Defending to Deep?

[Thracian]

I don't think it's necessarily down to pace.

Remember Elliott, Taggart, etc were not particularly fast, yet were very good defenders.

I think it's probably down to awareness and confidence.

You know that the player alongside is capable of winning the ball, you are aware that if not, to whom the ball is likely to be passed to.

A lot of this comes from experience.

As some peolple have also stated, this is where the midfield come in, they not only come and help defend, but when they get the ball can pass it out to either wing or forward to a striker.

I agree that when we defend corners or free kicks just outside the box, that we flood our area with players.

This not only creates chaos, it give less chance for our keepr to get the ball. Also with no forwards near the halfway line we have no outlet for the ball.

Thracian seems to think that this is a problem easily solved, I disagree, we have now had at least 4 managers that have not solved the problem.

Lets hope Taggart can.

Elliott and Taggart were not playing in the same sort of side at all. And both were only good players to a point, much as I loved em both and the team they played in. Walsh was the same. It was MON who somehow got the most out of those individuals and wove them into an effective team. But our team is totally different. And we don't have a MON nor anyone like him.

[Wherethefoxhat?]

He oversaw those nonsensical decisions. He might have gone up in your estamation but he went down another notch in mine.

MEGSON-together with Taggert will sort it out------------he did at WBA-THEY HARDLY CONCEDED A GOAL WHEN THEY WENT UP!!

1-0 to the Albion!!!

[Thracian]

MEGSON-together with Taggert will sort it out------------he did at WBA-THEY HARDLY CONCEDED A GOAL WHEN THEY WENT UP!!

1-0 to the Albion!!!

Well we conceded one for no good reason - other than counter productive interference - on Saturday and it cost us two points.

[l444ry]

The old scapegoat for City being beaten was that they were unfit. That was rubbish and so is this. When a team loses control of a game it is a natural reaction for defenders to drop deeper to stop the opposition getting behind you. This isn't particularly a problem unless the whole team gets stretched because of it. In fact the suggestion that Leicester needs to push up as a tactic makes me wonder if some of you have ever played football at a decent level.

You cannot push up when the opponents have good possession of the ball in the modern game. The only alternative then is to play offside. Not only is that the last tactic of desperation, it is also a tactic that went out with George Graham and high buttoned boots.

[Daggers]

He oversaw those nonsensical decisions. He might have gone up in your estamation but he went down another notch in mine.

Who didn't say "Well, no actually Boss...I think he'd be shit on the wing!"?

I think you are attributing far too much authority to him for Saturday. He's had a weekend to watch videos now, bitch about his substitutions after today if you wish but it's all rather pointless.

Give him a run and then make an informed judgement, whatever that may be. Until he has had an opportunity to work with the squad you're simply pissing in the wind.

[AyewJoking]

Taggarts appointment was purely to soften the blow of Megsons arrival. I wouldnt be surprised if Taggs left even before Megson gets sacked.

[Geo V]

Listening to Walshy doing his box in about us defending too deep and inviting pressure was quite eye-opening, especially as he used to marshal the troops so well and wasn't blessed with too much pace!

It makes sense to defend higher up the pitch but you do need the personnel in there to manage that situation, whether it means having slow but horrible centre-halves who grab hold of, kick or other the strikers who may turn them and run into empty space or fast players who can get out of the shite like Micah Richards is doing for Man City this season! Unfortunately, we haven't got a Micah but one thing on speed though, this division isn't blessed with the real speed merchants that you see in the premiership. I think Kisnorbo and even McAuley could give most of the forwards in this division a decent race on level terms. Maybe tactically we can learn a little from the Premiership bosses and play certain teams for certain opponents? We have a big enough squad thats for sure.

[Bert]

Listening to Walshy doing his box in about us defending too deep and inviting pressure was quite eye-opening, especially as he used to marshal the troops so well and wasn't blessed with too much pace!

It makes sense to defend higher up the pitch but you do need the personnel in there to manage that situation, whether it means having slow but horrible centre-halves who grab hold of, kick or other the strikers who may turn them and run into empty space or fast players who can get out of the shite like Micah Richards is doing for Man City this season! Unfortunately, we haven't got a Micah but one thing on speed though, this division isn't blessed with the real speed merchants that you see in the premiership. I think Kisnorbo and even McAuley could give most of the forwards in this division a decent race on level terms. Maybe tactically we can learn a little from the Premiership bosses and play certain teams for certain opponents? We have a big enough squad thats for sure.

It does but that's where we got caught out tonight. Espeically seeing as our back line isn't that blessed with pace. (Even though McAuley seems to have magically gained some, from somewhere)

[Bert]

Well we conceded one for no good reason - other than counter productive interference - on Saturday and it cost us two points.

Yes.

When was the last time this season that a team has actually broke us down, got in behind us and scored?

Blackpool - scramble.

Palace - Free kicks.

Watford - Penalty.

Forest Part 1 - Corner.

Qpr - 25 yard scorcher.

Forest Part 2 - Ball over the top.

[Geo V]

It does but that's where we got caught out tonight. Espeically seeing as our back line isn't that blessed with pace. (Even though McAuley seems to have magically gained some, from somewhere)

The Florists have some pacy players and Tyson is quite quick but the Championship is full of strikers like Dublin, Windass, Beattie, Bridges, Fowler, JFH, Trundle, Todorov, Iwelumo, Phillips, Hayles, Fallon, Sidibe, Lee, Counago etc etc. The list is endless. Many are class finishers, good in the air or have decent skill or whatever but pace isnt amongst their best attributes. There are some quick strikers like Ebanks-Blake, Fuller, King but generally we should be able to play higher up the pitch against certain opponents if our defenders get tighter to the strikers and maybe if Chambers plays at RB to help cover round.

[Flynny]

It does but that's where we got caught out tonight. Espeically seeing as our back line isn't that blessed with pace. (Even though McAuley seems to have magically gained some, from somewhere)

True that. I watched tonights game and suddenly saw why Thracian wants Stearman at Centre-back. If it wasn't for that superb scything tackle by Fulop we'd have conceded another, and most of their other attacks came from pace and width on the break. Mattock was first back most of the time and he's a little light.