What is wrong with our defence?

[Godzilla]

It seems that none of our defenders are playing well, which leads to a lack of confidence.

Is there something wrong with our defensive coaches?

 

[Feed-The-Goat]

I may get the piss taken out of me here, but what the hell....

i think our weak link recently has been Toure.

Lescott has upped his game and is looking his old self. Toure just doesnt seem to be the player that started so well for us in the first 5-6 games.

 

[Pam]

Goat, of which defence do you speak? We have no defence.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

I may get the piss taken out of me here, but what the hell....

i think our weak link recently has been Toure.

Lescott has upped his game and is looking his old self. Toure just doesnt seem to be the player that started so well for us in the first 5-6 games.

This. I've been saying it for ages, Toure is not good. Gets beaten to absolutely everything in the air, and switches off all the time. Lescott was looking good, so losing him is really bad news. Hughes needs to identify the perfect partner for Lescott, and bring him in in January.

 

[blueblood08]

erm errr eerrrrrrr i know we aint got one, am i right ,tell me tell me i am arnt i!!!!

 

[SboroBlu]

I don't think there is anythuing wrong with the quality of the players. I believe there is a problem with the coaching staff,

We need a Stuart Pearce

 

[Gray]

They are missing Richard Dunne.

 

[lesback1]

Our main problem appears to be at left back. There are signs that Richards is beginning to get the confidence back into his game and Toure and Lescott will bond into an effective partnership once Lescott is back in the side. At left back we have major problems. Bridge used to be a top defender but has never really found any sort of form since joining us. He is much more interested in getting forward than he is at defending which might have been ok at Chelsea but not so great at Eastlands. Silvinho, his repacement, was absolutly terrible at Spurs on Wednesday and the occasional outings of Garrido in that position have proved to be mistakes. This position should be a top priority in January if we have any pretentions of breaking into the top four.

 

[Wrighty Wrexham]

Letting too many goals in!! :)

 

[Damocles]

The problem with our defence, is our full backs.

Richards charges up the field and doesn't get back quick enough, even when he doesn't do this, his positioning and concentration are shocking.

Bridge also gets forward but drifts towards the centre when doing this.

The problem with both of these, is that this leaves a massive gap at the back which has to be covered between the two CBs and our DM. Teams know that they can just play a high ball to the wings, and then our defence is fucked.

While Richards is in no mans land, Toure has to close down the winger, which means Lescott has to move forward and cover Toure's man aswell. This usually leaves us with a man free in the box, and we get punished from it.

Richard Dunne plays next to Richards, is called crap, then moves to Villa and is one of the best defenders in the league. When he had Richards at CB with him though, or Sun Jihai at the side of him, he was also one of the best in the league.

Now, Toure plays for Arsenal and is seen as one of the best CBs in football, then moves next to Richards and is crap all of a sudden?

Name me one CB who has ever played next to Richards and not being called crap?
He drags players out of position and makes THEM look like they have fucked up.