Deucalion Posted 20 September 2015 Posted 20 September 2015 Do we work hard on defence in training and change our tactics for matches to concede less goals, or do we play to what is obviously our strength and just attack teams from the off, hoping we will score more than them? Are we capable of playing in a more balanced, middle ground way? Or are the early leads teams keep taking against us evidence that we might be being found out?
purpleronnie Posted 20 September 2015 Posted 20 September 2015 we sort the defense out and win the league.
The Doctor Posted 20 September 2015 Posted 20 September 2015 Play to our strengths and keep attacking, if 3-5-2 is out of the question as it seems to be. We saw post Man Utd last season that we can't set up to eek 1-0 wins and 0-0 draws, our best chances of winning come by relentlessly attacking and just hoping we score more by the end.
filbertstreet Posted 20 September 2015 Posted 20 September 2015 Got to go to Norwich next month but I'd just hang around until then, maybe go shopping or summat, think I'm out of bread and washing up soap now
shailen Posted 20 September 2015 Posted 20 September 2015 The only way to improve is to stop letting in soft goals. We are opened easily at times, but we would probably have to take a more defensive approach and stay deep and more disciplined but consequently we will lose some of our attacking intent. Catch 22. The only way that we can improve is to find players of a higher quality who can do the same job in the same system and style we play, without disrupting team spirit, confidence and other players. This is why football management is so hard. Realistically we need to be signing some of Europes top players to us, if we are to make the next step to European football. Even then they may not fit into our system and it may mean a step backwards. The other option we have is to keep this group together and hope they improve to the level where they cut out each other's mistakes and work together even more cohesively
Kitchandro Posted 20 September 2015 Posted 20 September 2015 I think you know the answer to that. Obviously we don't change our tactics to be more defensive, we're 3rd in the league and we're only 3rd in the league because we're such a threat going forwards. We overpower teams with the way we attack, force them back break them down with wave after wave of attack. If you can do this well you should never change it. Being defensive won't fix your defensive problems. In fact, if you're not very good at it it will only create more strain on them and expose your weaknesses more. It's important we stick to what we're good at, especially when it's so very satisfying to watch. TBH, I'm not that bothered about conceding goals if we're scoring loads and reaping the rewards for being so positive. That attitude is how football should be played. In this league, attacking with that sort of commitment and pace is a must. Slowing things down doesn't work, especially with the players we have. Some defensive drills in training wouldn't do any harm but how many times do we need to watch Schlupp and De Laet defend before we decide they're no good at it? Neither have got any better and they've been at this level for over a season now. Schlupp should either be playing further forward where he is useful or not at all. De Laet just isn't good enough. 3 at the back, Schlupp and Albrighton as wing backs and Mahrez given a free role behind 2 strikers. It suits everyone, it's common sense and with the evidence we saw at the end of last season and the start of this, it would help solve our defensive issues more than any other tactic we might attempt.
Kitchandro Posted 20 September 2015 Posted 20 September 2015 The only way to improve is to stop letting in soft goals. We are opened easily at times, but we would probably have to take a more defensive approach and stay deep and more disciplined but consequently we will lose some of our attacking intent. Catch 22. The only way that we can improve is to find players of a higher quality who can do the same job in the same system and style we play, without disrupting team spirit, confidence and other players. This is why football management is so hard. Realistically we need to be signing some of Europes top players to us, if we are to make the next step to European football. Even then they may not fit into our system and it may mean a step backwards. The other option we have is to keep this group together and hope they improve to the level where they cut out each other's mistakes and work together even more cohesively I'm not sure this would make any difference, we looked equally as vulnerable yesterday when we had players behind the ball. Certain players (ahem Schlupp ahem) do not understand the concept of going to their man and denying them space. Pressing is the name of the game, that contributes greatly to defensive and attacking success. This is our best trait when we do it well. We force teams into mistakes and break on them with devastating pace. This philosophy must be stuck to. We conceded two very sloppy goals yesterday but I do believe they were more to do with decision making and poor individual errors, rather than suffering by being too attacking. I think people often look at the latter as the easy answer and it's often not the correct one.
Deucalion Posted 20 September 2015 Author Posted 20 September 2015 Let's put it another way then. If we go all out to attack at the weekend against Arsenal, is there a big risk we could end up getting battered, as we so far haven't played a team of their quality? I personally want us to get at them from the start, but I don't know whether it would be wise to alter things for teams who could really hurt us?
jayfox26 Posted 20 September 2015 Posted 20 September 2015 I don't think we should change our style as attacking teams works for us. We could change to 3 at the back and wing backs as that doesn't seem to affect our attacking intent but may make us a bit better at the back. If we carry on with 4-4-2 we will need a new right back as De Laet is just not good enough for the prem. Yes you can argue he gets exposed cos he has Mahrez in front of him but this doesn't disguise the fact that he's just not a very good defender. His only real attribute is his pace and other than that hes really not very good! I also think we need another cb as Morgan looks shaky at times and I haven't been impressed with Benalouane when I've seen him play. CR clearly doesn't rate Was as he's not even made the bench all season. There are lots of good centre backs around so I definitely think we should strengthen in Jan
The Doctor Posted 20 September 2015 Posted 20 September 2015 Let's put it another way then. If we go all out to attack at the weekend against Arsenal, is there a big risk we could end up getting battered, as we so far haven't played a team of their quality? I personally want us to get at them from the start, but I don't know whether it would be wise to alter things for teams who could really hurt us? Against Arsenal I'd think not - against Man City you'd have a point but Arsenal are there to be got at if you press and disrupt their passing game. They've never been particularly good against a side that winds them up and gets in their faces.
Deucalion Posted 20 September 2015 Author Posted 20 September 2015 There have been loads of defensive mistakes in the last two games. Off the top of my head: Huth hitting the ball into our box against Villa. Ball not cleared and mishit across our box for Villa's first. Various poor passes from Schlupp. Lack of marking from De Laet, Huff and Morgan for Stoke's first. Whatever the feck Wes was doing for Stoke's second yesterday. As others have said, these are individual errors rather than tactics. If the players are individually not good enough to cut this out, then they need to be replaced. If we do end up in a relegation battle this season, this will be the cause, in my opinion at least.
st albans fox Posted 20 September 2015 Posted 20 September 2015 I'm going to be interested in how teams set up to stifle us Spurs sat so deep and wouldn't commit bodies forward Villa tried to do something similar but ironically, their being ahead drew us onto them and they couldn't cope. When we're Away from home, teams will generally play their own game but at the KP, it will be different. We can't press for 90 mins. Claudio has decided to try and start quickly (not easy now that the opposition know its coming and are fresh), then fall back before pressing second half as required.
Swiper Posted 20 September 2015 Posted 20 September 2015 We certainly shouldn't stop the attacking style of play. I think it's interesting that Ranieri has basically only tinkered with the attack and midfield while making very few changes to the defense which is clearly the weakest part of the team. I really don't see the harm in giving Wasilewski and Fuchs a look. Maybe even Benalouane. Something back there has got to change though. Loved De Laet's goal the other day, but in all honesty I think almost every single goal conceded this year has started on his side and some were directly his fault. Starting Kante in the middle would also be a step in the right direction for the defense.
cityfanlee23 Posted 20 September 2015 Posted 20 September 2015 I think you know the answer to that. Obviously we don't change our tactics to be more defensive, we're 3rd in the league and we're only 3rd in the league because we're such a threat going forwards. We overpower teams with the way we attack, force them back break them down with wave after wave of attack. If you can do this well you should never change it. Being defensive won't fix your defensive problems. In fact, if you're not very good at it it will only create more strain on them and expose your weaknesses more. It's important we stick to what we're good at, especially when it's so very satisfying to watch. TBH, I'm not that bothered about conceding goals if we're scoring loads and reaping the rewards for being so positive. That attitude is how football should be played. In this league, attacking with that sort of commitment and pace is a must. Slowing things down doesn't work, especially with the players we have. Some defensive drills in training wouldn't do any harm but how many times do we need to watch Schlupp and De Laet defend before we decide they're no good at it? Neither have got any better and they've been at this level for over a season now. Schlupp should either be playing further forward where he is useful or not at all. De Laet just isn't good enough. 3 at the back, Schlupp and Albrighton as wing backs and Mahrez given a free role behind 2 strikers. It suits everyone, it's common sense and with the evidence we saw at the end of last season and the start of this, it would help solve our defensive issues more than any other tactic we might attempt. This, I've always been sceptical about playing 3 at the back long term, but providing we can turn Jeff and Albrighton into quality defensive players, effectively we will always have 5 at the back when defending and atleast 5 on the counter going forward. We just need to make sure Jeff and Whoever plays RWB can Defend and do it well. Mahrez needs to be central, he's devastating and I hate seeing him isolated on the wing or doubled up, giving him a free role is the key to our success, and we also have 2 strikers to grab us the majority of goals. Kante as a box to box midfielder looks like he could be top class, Our own Ramires, Want to see him on the weights, he's strong now but if he can get stronger he will be a monster. Drinkwater the other CM, He will definitely be Cambiasso's long term replacement. KASPER HUTH WASILEWKSI BENALOUANE (EVENTUALLY) ALBRIGHTON SCHLUPP DRINKWATER KANTE MAHREZ VARDY OKAZAKI
cityfanlee23 Posted 20 September 2015 Posted 20 September 2015 Wasyl isn't going to get a look in I want to see him get his fair share this season, he hasn't got much left after this season, Would he make a good coach? Old fashioned CB's seem to be dying off
Captain... Posted 20 September 2015 Posted 20 September 2015 Personally I would use the West Ham game to make a few changes to start with a team based around playing to Inler's strengths and that would be a 532/523 surround him with pace and energy to give him options for his passing. I would also play Ulloa to give him and the defence a quick out. This won't be last chance for Inler but another duff performance would put him down the order for the time being. Ideally we want to be able to control games and switch to a fast attack in bursts, I'm hoping Inler will be that player that can play the killer ball at the right time but also keep the ball and play possession football when we want to control the game and see it out. Of course you can't legislate for individual errors, moments of genius or refereeing cock ups and the risk is we nullify our attacking instincts, when we are a goal down we have license to just go for it and take risks. To be honest what we want is an overall plan of where we want to be, how we want to play and who we want in charge, which players we want to be here. I'm talking a five year plan here which could mean Ranieri moving upstairs. Once you have a long term plan then you can start planning on how to get there. We can't keep conceding so many goals, but the Villa goals were 2 great strikes, Stoke scored from a brain fart from Morgan these things will always happen, and it's great to see the character from the players to come back but we just can't wait until we are behind before we start playing, that either means we rejig the team to be more solid and play possession football or we just go all out from the start and steamroller teams.
Great Boos Up Posted 20 September 2015 Posted 20 September 2015 Its down to the lake I fear.. ....Ay, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.... (I must get my haircut, .... thanks for the reminder Johnny)
sphericalfox Posted 20 September 2015 Posted 20 September 2015 We need a strong cup run to get some of the bench into shape to take some of the pressure off the 1st team when it's needed. There's no way we can keep up the pace we're running at.
Captain... Posted 20 September 2015 Posted 20 September 2015 We need a strong cup run to get some of the bench into shape to take some of the pressure off the 1st team when it's needed. There's no way we can keep up the pace we're running at. Why not? We're only playing for half of the match, great way to conserve energy for the long season ahead don't play in the first half...
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