Under Pep we defend largely "on the edge", so to speak, reliant (maybe overly so) on dominating possession as the primary means of defence. As a result it doesn't take much of a drop in form at the back for us to leak more goals.At this stage last season, we had won 4, drawn 1, lost 1 so 13 points compared with this season 14. Interesting though we had shipped just one goal (against Spuds in the first game). The stats, and my eyes tell me the teams defensive work has fallen back a fair bit. Maybe the change to the system, maybe Walker starting to show his age a little, certainly Dias being off it a little. Of the six goals we have shipped this year, I think Trippiers free kick and Stones OG against CP we couldn't do much about. The others I'm not so sure with yesterdays being the sloppiest. Needs fixed if this squad is to reach its potential.
agree mate. Lets hope we are back at it very soon.Under Pep we defend largely "on the edge", so to speak, reliant (maybe overly so) on dominating possession as the primary means of defence. As a result it doesn't take much of a drop in form at the back for us to leak more goals.
Not sure it’s even a drop in form of individuals , it’s the price of losing some control by playing Haaland over a false 9 . Our stronger defence was always one of the benefits of the false 9.We will get the balance better but it may take a little time.Under Pep we defend largely "on the edge", so to speak, reliant (maybe overly so) on dominating possession as the primary means of defence. As a result it doesn't take much of a drop in form at the back for us to leak more goals.
The only response you could have made to get out of the ridiculous debate you’d put up.See this has confirmed you have poor judgment, my posts are always subpar
People aren’t ready to hear this. Haaland is a mega star. He scores loads.Not sure it’s even a drop in form of individuals , it’s the price of losing some control by playing Haaland over a false 9 . Our stronger defence was always one of the benefits of the false 9.We will get the balance better but it may take a little time.
Lighten up mateThe only response you could have made to get out of the ridiculous debate you’d put up.
I’m not one of the ones digging out a keeper for doing nothing wrong then doing mental gymnastics to get out of the hole they’ve dug for themselves. I’m perfectly calm and better than most at taking a joke.Lighten up mate
Exactly this. If anyone was at fault it was Cancelo. Just watched Bailey strike the ball into the net. Really poor defendingNot to mention our left back watching rather than doing.
Dropped one on the line in the 1st half yesterday and was lucky the goal was chalked off....there was no foul on himEven Peak Manuel Neuer wouldn't have saved that thunderbastard of a shot from Bailey.
The hate against Ederson is unreasonable...
They didn't score from the one he 'dropped'Dropped one on the line in the 1st half yesterday and was lucky the goal was chalked off....there was no foul on him
Had zip all to do yesterday, but when called into action...fragile
Not sure that’s it mate . Cancelo is an accident waiting to happen in defence. Walker also loses focus and Ederson frequently gets beaten from the edge of the goal area. Dias is not quite as dominant as he was in his 1st season. All those factors means we are shipping goals.People aren’t ready to hear this. Haaland is a mega star. He scores loads.
What they’re not recognising is that we’re conceding more because we‘re learning to play with him.
I suggested Haaland might be rotated at places like Anfield as Pep may perceive that the team may be more susceptible to conceding than he is of scoring.
There‘s a decent argument to suggest he starts on the bench, we run the life out of the dippers for an hour with the group press and then bring him on to finish them off when they tire.
They’re all factors to varying degrees.Not sure that’s it mate . Cancelo is an accident waiting to happen in defence. Walker also loses focus and Ederson frequently gets beaten from the edge of the goal area. Dias is not quite as dominant as he was in his 1st season. All those factors means we are shipping goals.
Always room for improvement. Maybe our outfield defenders should ease off a little and give him more opportunities to save more SOTA, I'd prefer things just as they are though.He’s close though, second bottom. 45.5% save percentage.
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Worth noting that the above doesn’t tell the whole story, he’s right in the middle of the pack for post shot expected goals (basically meaning his low save percentage is accounted for in the quality of shots he’s faced - he’s only two goals over what would be expected.
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Pope and Pickford currently performing best and making saves they wouldn’t be expected to make.
But Ederson’s not been terrible by any measure but there’s some room for improvement over the season no doubt. Same with quite a few of our players.
There wasn’t a goal, Stones cleared.Dropped one on the line in the 1st half yesterday and was lucky the goal was chalked off....there was no foul on him
Had zip all to do yesterday, but when called into action...fragile
at this stage last season we had conceded one goal. We were however a point behind where we are just now.They’re all factors to varying degrees.
We conceded 0.68 goals per league game last season.
It’s 1 this season so far.
Alternatively, Liverpool are the one team that will come at us leaving plenty of space in behind for Haaland to be at his most effectivePeople aren’t ready to hear this. Haaland is a mega star. He scores loads.
What they’re not recognising is that we’re conceding more because we‘re learning to play with him.
I suggested Haaland might be rotated at places like Anfield as Pep may perceive that the team may be more susceptible to conceding than he is of scoring.
There‘s a decent argument to suggest he starts on the bench, we run the life out of the dippers for an hour with the group press and then bring him on to finish them off when they tire.
Agreed, to say we're conceding more goals because the team are learning to play with Haaland is wrong but I get that Pep has changed the system to get the best out of him. Haaland playing automatically makes teams defend deeper, our possession stats this season is relatively the same as last.Not sure that’s it mate . Cancelo is an accident waiting to happen in defence. Walker also loses focus and Ederson frequently gets beaten from the edge of the goal area. Dias is not quite as dominant as he was in his 1st season. All those factors means we are shipping goals.
On the evidence of yesterday Arsenal like to defend with a very high line too.Alternatively, Liverpool are the one team that will come at us leaving plenty of space in behind for Haaland to be at his most effective
It’s not wrong, it’s definitely a factor in how we press at the moment.Agreed, to say we're conceding more goals because the team are learning to play with Haaland is wrong but I get that Pep has changed the system to get the best out of him. Haaland playing automatically makes teams defend deeper, our possession stats this season is relatively the same as last.
We're only 6 games in and it's clear teams have a clear game-plan to double-up on our wingers preventing the type of assist Grealish gave to Haaland vs Bayern. Foden hasn't been bad bar the non-passes to Haaland, hes clearly been told to hold the width, retain possession and be less aggressive in attack (Pep actually said this after Bournemouth)
Another player receiving unfair criticism is Rodri, hes playing in midfield alone whilst KDB and Gundogan have free roam.
We're conceding more goals because of individual errors.