What's Happened To Our Defence?

[CC1]

We play with 4 forwards, that's a big part of the reason why we concede more goals. Pep's experimenting a bit, our high pressing is a bit risky.

Plus we are a bit unlucky right now that we concede from low-percentage situations.

……and we’re not converting our chances. Should have had another 5 today

 

[Damien10]

Gvardiol at left back, not getting the midfield balance and Doku and Foden offering a lot less than Grealish and Mahrez defensively.

We aren’t set up well enough to contain counters at the mo. That’s fine if we score more but the other issue is we aren’t taking our chances and so leaving ourselves more vulnerable as we’re not killing the game off and reverting to countering ourselves.

Marhez defensive work?

He used to bottle challenges time and time again. His defensive work was shite. Foden is certainly far superior in that aspect.

 

[Legal Alien]

We're obviously missing Stones, not only for his play, but also because other players are having to play every game.
Under normal circumstances, Walker and Akanji wouldn't have been playing this many games so far and it looks like they're tired and need a rest.

I think we've missed Laporte and Cancelo also.
Gvardiol will, eventually, be a more than adequate replacement for Laporte, but we haven't replaced what Cancelo gave us and in both areas it's become more noticeable as the season has gone on.

We need to buy a proper left back.

 

[meltonblue]

Marhez defensive work?

He used to bottle challenges time and time again. His defensive work was shite. Foden is certainly far superior in that aspect.

He really isn’t and that’s why Pep still doesn’t like to play him in the middle. It’s not about the challenges, it’s that he used to cut off the forward ball far better.

 

[Father Paul]

Headless chickens.

Akanji out of position in midfield, Gvardiol out of position at left back, Dias not as good as people seem to think he is. Ederson not controlling his back four, Walker not a leader.

No Stones, no quality.

The form of Dias is a major concern no balance, control or leadship from him at all currently.

 

[bluemoon32]

The form of Dias is a major concern no balance, control or leadship from him at all currently.

During the first half i thought, thank fuck Ruben is back, then we had that 2nd half....

 

[Love_Each_Day]

Doku, Fonden and Alvarez. Can't afford more than one of them alongside Haarland if you don't want total chaos with the opposition getting chances out of nothing. Grealish & Bernardo out wide was what allowed us to play with no full backs and a centre back roaming around.

 

[fuskarn]

midfield recruitment has been shocking and its costing us more. we have no control in these matches and puts a lot of pressure on the defence to bail us out, with that said i think the defence has to do far better still.

letting gundo go but bending over backwards for walker was shocking to me, not finding a good replacement even more so.

 

[supercity88]

It's a similar story to last season. Wasteful in front of goal at times and a real lack of balance that is leading to us being carved open far too easily. We are essentially playing two centre forwards and with Bernie and the wide men pushing, it is leading to Rodri and a scrambling back line trying to stop the counter.

When we are more organised, again there's a real lack of defensive discipline.

Stones makes a monumental difference, as would having an extra more typical midfielder in the side instead of Alvarez. We should have won today but yet again absolutely woeful defending and goalkeeping.

We are in a tough run but 2pts from games at Arsenal and home to Liverpool and Spurs is poor. 3pts off top, it needs to change soo . Villa is going to be another big challenge but we have to go and win that game now.

 

[super_city_si]

No midfield control.