The Defensive Unit

[Guest Col city fan]

I was at the game on Saturday against Borough and, whilst we seemed to be by far the best team, on paper, it became clear from about 15 mins in that it was gonna be a tough game.

The problem for me and my mates wasn't completely the back four, but the midfield.... every attack Borough had they looked like scoring, and cut through our centre like a knife through butter.

Our midfield of Wellens, Gally and Oakley were not tough enough to stop Borough's attacks, such that the back four was left vulnerable time after time...

For me, this has been Sven's biggest failing thus far - tinkering with the defence when what we really needed was to sign a tough, ball-winning midfield player. Oakley is past his best, Wellens blows hot and cold and Gally, although technically gifted, is a pussycat

IMO, we would have won on Saturday with a midfield general steering the ship

We are not defending as a unit, which is what we must do - and the blame cannot be taken solely by the back four....

Does anybody agree?

[RizLCFC]

I agree with the fact that we need a tough central midfielder and I was hoping that Sven would sign at least 1 if not 2 since the day he arrived here. Wellens and King are shattered, their not half the players they were a couple of months ago when we were on that run. Everybody knows Oakley is past it, very sadly he's with us for at least another year. I do blame Sven for tinkering with the defence and not signing a CM and I think that's where it has probably cost us a play off spot. I would much rather he played Moreno ahead of Oakley, after all Sven did say he has been good in training and he's been keeping the bench warm often.

[Babylon]

Does anybody agree?

Yes, and I think Sven would agree because he has said several times we aren't strong enough and that we have to play 3 in the middle because of it.

I'm sure he's been looking for something that will be better than what we have. The problem is a midfield three of King, Wellens and Abe all bring some good stuff to the table and it hard to leave one of them out. I think the inclusion recently of Oakley points towards Abe being the one who will make way for a tougher player, once he has found one that's right.

Obviously in the summer we might not end up getting one, which we can debate the rights or wrongs of at the time.

[MC Prussian]

I was at the game on Saturday against Borough and, whilst we seemed to be by far the best team, on paper, it became clear from about 15 mins in that it was gonna be a tough game.

The problem for me and my mates wasn't completely the back four, but the midfield.... every attack Borough had they looked like scoring, and cut through our centre like a knife through butter.

Our midfield of Wellens, Gally and Oakley were not tough enough to stop Borough's attacks, such that the back four was left vulnerable time after time...

For me, this has been Sven's biggest failing thus far - tinkering with the defence when what we really needed was to sign a tough, ball-winning midfield player. Oakley is past his best, Wellens blows hot and cold and Gally, although technically gifted, is a pussycat

IMO, we would have won on Saturday with a midfield general steering the ship

We are not defending as a unit, which is what we must do - and the blame cannot be taken solely by the back four....

Does anybody agree?

I think your thread title and later paragraph on our defense is more than just misleading.

It's not about the defense per se, it's Sven's funny way of screwing with the starting eleven, changing the (central) midfield upside down and letting a very poor Oakley play for a full game and putting Gallagher in the middle, where he's little to not effective.

Others have noticed it before and I repeat it once more: Oakley alongside Wellens just won't work. It spells failure from the start.

Our back four, with the exception of Bruma maybe, were more or less solid, but mostly let down by a shaky central midfield that failed to control the ball, allowing the opposition to cut right through it all on the counter.

[sphericalfox]

Yes, and I think Sven would agree because he has said several times we aren't strong enough and that we have to play 3 in the middle because of it.

I'm sure he's been looking for something that will be better than what we have. The problem is a midfield three of King, Wellens and Abe all bring some good stuff to the table and it hard to leave one of them out. I think the inclusion recently of Oakley points towards Abe being the one who will make way for a tougher player, once he has found one that's right.

Obviously in the summer we might not end up getting one, which we can debate the rights or wrongs of at the time.

I've noted this too, and stated so on a Japanese blog I contribute to. I think Abe may find himself of interest to a couple of Premiership teams, so in fact won't be a bad deal for both parties. He won't have done his reputation any harm playing for us this year, as in my view he has been one of the most consistent players in the squad. Unfortunately our midfield's inadequacies leave us short for options and certainly strength. With Wellens and Gallagher extending contracts and King's on the table, that means one thing. Abe and Moreno to make way.

It does make me laugh when it's said that Sven has focussed on the defence and not on the midfield. Yeah sure, he's not even looked! He's had a January transfer window, and a loan window to look for players, and they didn't exist, or weren't available for us. The same goes for keepers, but let's leave that never-ending topic to one side.

He's basically tried to make what we have got work, and has been restricted to the 4-3-3/ 4-5-1 whichever way to look at it attack or defense. A tough battling team we are not. It'll be interesting to see who he brings to the table in the summer.

And gord forbid we see more defenders coming in!

[muzzy1981]

I guess sureing up the defence and getting some attackers have been his priority, Midfield has to be next on the agenda.

So yes a ball winning slick defencive midfielder please Sven

[Fox92]

For me, this has been Sven's biggest failing thus far - tinkering with the defence when what we really needed was to sign a tough, ball-winning midfield player. Oakley is past his best, Wellens blows hot and cold and Gally, although technically gifted, is a pussycat

Yes we need a ball winning midfielder, and an expiereinced one at that. Look at QPR, they have Shaun Derry who is a very cool head to sit behind the QPR midfield. Someone like that.