Defence

[FleckneyFox]

Is our defence the best in the league every home game they get run rings around them and never get a challenge in they just stand off and let the attackers come forwards i just sit there thinking get a tackle in. we let them attack and this is because our midfielders dont close down and their players have time and options which when we attack we dont get these options because the opposition dont give us time or space and not many players make runs to get the ball they just stand there like lemons. I may not go to the West Brom game depending how we do midweek.

[Alexikokopops]

Is our defence the best in the league every home game they get run rings around them and never get a challenge in they just stand off and let the attackers come forwards i just sit there thinking get a tackle in. we let them attack and this is because our midfielders dont close down and their players have time and options which when we attack we dont get these options because the opposition dont give us time or space and not many players make runs to get the ball they just stand there like lemons. I may not go to the West Brom game depending how we do midweek.

It's the best in the league because we went through a period of having at least 8 defenders on the pitch at any time.

[MPH]

Is our defence the best in the league every home game they get run rings around them and never get a challenge in they just stand off and let the attackers come forwards i just sit there thinking get a tackle in. we let them attack and this is because our midfielders dont close down and their players have time and options which when we attack we dont get these options because the opposition dont give us time or space and not many players make runs to get the ball they just stand there like lemons. I may not go to the West Brom game depending how we do midweek.

said this in another thread...

I think our team has been missing the influence of N'Gotty. looks more nervous. So does Fulop to a small extent too....

[Head Honcho]

Is our defence the best in the league every home game they get run rings around them and never get a challenge in they just stand off and let the attackers come forwards i just sit there thinking get a tackle in. we let them attack and this is because our midfielders dont close down and their players have time and options which when we attack we dont get these options because the opposition dont give us time or space and not many players make runs to get the ball they just stand there like lemons. I may not go to the West Brom game depending how we do midweek.

I may not get to as many games as I'd like to but I certainly don't choose to go to games depending on "how we do midweek"

Maybe you should go and support Chelsea!

[FleckneyFox]

I may not get to as many games as I'd like to but I certainly don't choose to go to games depending on "how we do midweek"

Maybe you should go and support Chelsea!

I just dont want to see another performance like that because i cant stand watching games like that. Chances are i will go to West Brom.

BTW i hate Chelski.

[Head Honcho]

I just dont want to see another performance like that because i cant stand watching games like that. Chances are i will go to West Brom.

BTW i hate Chelski.

and

[Matt]

Said this yesterday, During the match I was thinking - I'm not sure about Southampton having the worst defence in the league, If you took someone who didn't know anything about these two teams yesterday and said to them one of these teams has got the worst defence in the league, which team is it? I'd be pretty confident there answer would have been Leicester.

[Leicester's 12th Man]

Q) How is our defence the best in the league?

A) Fulop

[davieG]

As bad as it might seem I don't think defence is our problem Southampton have smacked in 27 goals in 19 games this season to our 17, yesterday with a far superior attack both on the field and on the bench created very few chances probably no more than us and even one of those was a disputable penalty.

Our problems is and has been for 4 seasons or more in midfield and up front whether that's creating or scoring goals, contrary to what Megson said, the Luton game not with standing it still is.

I find complaints about our defenders somewhat missing the point sure they are not perfect but they are, collectively as good as, if not better than most in this league, and that includes Stearman. Their distribution is a major problem but is made worse by a midfield that seems to turn their backs on them when they have the ball.

I don't believe it's them that's keeping us anchored to the bottom half of this league it's in front of them and at the other end of the pitch.

[Thracian]

Not only is it the best defence but it is extremely mean with the chances it offers.

Even yesterday, after successive clean sheets, we shot ourselves for the goals.

Southampton's best goal was the one that didn't count.

The two they got were entirely down to uncharacteristic and almost juvenile errors.

Southampton pushed very tight when defending but City only close the space to nothing in the last third.

Generally they cover space. The first challenger concentrates on slowing the player and the move while reinforcements arrive and then the opponent is guided away from danger until he runs out of space, options or he (hopefully) gives the ball away.

This avoids the cardinal sins of modern football - being caught on the fast counter or giving unnecessary free-kicks away because of mistimed or foul tackles.

The risks of aggressive tackling are hardly worth it these days not just because of bookings but also because of the dangers caused by free-kick specialists.

This will only get worse as the authorities do more and more to discourage tackling, sadly.

[reynard]

As bad as it might seem I don't think defence is our problem Southampton have smacked in 27 goals in 19 games this season to our 17, yesterday with a far superior attack both on the field and on the bench created very few chances probably no more than us and even one of those was a disputable penalty.

Our problems is and has been for 4 seasons or more in midfield and up front whether that's creating or scoring goals, contrary to what Megson said, the Luton game not with standing it still is.

I find complaints about our defenders somewhat missing the point sure they are not perfect but they are, collectively as good as, if not better than most in this league, and that includes Stearman. Their distribution is a major problem but is made worse by a midfield that seems to turn their backs on them when they have the ball.

I don't believe it's them that's keeping us anchored to the bottom half of this league it's in front of them and at the other end of the pitch.

Agree with this. However, our defense is not as good as its cracked up to be. Kisnorbo and Mccauley are both poor on the ground, too easily turned and their distribution is nothing short of shocking. The truth is all the best sides can build from defense with players comfortable in possession. In our position we can not obviously attract the top quality players but until we can improve this situation we shall always be under pressure when all the centre backs can effectively do is hoof the ball forward into open space thus conceding possession to the opposition 9 times out of 10.

[Simi]

Agree with this. However, our defense is not as good as its cracked up to be. Kisnorbo and Mccauley are both poor on the ground, too easily turned and their distribution is nothing short of shocking. The truth is all the best sides can build from defense with players comfortable in possession. In our position we can not obviously attract the top quality players but until we can improve this situation we shall always be under pressure when all the centre backs can effectively do is hoof the ball forward into open space thus conceding possession to the opposition 9 times out of 10.

This is very true. The distribution of our centre halves really annoys me at times, it's simply not good enough. Kisnorbo always goes long for Cort and McAuley if often sloppy.

Having 7 or 8 defensive players on the pitch at a time does certainly help with your defensive record. Our problem was, when we had a good defence we struggled to score, meaning we still struggled to pick up points.

[Simon]

Agree with this. However, our defense is not as good as its cracked up to be. Kisnorbo and Mccauley are both poor on the ground, too easily turned and their distribution is nothing short of shocking. The truth is all the best sides can build from defense with players comfortable in possession. In our position we can not obviously attract the top quality players but until we can improve this situation we shall always be under pressure when all the centre backs can effectively do is hoof the ball forward into open space thus conceding possession to the opposition 9 times out of 10.

I think you partly missed the point. Kisnorbo and McAuley aren't the best distributors of the ball in the world (McAuley particularly) but when they don't have a midfield outlet to pass to most of the time you have to wonder; what else are they supposed to do?

[WetFlannel]

I think you partly missed the point. Kisnorbo and McAuley aren't the best distributors of the ball in the world (McAuley particularly) but when they don't have a midfield outlet to pass to most of the time you have to wonder; what else are they supposed to do?

can i just ask whats this campaign about leicester wolves game?

[davieG]

Agree with this. However, our defense is not as good as its cracked up to be. Kisnorbo and Mccauley are both poor on the ground, too easily turned and their distribution is nothing short of shocking. The truth is all the best sides can build from defense with players comfortable in possession. In our position we can not obviously attract the top quality players but until we can improve this situation we shall always be under pressure when all the centre backs can effectively do is hoof the ball forward into open space thus conceding possession to the opposition 9 times out of 10.

Then that's down to the management to tell them to pass short to the midfield, to tell the midfield to make themselves available and to boost the confidence of both to encourage that type of play. The same problem exists with the GK / Defence relationship, Fulop, as did our previous goalkeepers has given up trying to look for the quick pass because the defence/midfield are always walking away from him when he has possesion and like all our previously GKs he's ended up hoofing it.

This is just one of the football fundamentals that seems to be missing from all recent LCFC teams, I keep hoping upon hope that the next manager and there have been plenty will see what I and many other see but it never happens.

You don't need to be the best individual footballers to play as a team.