Leaky Defence

[toffeestillidie]

This season we have only kept 2 clean sheets (Swansea and Man United), the same amount of clean sheets we had at this point last year (in what most of us considered a terrible start). Why is this happening?

 

[PaddyG]

Seems to be happening throughout the league this year, not just with us

 

[Joao Moutinho]

This doesn't just happen to us at the moment, it's a league wide thing. But that said, we do need to tighten up, and the last two games it looks like we have. Apart from the first 50 seconds against Arsenal, but again that goal took a massive deflection. And City got a dodgy penalty.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

A combination of us being more offensive this season & less 'safety first', a less settled back line & individual mistakes, notably from Howard, who's been largely gash.

 

[toffeejack]

crap keeper, unsettled centre back pairing, an attacking RB for once, more incentive on attacking, heitinga's gash form, bad luck (5/6 deflected goals?) and tbh most teams in the league are going at eachother. It's a very open league and i don't think i've seen any instances of real bus parking. Wouldn't surprise me if anyone has more than 4 clean sheets this season and maybe arsenal with 2 consecutive clean sheets have had the longest run?

 

[JamesEFC]

Numerous reasons, but it has to stop, can't keep having to score 2/3 goals to win a game especially when our main striker isn't on form

 

[zirc]

stoke have had like 7 clean sheets, but if anyone would, it'd be them

 

[Rook]

From what I'm noticing it's mostly from that fact that we are defending free kicks as bad as some of Rafael's teams.

 

[Fensta]

Aye, concede too many from free kicks. Get it sorted lads.

 

[LTblue]

Very leaky, but the last couple of games there have been big signs of improvement-perhaps very much related to dropping Heitinga and Gibson returning to the side?

 

[kevkenno]

anyone know whatever happened to the touching hands thing we used to do on free kicks into the box. thought it used to work quite well and would stop any players running in between the gaps. but yes our defence has been poor this season.

 

[Essex Blue]

Very leaky, but the last couple of games there have been big signs of improvement-perhaps very much related to dropping Heitinga and Gibson returning to the side?

And the return of Hibbert.

 

[Blackwatch1878]

We have most definitely missed the added bonus of Tim cahills ariel presence on defensive set plays this season

.

 

[boris]

I've been very critical of our defence this season, they have looked all over the show and I put this down to a lack of understanding between the back 4 and a lack of protection from midfield however I reckon the last 2 games they look to be back to there usual self.

If they keep playing as they have done in the last week, the clean sheets with come.

 

[BigBlueConk]

anyone know whatever happened to the touching hands thing we used to do on free kicks into the box. thought it used to work quite well and would stop any players running in between the gaps. but yes our defence has been poor this season.

They were getting too zonal with it and ended up going home late. They were still doing it in the showers after the game.