Bamba's Babes Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 At the beginning of the season we were pretty terrible at the back and leaking goals. Recently, however, we have been fantastic. Is it true we haven't conceded from open play for 8 games? That's astounding if true! Obviously our set-piece marking is slightly shambolic but I think with our style of play and the height of the players which suit that style, conceding soft goals from corners etc. will need to be accepted and minimised at best. Who has been our best defender this season? I'd go for Morgan.
norwichfox Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 As much as I disike D Simpson, he has had the biggest imp[act on our improved defence imo
Sampson Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 Morgan is having an outstanding season after struggling to adapt last year. Huth has been very good despite a slow start too. Changing the full-backs has been the difference though from our leaky defence in the opening games.
Wymsey Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 As much as I disike D Simpson, he has had the biggest imp[act on our improved defence imo Perhaps Ranieri had a kind word with him, and told him to improve his mindset on the pitch and behave off it. Something which I doubt Pearson would've done given his rude attitude at times.
Charl91 Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 Honestly, they've all been great. Even Simpson.
M0901 Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 Morgan has been fantastic. Proven that he is PL quality. But again, the four we've been playing recently have all proven that they can step up to the plate. Up the lads.
ImBlue Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 Morgan has better defenders alongside him. Huth and Fuchs rather than championship players like Moore and konchesky. He's always been good enough at this level in my opinion. Just an easy scapegoat as he often looks awkward.
urban.spaceman Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 Before we changed our fullbacks to Simpson and Fuchs, we conceded 14 goals in 7 games (though 5 of them were against Arsenal). In the 8 games since bringing in Simpson and Fuchs, we've conceded 7 goals - none of which are from open play (2 penalties the rest from corners), and kept 3 clean sheets. The defence in the last couple of months has been brilliant, and long may it continue. Morgan deserves a hell of a lot of individual credit though for improving so much since his patchy season last season, having no summer break before coming back and doing so well. Doubly important as the club captain too.
Guest Col city fan Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 We are defending better as a team. The midfield is breaking up opposition attacks before they get to the defence. Especially Kante. That's the main difference. Defenders make errors when under pressure. It's no coincidence at all. I do however think Simpson is a better defender than RDL and that Christian Fuchs is class.
ScouseFox Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 absolutely no shock at all to anyone with half a brain that getting schlupp out of the left back spot would make our defence a good four billion times better. the fact his replacement is genuinely great is a bonus, we could've replaced him with a tree and it would've improved the defence no end.
dedlock Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 We are defending better as a team. The midfield is breaking up opposition attacks before they get to the defence. Especially Kante. That's the main difference. Defenders make errors when under pressure. It's no coincidence at all. I do however think Simpson is a better defender than RDL and that Christian Fuchs is class. Agreed. CR has made those changes as the season progressed and,presumably,he got to know the players capabilities.
fuchsntf Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 Through this remarkable run, the defence has improved tremendously. Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs, have shown when under pressure, that Ranieri as brought something to this part of the team.As a group of 4 they have improved in every single game, as individuals everyone of them have shown marked up improvements each week.They are tighter allowing the covering of each other to be alot more comfortable.Like others have mentioned the defensive duties of the other players, have helped tremendously. This is where for me Ranieri has improved the team and had a hand in the change from last seasons heroics. RDL therefore when he returns to the squad I am sure when chosen, we will see improvement. Schlupp LB, only if Fuchs is injured and no other available.Schlupp now need to concentate on his forward playing roles...
Adster Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 I can't be the only one who thinks Simpson has still been pretty doggo? Granted we're playing well but he's stealing a living as a right back. He doesn't even make a tackle for crying out loud. He hasn't got pace, he can't attack and he can't particularly defend. All he does is jockey like a lemon. New RB in Jan is strongly needed.
Strokes Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 Perhaps Ranieri had a kind word with him, and told him to improve his mindset on the pitch and behave off it. Something which I doubt Pearson would've done given his rude attitude at times. You do talk some shit.
Grewks Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 I can't be the only one who thinks Simpson has still been pretty doggo? Granted we're playing well but he's stealing a living as a right back. He doesn't even make a tackle for crying out loud. He hasn't got pace, he can't attack and he can't particularly defend. All he does is jockey like a lemon. New RB in Jan is strongly needed. And yet Ranieri has given Mahrez a 'License to attack' unlike pearson, and we haven't conceded a goal in open play down his side or at all in 8 games. Simpson has been solid and the back 4 has been a great unit. The fact huth/fuchs/morgan don't need to organise and trust simpson tells me that you're wrong.
Babylon Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 We are defending better as a team. The midfield is breaking up opposition attacks before they get to the defence. Especially Kante. That's the main difference. Defenders make errors when under pressure. It's no coincidence at all. I do however think Simpson is a better defender than RDL and that Christian Fuchs is class. We were still conceding with Kante in the team. It's fairly obvious that the two full back changes have massively influenced how solid we are, they are players who defend first and attack second rather than a striker and De Laet who was regularly all over the place.
EnglishOxide Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 I thought this thread was going to be about the defence of our title next season!
BenTheFox Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 Funny how a lot of people at the start of the season were saying that De Laet wasn't the problem and that it's that Mahrez wasn't giving him any protection. Let's just say that no one has any reservations about playing Mahrez out wide anymore because of his defensive vulnerabilities. Simpson is definitely an upgrade on De Laet, defensively speaking anyway.
whoareyaaa Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 Fushs coming in and de leat being benched has been the difference.
Grewks Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 Funny how a lot of people at the start of the season were saying that De Laet wasn't the problem and that it's that Mahrez wasn't giving him any protection. Let's just say that no one has any reservations about playing Mahrez out wide anymore because of his defensive vulnerabilities. Simpson is definitely an upgrade on De Laet, defensively speaking anyway. Simpson is better defensively, but mahrez is making more tackles than he used to and we are sitting deeper which would help de laet aswell tbh.
Izzy Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 Fuchs is a leader as well as a good player, and I think his attitude and ability has made a big difference to those around him. Just watch the highlights from yesterday when we went 1-0 up and he gives a mini 'team talk' among the celebrations. I put a lot of our defensive improvement down to the 'Fuchs effect'. Like his tweets say, we've become the #cleansheetarmy since he arrived.
BenTheFox Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 Simpson is better defensively, but mahrez is making more tackles than he used to and we are sitting deeper which would help de laet aswell tbh. Yeah, I've noticed that Mahrez has seemed to have worked on his defensive duties. My problem with De Laet is that he gets caught out of position a lot.
Dr The Singh Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 Simpson is still the weak point, he gives up too much space to the winger, unlike fuchs, but tonhis credit, he has massively improved
Grewks Posted 6 December 2015 Posted 6 December 2015 Yeah, I've noticed that Mahrez has seemed to have worked on his defensive duties. My problem with De Laet is that he gets caught out of position a lot. But that was when we played with two attacking full backs (schlupp). We have undoubtedly started to play deeper, maybe de laet could do a equal/better job than simpson, but for now we don't know.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.