We've conceded the most headed goals in the league

[billycopper]

12 of the 30 goals that we've let in have been headers. Maybe:

• Howard isn't commanding enough
• Fellaini doesn't make enough of his height defending set pieces
• We allow crosses into our box too easily
• We defend too deep
• Jags' and Heitinga's lack of height is costing us
• We're not organised enough

 

[Brennan]

Well somebody has to be at the top of that stat.

 

[Goat]

The answer is Heitinga.

 

[The T-Dex]

Heitinga is proving a bit crap defining crosses.
You don't see Distin getting beat by them. Nor Jags.

 

[BlueLlama]

The answer is Heitinga.

Heitinga with a side order of Round

 

[Azzurri]

The answer is Heitinga.

*nods*

 

[Groucho]

The answer is Heitinga.

I'll support any player in a blue shirt, but I have to admit he's off form.

 

[Goat]

I'll support any player in a blue shirt, but I have to admit he's off form.

I support every player in blue, I have never and will never abuse ANY player in blue at the game, I go to support the team and the players who wear the shirt.

But "off the pitch", its a much different matter.

 

[Lao]

Heitinga is proving a bit crap defining crosses.
You don't see Distin getting beat by them. Nor Jags.

So where were they when these crosses came over then??

Defo Heitinga, but Howard is not as commanding this season.

 

[swisso]

All of the above?

Fellaini's man marking is one of the poorer areas of his game. Commanding his box and communicating with players is Howards biggest weakness and well Heitinga doesn't seem to have the aggression or strength to attack an aerial ball.

 

[Elong]

We play our full backs a lot higher up the pitch in a more offensive formation, and to be honest neither Coleman or Baines are that great at closing a player down, I guess there's just more space for more crosses to be put in.

 

[Royal]

Jagielka's 6 foot. I don't think he's really lacking in height.
It's more on Jonny and Howard. But then, every team has their weak points.

 

[degsy]

which side are these crosses coming in from? Baineses or the other side

 

[billycopper]

Heitinga tends not to do headers but I don't think we can pin it all on him, since he doesn't play that often. Looking at the times when he has been involved:

(Headers conceded)

Villa- Agbonlahor
West Brom- Long
Newcastle- Cisse
Chelsea- Lampard
Norwich- Bassong
Reading- Le Fondre
Wigan- Kone
Southampton- Ramirez

Well, 8 out of 12 headers conceded when Heitinga played. Maybe Johnny is the weak link then.

 

[Brennan]

How many headers have been conceded by other teams ? If there are a lot of sides with a similar amount it's not really an issue.