Backing off attackers

[Tielemans63]

I agree, the fact that this is the first time this season that this has been mentioned shows how infrequent it is.

You can always trust Nigel to cut out defensive errors like today.

Plus it's worth remembering that this is yet another game in a short space of time and concentration levels will slip at times. There'll always be games like this - even if you finish first. I think it's best to focus on the fact that we won the game despite all that and to be fair a lot of the poor play was eradicated second half.

[foxfanazer]

I would just put it down as a freak game, we've played 4-4-2 most of the season, and the Reading & QPR games resulted in clean sheets, and we were all handing out praise, to Liam Moore especially.

Just because we let in three today, people instantly find faults, yes there were faults, but those faults have rarely happened this season until today, yet in an attacking sense we were awesome and managed to win anyway.

Some of you on here have been saying Moore has been our best player this season, so our defence can't be bad. Morgan hasn't been as good, but still continues to put in solid consistent performances without standing out.

The only thing I find at fault with the defence, is the amount of times we let teams score from cheap crosses, it happened against Burnley, Drinkwater at fault for that goal, because he took a wild swing at the ball, we conceded something similar against Man City, and again today Konchesky being at fault this time.

We just need to stop crosses more in my opinion, today was just freaky, we just have to hope it doesn't happen again, I for one doubt it.

Yeah I think we should give them the benefit of the doubt

[Dickov22]

Freak game- 2 goals were down to really poor defending by Moore and Morgan.

Second half, they were both brilliant. Moore in particular. They didn't give Bolton a sniff. Moore won everything. If you have a striker running at you at pace you can't go diving in. Moore backed off their attacker at one point yesterday, waited, then performed a perfectly timed and accurate tackle.

I'm more worried about our defending when crosses come into our box. This has been a weakness for me for a few years now.

[foxfanazer]

Freak game- 2 goals were down to really poor defending by Moore and Morgan.

Second half, they were both brilliant. Moore in particular. They didn't give Bolton a sniff. Moore won everything. If you have a striker running at you at pace you can't go diving in. Moore backed off their attacker at one point yesterday, waited, then performed a perfectly timed and accurate tackle.

I'm more worried about our defending when crosses come into our box. This has been a weakness for me for a few years now.

Yeah I do think that's where Wes in particular could be a bit more dominant. Moore is pretty good aerially

[Captain...]

Absolutely hit the nail on the head. If there is too much space between the midfield central two, and the back four, the defenders wont know whether to come forward to fill that gap (thus leaving space in behind them), or to back off.

This is a well documented problem with a flat 4-4-2 and is why many succesful teams have filled that gap with a DM.

Correct the frustrating thing is shakey called it before the game, he was chatting to Stringer about the Bolton formation and said they are going for a 4231 with Beckford up front and moritz playing behind.

So we knew what they were doing but didn't do anything to stop it in the first half, he was the catalyst for all their good play, scored 2 and I think it was him who set up Beckford. He occupied that space between defence and midfield and we just let him.

Second half James appeared to be playing deeper and they didn't create anything. I wouldn't mind seeing us line up like that against millwall with knocky playing behind Nugent Dyer out left but unfortunately we don't have anyone to play out right.

[foxfanazer]

Correct the frustrating thing is shakey called it before the game, he was chatting to Stringer about the Bolton formation and said they are going for a 4231 with Beckford up front and moritz playing behind.

So we knew what they were doing but didn't do anything to stop it in the first half, he was the catalyst for all their good play, scored 2 and I think it was him who set up Beckford. He occupied that space between defence and midfield and we just let him.

Second half James appeared to be playing deeper and they didn't create anything. I wouldn't mind seeing us line up like that against millwall with knocky playing behind Nugent Dyer out left but unfortunately we don't have anyone to play out right.

RDL maybe? Bit of a risk

[Captain...]

RDL maybe? Bit of a risk

I wouldn't want to make too many changes, np will go 442 with waghorn or gtf as straight swap for Vardy, I would just love to see knocky terrorise defences in that free role.

[foxfanazer]

I wouldn't want to make too many changes, np will go 442 with waghorn or gtf as straight swap for Vardy, I would just love to see knocky terrorise defences in that free role.

Me too

The only reason I suggest RDL os because it woild absolve Knocky from any defensive duties and give him free reign. Also RDL would help out defensively whilst having the pace to beat their defenders. As you say though we won't make that many changes.

It would be a mistake to start GTF imo

[Dickov22]

I don't see it being a mistake starting GTF- he'll hold the ball up well, help us keep the ball and also be a good strike partner for Nugent- he'll win more in the air than Waghorn will.

What's important is Nugent's performance- he's going to have to do Vardy's work, and having someone like GTF alongside him will help. He needs a big game.

[foxfanazer]

I don't see it being a mistake starting GTF- he'll hold the ball up well, help us keep the ball and also be a good strike partner for Nugent- he'll win more in the air than Waghorn will.

What's important is Nugent's performance- he's going to have to do Vardy's work, and having someone like GTF alongside him will help. He needs a big game.

Yeah that's sort of what I'm getting at. If it was Nuge suspended I'd see jo problem in GTF coming in to play alongside Vardy

[Dickov22]

Yeah that's sort of what I'm getting at. If it was Nuge suspended I'd see jo problem in GTF coming in to play alongside Vardy

I'd rather it were that way round, to be honest.

However I don't think Nugent was as bad as some made out yesterday. His penalty was crap, never looked confident and I hate that staged run up he does. He did ok though.

Huge game for him at Millwall

[foxfanazer]

I'd rather it were that way round, to be honest.

However I don't think Nugent was as bad as some made out yesterday. His penalty was crap, never looked confident and I hate that staged run up he does. He did ok though.

Huge game for him at Millwall

I rate Nuge highly. Just not sure if their two styles would suit favourably. Think GTF needs someone quick around him.

[Dickov22]

I rate Nuge highly. Just not sure if their two styles would suit favourably. Think GTF needs someone quick around him.

Possibly, but he's a good footballer with a good football brain. He's got experience and will be able to adapt his game to suit his strike partner.