MONEY in that position, but we've not seen hide nor hair of him in ages, and now he is apparently injured. Very hard to get a player in your squad to play this role, almost impossible to buy someone in. What a real loss Carsley was...

2) I think that Moyes idea of sitting on a lead invites trouble

I dont think Moyes so much as sat on a lead as tried to contain their teams attack and control the pressure. But key positions were not up to it (which he says so himself in his latest interview, see the other thread).

3) Our defence sits too deep, giving too much space between midfield and defence

Yup.

4) Finally, once again, i'm worried that yet again, Lescott is not goal side of a forward who scores.

Lescott has not had a great season so far. He has made some awful mistakes and been unlucky in other places. He can't be everywhere doing everything though in defence and be expected to support attacks too. Good player, but I'm starting to think he is more a Kilbane style left winger than a left back (he sucks at CB, even though he thinks its his best position).

Sort out our midfield, and we will be OK, though it doesn't mean that the defence doesn't need to be better positioned when they are attacked, too many "holes".

Stick in Castillo and play him in front of the back line. The holes would still be there on the wings as people bomb forward, but the pressure on the CB's will be less and attacks will be broken up sooner.

Who would Moyes drop for Castillo though. Nobody. He cost nothing, he is on a loan, everyone else costs money and is an Everton player. However, Castillo IS the player Moyes needs to play. I think we're going to have to wait for someone to get crocked before Moyes plays him again, and that means Arteta, Cahill, Ossie, Fellaini etc. Not good.

 

[TX Bill]

I think Castillo needs to have a run of games in the defensive midfield position and let's see what happens.

 

[Great Dane]

I think Castillo needs to have a run of games in the defensive midfield position and let's see what happens.

I think you're right here TX. Castillo getting games and making his mark on the defensive midfielder place in the team would solve lots of problems - including freeing up Fellaini to consentrate on the attacking play.

 

[pommie]

being 1-0 up at half time against arsenal at there home ground and playing well forcing arsenal to play long balls is a great effort .. the 2nd hald arsenal were awesome iam sure most teams in the leauge would of lost that game ... iam happy how we played in the first half second we couldnt get the ball but thats how good arsenal was

 

[Neiler]

Ive been leaking it in every thread since the first game the problem isnt in defence its in the midfild its woefully unbalanced.

 

[Whitebootman]

Ive been leaking it in every thread since the first gam,e the problem isnt in defence its in the midfild its woefully unbalanced.

Agreed, I can't understand why they can't seen to get going this season. It can't just be that Carsley has gone, or that new signings are still settling in, and various injuries. There seems to be a general lack of direction in our midfield as if no one is quite sure where they should play.

 

[billytoffee]

I think Castillo needs to have a run of games in the defensive midfield position and let's see what happens.

Yes ! Totally agree with that - if as Moyes said at the weekend we are in the process of rebuilding then we have nothing to lose by sticking him in there for a decent run !

 

[Cal]

We need a settled line up really. Moyes keeps changing it around too much. He should pick a first choice centre back pairing and stick to it.