The Defence -- thoughts and views

[kenada_blue]

It needs sorting out doesnt it? Same back 4 as last years, had one of the best records in the country.

This season we're leaking goals like a siv.

Thoughts and areas to improve upon?

Personally I think Lescott's dipped in form. Today he was a bit sloppy, reacted late, and even on occasions out played by Stoke's right winger. You could count on one hand the mistakes he made last season, this season he's almost in double figures.

Yobocop is tending to panic a bit more than usual.

Howard wasnt at his best today. He didnt seem forcefull enough to get those high balls and I think he was at fault with Stoke's 2nd of the game.

Neville is Neville.

Jags -- very solid at the back I thought.

The mistakes from last season such as not dealing with the simple long ball are still there.

Hopefully the problem is just down to not having a solid DM in front of them and the line up not being consistant. Today's line up should be the prefered choice so they can get back to the form of last season.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

I think the problem initially was the absense of Lee Carsley.

Now we have Fellaini and Castillo I am confident the constant leak of goals will stop.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

I think they'll be fine given a run of games. Neville, Yobo, Jags and Lescott is a rock solid combination.

Today they where very good from open play, they kept Stoke at bay for most of the game. From set pieces and long throws it's virtually impossible, every defence in the League will struggle against Stoke. That's just the way it is to be honest.

We looked comfortable from open play which is a start, we'll be fine in that area in my opinion. Things will start to brighten up.

 

[coyney]

I think today was a one off,Howard completely failed to command his area he was a fault with both goals his poor punch caused the first and the second needed decisive action and he stayed put. this affected the players around him.

 

[Seamus Colemole]

Your last 2 paragraphs are the main resons i think.

Its known that a good defence is a settled one who play as a unit, and that unit becomes way way stronger with a player who can protect it in front of them.

I think the goals we conceded this year were due to weakness in midfield and the defence not being comfortable.

If we can keep this back four and Castillo can settle in ok the clean sheeets will come and then the confidence will rise and the silly mistakes will decline.

Thats what i hope anyway.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

I think today was a one off,Howard completely failed to command his area he was a fault with both goals his poor punch caused the first and the second needed decisive action and he stayed put. this affected the players around him.

I don't see how it was his fault for the second. Jagielka's a defender, it's was in his area and he failed to deal with it.

 

[Sharpys top lip]

Lescott is just totaly off hgis game at the moment.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Lescott is just totaly off hgis game at the moment.

I thought he was solid today to be honest, kept the ball well aswell.

 

[Bainsey]

like already said i think once castillo and fellaini get used to the league they will prove to be good for the defence, also the fact we put lescott at CB didnt work and a few lost confidence it seems at the back.

 

[Blue Wiz]

like already said i think once castillo and fellaini get used to the league they will prove to be good for the defence, also the fact we put lescott at CB didnt work and a few lost confidence it seems at the back.

Hard to be used to play in one position with certain responsibilities and then take one small step and have a completely different set of priorities.

Lescott is used to go forth since he's used to play LB, if he continues as a CD I think he'll develop into one of the best CD's in the league.

 

[Rook]

Lescott has been dreadful this season.

Jags has made a couple mistakes however he's played as a holding mid for most of the preseason and just getting back up speed.

Baines always looks quality going forward but he's terrible in defence.

Neville's defending has been OK I guess. Passing has been, well to be nice, just a little erratic though.

Yobo's back to making WTF gaffes more frequently and was lucky to get away with Fuller's goal that never was.

Howard - While he's one of the best in the world at stopping shots, teams are exposing his weakness, his lack of control in the penalty box on set plays and such. I'm not going to fault him for today though. I don't think I ever seen throw ins with that much pace on them, many of those throws were undefendable. Its like Stoke gets a free corner every time you lose it out of bounds on your side. The he got a good punch out on the 1st goal and the second was an own goal.

Me thinking the loss of Carsley is a big reason why we're not settled in the back yet. Like I've always said, Carsley was our most valuable player against bottom 10 of the prem and a big reason why we always got 3 points aganist them instead of 1.

 

[Bainsey]

Hard to be used to play in one position with certain responsibilities and then take one small step and have a completely different set of priorities.

Lescott is used to go forth since he's used to play LB, if he continues as a CD I think he'll develop into one of the best CD's in the league.

I think the fact that Lescott goes forward so much at LB has made him the class player he is, he and we are much better when hes at LB imo i just think we attack more as a team whilst Baines doesn't and we sit deep otherwise.

 

[Cal]

Lescott has been poor this season. Maybe all this hype is going to his head? I've never really rated him as much as most do, good player but not a potential 'world class' player some reckon.

Jagielka and Yobo is solid. Any defence would struggle with those yard dog's today. Ferdinand and Vidic wouldn't cope with those horrendous throw in's either.

 

[Bainsey]

hes definatley not world class but the previous two seasons he was a very good player indeed.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

He's a top quality player, one of the best left backs in the Prem. Our most consistent player without a doubt over the past two season and he probably will be this season aswell.

He looking shaky in the first three games because we had no balance whatsoever, no balance at the back and no protection from the centre of midfield.

He was good today, kept the ball well and nothing got past him. Hopefully he carries it on, left back is his best position.