Our Defence

[Armaan]

Our issue is we don't seem able to recognise momentum shifts in games sometimes. We needed to take the sting out of the game at 1-0 and regain some form of control. There's certain games where it is not possible to instantly get back into the game. To lose 3 goals in a row for the second time against them is stupid.

Agreed. Great teams are excellent in taking the sting out of games when the opposition are on top. At times it looked as if they were going to score every time they attacked in that first half. We play too attacking, making our centre backs step in to midfield it’s ridiculous at times. You can’t play that way against top class attacks and expect to not get punished. Pep learnt f all from them real and Barca thrashings of his Bayern side.

For the league pep is a great manager, his style against the elite just doesn’t seem to work.

 

[citymad]

The words leaky, dodgy and bottlers (if thats a word) comes to mind.

 

[citymad]

Been a few teams that have pressed us and nearly gotten a result its just that the scouse scum have better talent to do it effectively against us.

 

[paulchapo]

Our back four have just appeared on stars in your eyes. The presenter said, "Tell everybody who you are going to be tonight." They replied, "Tonight we are going to imitate a top defensive unit, obviously though we are a pale imitation as we aren't the real thing."

 

[kiam06]

Pep will address central defence again this summer we need some pace they always seem a yard too slow for me.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

It is not an earth shattrng observation to repeat “Attack is the best form of defence.”

However, when we are not attacking, and are instead losing the ball in midfield, all those “ball playing defenders” have to fucking defend!!! It’s right there in the name!

What we have are center backs who either back off all the way into the box or jump in in ridiculous situations out of frustration(?), and who seem incapable of defending in a manner we, in England, have come to understand.

To be sure, when we have the ball, every single defender in the team is a player. The problem is that even in a one sided game, with 70%+ possession, we are still going to have to defend at some point and we are pretty shit at it! Some of that has to do with personnel, some of that has to do with tactics, and I think some of it has to do with the fact that we simply don’t spend any time concentrating on the opposition and play Rondo all fucking day at the CFA.

We spent £100M on full backs who aren’t “defenders,” but players. Laporte looks like he can defend a bit, so I hope Pep doesn’t coach it all out of him, but as a LB against Salah??? GMAFB!!! Danilo or Delph sticking to him like shit on a blanket more like. Have Laporte play left sided in a 3 and he gets to close off Salah’s alley where he does all his damage.

 

[Delphinho]

It is not an earth shattrng observation to repeat “Attack is the best form of defence.”

However, when we are not attacking, and are instead losing the ball in midfield, all those “ball playing defenders” have to fucking defend!!! It’s right there in the name!

What we have are center backs who either back off all the way into the box or jump in in ridiculous situations out of frustration(?), and who seem incapable of defending in a manner we, in England, have come to understand.

To be sure, when we have the ball, every single defender in the team is a player. The problem is that even in a one sided game, with 70%+ possession, we are still going to have to defend at some point and we are pretty shit at it! Some of that has to do with personnel, some of that has to do with tactics, and I think some of it has to do with the fact that we simply don’t spend any time concentrating on the opposition and play Rondo all fucking day at the CFA.

We spent £100M on full backs who aren’t “defenders,” but players. Laporte looks like he can defend a bit, so I hope Pep doesn’t coach it all out of him, but as a LB against Salah??? GMAFB!!! Danilo or Delph sticking to him like shit on a blanket more like. Have Laporte play left sided in a 3 and he gets to close off Salah’s alley where he does all his damage.

Laporte was motm last night

 

[Tricky_Trev]

This is what pundits mean when they say our defence is vulnerable and we all laugh at them. When they have to defend in the traditional way (without the ball), they’re all over the place and error-ridden.

 

[BlueAnorak]

Against an excellent press you need TWO defensive midfielders - till the level of the press reduces as the opposition tires at any rate. Pep can't/won't do this and the result is plain to see.
With a second DM the holes in our defence that resulted in two of last nights goals simply don't happen. (An extra man in the middle for the first goal and no time for Ox to wind up and shoot for the second - just how much time did he have?) and it gives an extra man to pass to when escaping the press.
Pep is a stubborn man though so it isn't going to happen.

 

[BlueAnorak]

This is what pundits mean when they say our defence is vulnerable and we all laugh at them. When they have to defend in the traditional way (without the ball), they’re all over the place and error-ridden.

An excellent point.