Central defenders

[DJ Barry Hammond]

None of those pairings.

Well go on then who?

And we don't have Heskey, so he can't play there!

[Thracian]

Well go on then who?

And we don't have Heskey, so he can't play there!

Stearman, N'Gotty, Kisnorbo.

[Alexikokopops]

What has Bruno done wrong?

He hasn't cost us goals like Mcauley, Kisnorbo, and Stearman have this season.

He has been solid and hasn't made mistakes. His distribution is much better than Mcauley.

Bruno should be in the starting 11 all the time for me.

It was his pissing around on the ball like a fanny that lead to the penalty at Ipswich

[DJ Barry Hammond]

Stearman, N'Gotty, Kisnorbo.

So this 3-5-2 or wingbacks (if this the term you prefer.) Or maybe 3-4-3? Or something completely different?

[Mr Happy]

We've had Kissa and Mcauley here as the centreback pairing for the last one n a half seasons at least and before that it was usually Kissa and McCarthy. During these past three/four seasons we've also been shockingly shite and leaky at the back, especially during the last 5 mins of every game we played. So doesn't that partly imply that our centre backs haven't been doing their job and (as well the dodgy keepers and full backs) are to blame??

[lildave3]

We've had Kissa and Mcauley here as the centreback pairing for the last one n a half seasons at least and before that it was usually Kissa and McCarthy. During these past three/four seasons we've also been shockingly shite and leaky at the back, especially during the last 5 mins of every game we played. So doesn't that partly imply that our centre backs haven't been doing their job and (as well the dodgy keepers and full backs) are to blame??

Not if you believe the stats

[Joe.]

We've had Kissa and Mcauley here as the centreback pairing for the last one n a half seasons at least and before that it was usually Kissa and McCarthy. During these past three/four seasons we've also been shockingly shite and leaky at the back, especially during the last 5 mins of every game we played. So doesn't that partly imply that our centre backs haven't been doing their job and (as well the dodgy keepers and full backs) are to blame??

What?

Take a look at the defensive records in the league this season. Maybe you might find 23 other teams below us in goals conceded...

[Mr Happy]

I didnt say this season. Bloody hell, anybody saying we've got a leaky defense this season has obviously been hidden in solitude being that our defensive record is the only note of improvement of late, but just because our defense is solid that doesn't make it any more enjoyable to read the league table and I bet teams like Bristol city and Stoke aren't wetting themselves over it either.

[Joe.]

I didnt say this season. Bloody hell, anybody saying we've got a leaky defense this season has obviously been hidden in solitude being that our defensive record is the only note of improvement of late, but just because our defense is solid that doesn't make it any more enjoyable to read the league table and I bet teams like Bristol city and Stoke aren't wetting themselves over it either.

No but you're saying our defence has quite a lot to blame for our demise over the last few seasons.

It's mainly because we've scored an embarassing amount of goals really. It's just not been good enough- the midfield has been woeful over the last 4 seasons or so and our goals to games ratio is terrible.

I put it mainly down to this.

[Mr Happy]

No but you're saying our defence has quite a lot to blame for our demise over the last few seasons.

It's mainly because we've scored an embarassing amount of goals really. It's just not been good enough- the midfield has been woeful over the last 4 seasons or so and our goals to games ratio is terrible.

I put it mainly down to this.

Yes I see what your saying and I partly agree but I think that its more a combination of both what i'm saying and what your saying.

We aren't scoring enough goals (Howard hasn't been the revelation everybody thought he'd be since moving here) because of our lack of midfield (same for the hungarians, who havent adapted well to the english game) But getting them adapted is going to take time, which we don't really have now. I'm not one for saying 'Ooo we're in the shit again' because at this point in every season for the last 4 we've always been hovering round the relagation zone and we always ride our luck and escape. This season I have no worries that we can't acheive this again but we have to keep a balance between the two; scoring and defending, not like recent games plymouth blackpool and cov where we aren't staying solid or even looking like scoring. If this continues then obviously something needs to be changed and I'd rather we changed the back, make it solid and plug the leak. At least we'd stop conceding and be picking up some points even if it is just one. People may slate me for saying i'd rather have a solid defense than an awesome attack but under megson (yes there might have been 8 defenders on the pitch at any one time) we played some of the best football this season (no that theres been an awful lot to shout about)

[Jimmy]

not that I can but I'd vote other and go Stearman and Kisnorbo, the other 3 are all too similar and I think we need someone that's comfortable with the ball to try and start from the back

[clazkel]

I think N'gotty should play just infront of McAuley and Kisnorbo or Stearman and Kisnorbo (between defence and midfield), as i think this worked when Ollie played them that way. He broke up alot of the attacking play, as he hasn't got much pace but he has a good footballing brain.