Interesting piece on the value of defenders

[bluemangroup]

which is why in general we produce yard dogs and can't get any effective possession at international level, of course they should be able to defend, they should also not be terrified of having a football at their feet, and david luiz is not the yard stick for a technically gifted defender

Being a yard dog as a CB is far more effective than being some fancy willowy figure who can pass further than 10 yards but can't tackle is what I'm saying. You seem to be overemphasising the importance of ability on the ball to a defender, when actually horrible scrappy but difficult defenders can and do work, as long as they are supported sufficiently by deep lying midfielders properly. If Barry covered the ground better we'd 1. Not be able to afford him but 2. We wouldn't see such a great deal of pressure on the defenders to carry the ball out and thread the ball through. The onus should not be entirely on the defenders.

 

[Walken]

Being a yard dog as a CB is far more effective than being some fancy willowy figure who can pass further than 10 yards but can't tackle is what I'm saying. You seem to be overemphasising the importance of ability on the ball to a defender, when actually horrible scrappy but difficult defenders can and do work, as long as they are supported sufficiently by deep lying midfielders properly. If Barry covered the ground better we'd 1. Not be able to afford him but 2. We wouldn't see such a great deal of pressure on the defenders to carry the ball out and thread the ball through. The onus should not be entirely on the defenders.

It shouldn't be entirely on them, and I do think mccarthy in particular needs to add more drive to his game, but I sympathise with him and barry in that the two defenders behind them are so poor on the ball, whenever they receive it they are faced will a fully in place opposition, and they are usually in their own half, having tracked back to give those two clowns an easy option. I really don't see how you can overemphasize the importance of ability on the ball, this is football, that is a key and vital abilty, and it's an utter joke that an international and two highly paid professionals who have trained every day pretty much for 20 years, are not good on the ball. That simply is not good enough at the highest level, which is what we are trying to attain is it not? Yard dogs have their place, it's called stoke, the sooner this country wakes up and stops applauding someone for booting the ball out of play, and realises that defending is not all last ditch tackles and blocks, then we might start making some progress

 

[bluemangroup]

It shouldn't be entirely on them, and I do think mccarthy in particular needs to add more drive to his game, but I sympathise with him and barry in that the two defenders behind them are so poor on the ball, whenever they receive it they are faced will a fully in place opposition, and they are usually in their own half, having tracked back to give those two clowns an easy option. I really don't see how you can overemphasize the importance of ability on the ball, this is football, that is a key and vital abilty, and it's an utter joke that an international and two highly paid professionals who have trained every day pretty much for 20 years, are not good on the ball. That simply is not good enough at the highest level, which is what we are trying to attain is it not? Yard dogs have their place, it's called stoke, the sooner this country wakes up and stops applauding someone for booting the ball out of play, and realises that defending is not all last ditch tackles and blocks, then we might start making some progress

lol
Chill out man. Defenders should defend first and foremost and yes we want our defenders to be able to distribute better but our defenders are at their best defending. Both are nearing or extending the twilight of their careers, they aren't suddenly going to undergo some sort of metamorphosis. They also got pretty good at bringing the ball out last season by their own standards. This year seems to have been a regression both in terms of technical and defensive aspects. They're struggling is all.

 

[Walken]

lol
Chill out man. Defenders should defend first and foremost and yes we want our defenders to be able to distribute better but our defenders are at their best defending. Both are nearing or extending the twilight of their careers, they aren't suddenly going to undergo some sort of metamorphosis. They also got pretty good at bringing the ball out last season by their own standards. This year seems to have been a regression both in terms of technical and defensive aspects. They're struggling is all.

Not a fan of that, they are footballers first, I don't believe defending is that difficult of a skill, I always found CH to be the easiest position on the pitch

 

[bluemangroup]

Not a fan of that, they are footballers first, I don't believe defending is that difficult of a skill, I always found CH to be the easiest position on the pitch

Then you are doing the position a great deal of disservice. Barry is rightly applauded for his ability to read the game, CBs do that on a regular basis and ours are very good at it and yet they get lambasted for what they can't do. And the level you play at is a million miles away from what these guys are dealing with week in week out.

 

[Walken]

Then you are doing the position a great deal of disservice. Barry is rightly applauded for his ability to read the game, CBs do that on a regular basis and ours are very good at it and yet they get lambasted for what they can't do. And the level you play at is a million miles away from what these guys are dealing with week in week out.

Barry's an intelligent guy though, and knows what he has to do to be effective for the team, I would say he is unacceptably one footed though, so he's not escaping this. Reading the game comes with experience, it's not black magic, plenty of players can do it, and they can also control a football, I'm not content with this country producing players who can't at the highest level.

 

[bluemangroup]

Barry's an intelligent guy though, and knows what he has to do to be effective for the team, I would say he is unacceptably one footed though, so he's not escaping this. Reading the game comes with experience, it's not black magic, plenty of players can do it, and they can also control a football, I'm not content with this country producing players who can't at the highest level.

Those that are coming through, clearly are pretty comfortable on the ball. So may be its a case of things be in process of change. Have you thought about? Have you? Have you at all?

 

[Walken]

Those that are coming through, clearly are pretty comfortable on the ball. So may be its a case of things be in process of change. Have you thought about? Have you? Have you at all?

I have, in the much loved transfer thread, I said i think berto thought he could get away with jags and milky for one more season, while stones and galloway come through, we aren't a club who can strengthen all our weaknesses in a season, with our resources at times certain areas will have to make do, and it was a reasonable assumption to assume CH was one that we could just about get away with this season, I don't think any of us thought those two would be so bad, and surely they won't continue to be. I'd be surprised and quite frankly disappointed if berto and me aren't of a like mind on this one long term

 

[bluemangroup]

I have, in the much loved transfer thread, I said i think berto thought he could get away with jags and milky for one more season, while stones and galloway come through, we aren't a club who can strengthen all our weaknesses in a season, with our resources at times certain areas will have to make do, and it was a reasonable assumption to assume CH was one that we could just about get away with this season, I don't think any of us thought those two would be so bad, and surely they won't continue to be. I'd be surprised and quite frankly disappointed if berto and me aren't of a like mind on this one long term

Well next time you see him bring it up with him and see what he says. I think we can do better than get away with it. This is still one of the better defences in the league, they are just hopelessly out of touch as it stands. International break gives us a chance to regroup and drill those not on international duty to get it right and then hope that either Jags finds his form on return or Stones comes in and solidifies us at the back.

 

[Walken]

Well next time you see him bring it up with him and see what he says. I think we can do better than get away with it. This is still one of the better defences in the league, they are just hopelessly out of touch as it stands. International break gives us a chance to regroup and drill those not on international duty to get it right and then hope that either Jags finds his form on return or Stones comes in and solidifies us at the back.

If he is the forward thinking manager i think he is, i think we can both agree that me an berto will probanly be on the same wavelength hete

 

[bluemangroup]

If he is the forward thinking manager i think he is, i think we can both agree that me an berto will probanly be on the same wavelength hete

Please spare me.

 

[Chang Elephant]