Godfrey in for Zimmerman or Hanley?

[BaltimoreBird 127]

Still two matches away, so time to tell, but Zimmerman has looked like Hanley's little brother on the pitch. Son has a completely uninterrupted run at Krul early in the first 15 mins and luckily slices it to the left of goal. Alli's goal may be one of the easiest runs you see past a CB and sadly Zimmerman, one of our cogs who got us through the gauntlet of the Champtionship last year is looking out of place. He needs a rest at the very least, but unfortunately no one is here to take his place with Godfrey on suspension and Klose still out. Can only hope he picks up his game because we must get three points at Newcastle.

Even if we win there, I'm thinking Hanley needs to see the field over him. Light a fire in the unit.

[non-scoring strikers 113]

Shame, innit. He was so good last season but our defensive frailties have not been addressed. This is simply incompetent. That Farke has not given two tugs of a dead dog's c--k about improving our defence shows how naive his approach to the Premier league has been. 

Also the prem has shown that Godfrey is not a CB. He needs to be played as DM before the season is out to see if he can cut it in his natural position. 

[Surfer 1,547]

Hanley. Although it was Zimmerman who appeared to be slow to react to Ali on the first goal, it was Hanley that played Ali on-side. 

Center backs play as a pair, and Godfrey and Zimmerman are clearly on the same wavelength, besides which we miss Godfrey's pace and passing. Hanley can head the ball but not much else (at this Premier League level anyway)  Zimmerman and Godfrey our first choice until Klose is available and then maybe Klose and Godfrey. 

[pete 318]

Zimmermann has got into the habit of going to ground far too soon and not staying on his feet.  Cost 4 points against Tottenham by t not defending properly.  In fact has made a number of errors costing  us valuable points handball against Arsenal and the offside against Palace.  10 points there we could have had but for Zimmermann's poor defending. 

[Kenny Foggo 1,116]

Not much between them... all making mistakes. 47 goals in 24 shows that no one is really capable of cutting out the errors. 1.95 goals a game... An area we should have strengthened and did not.

[ridgeman 130]

I agree that Godfrey is not a Premiership CB (allows forwards enough space to create things) therefore only leaves Zimmerman and Hanley, neither are Premiership quality which leaves the onus clearly on management. As has been said many times before the defence was not good enough last season so to go with the same this season seems suicidal. On another topic Webber has stated on a couple of occaasssions that the crowd was flat but has never stated that the players weren't putting in the effort I wonder why.

[ron obvious 1,499]

Not the defence per se but it's the way we play. We get the balance wrong; sometimes you just need to use the row Z option. Every game our full backs & midfield players will get caught trying to dribble out from the back. Opponents know this & are ready to pounce - it isn't skill we lack, but the sheer physical strength to hang on to the ball. Max, Emi, Todd; all depend on out-footballing their opponents.

Teams that do well against us press high & hard. If we do get through it's often been slowed down & they defend in numbers in the box. If we do get a fast break opposition defenders look just as vulnerable as ours, Our finishing is not clinical enough at present compared to other PL teams.

In fact generally we don't get enough players upfield when breaking quickly. And I don't blame Teemu, but his finishing hasn't been the same since he bashed his toe. He needs another wonder goal like his volley against Newcastle to re-energise him.

So much is about confidence. it's slowly improving, but will it improve enough before season's end ...

 

[Capt. Pants 4,195]

Round 1 to Hanley. Zimbo opened up his groin 1st half against Spurs, hopefully there won't be a reaction that keeps him out as well.