Leaking goals....

[Salopian 1]

We have now seen that there is little hope for promotion unless and until our defenders learn to defend. It is increasingly clear that they are our major problem.

This means that they must maintain concentration until the final whistle, and not switch off as they have been doing. We are conceding too many late goals, when we used to be a team which was a threat until the whistle blew.

It also means that they must be in position, tight on their man, and not wandering about, and firm in tackles.

Finally it means that they must learn to head balls in competition with attackers. At the moment they are losing too high a proportion of heading duels.

Question?

Do we have a defender coach, and if so what is he doing?

Are our players fully fit? Tired players are more likely to fail.

Are our players committed and motivated?

Or is it that our defenders are not just not good enough?

[Barking Mad Barclay Boy 13]

if we have a defender coach he needs to take a good look at himself.

[Rogue Baboon 0]

''Finally it means that they must learn to head balls in competition with attackers. At the moment they are losing too high a proportion of heading duels.''

They actually need to challenge for the ball in the first place. Far too many free headers again on Saturday...

[Move Klose 303]

This is from Little Yellow Bird (@TheLYPB)

Absolutely spot on:

"We’ve been completely rumbled. Leeds are the latest team to prove this. We play one up top every week, if you don’t over commit we can’t break you down very easily. Our defence and keeper are awful on the ball and if you press them then mistakes ensue. Our midfield is weak, seems to be out-muscled every game, overplays and is easily bypassed by strong runners. Our defence is prone to basic errors, and is particularly susceptible to corners/free kicks. We have no street smarts, and no leaders."

On top of that we are mentally weak, soft, easy to play against, and look like we’re not up for a battle.

[Crafty Canary 495]

Get Dyno Rod in, they''re good at stopping leaks.

[The Great Wall Of Tettey 0]

Under Alex Neil''s reign in championship we were successful and for the majority he went with:

Ruddy

Olsson Bassong Martin Whittaker

Tettey

Would love to see bassong back in the side. Takes stick for his mistakes and clumsiness, but is he really that bad? Occasionally loses his head and tries to take a man on outside his own box but is solid.

[Haggerdoo 6]

[quote user="The Great Wall Of Tettey"]Under Alex Neil''s reign in championship we were successful and for the majority he went with:

Ruddy

Olsson Bassong Martin Whittaker

Tettey

Would love to see bassong back in the side. Takes stick for his mistakes and clumsiness, but is he really that bad? Occasionally loses his head and tries to take a man on outside his own box but is solid.[/quote]He was absolute 5hite in the 4-3 defeat at Newcastle - no thanks

[Badger 2,405]

Along with one or two others on the thread, I am of the opinion that the issue is largely to do with our system of play or the extent to which our current squad can cope with it. I also suspect that in simple terms we are a physically less powerful and "big" team. It''s ok repeating the mantra that we mustn''t allow ourselves to be bullied but it is simple physics that we are likely to lose many physical battles when the opposition are bigger and stronger.[:(]

[deltic31 13]

To stick with the same players in defence when we are leaking goals is lunacy. The only player to come out with any credit on Saturday was Thompson. He got his chance and took it.

You can see the confidence drain away as soon as we concede.

We collectively switched off for the third goal.

I cannot see us going anywhere but down the table rapidly.

There are major problems with the attitude of our squad and Neil is like a rabbit in the headlights and unfortunately the buck stops with him!

[Chesney Hawkes 0]

We need some TENA shorts for the back four, and some TENA pads for the supporters.