Getting some stick for being easily beaten for Armstrong's goal, fair enough, but not read a single comment about the appalling marking leaving no player within 5 yards of Armstrong 10 yards from goal.
Yes it was poor. I think even Sollbauer should shoulder some of then blame as well. Helik went to cover Andersen after he was beaten (but then went to ground), and Sollbauer wasn't quick enough to cover him and get onto Armstrong.
I think he had to go towards Nyambe once he broke into the box. But sliding in just made it easy for him
That’s the weakness of 3 at the back. Especially when you don’t have a recognised left sided centre half. If an opponent plays with 3 forwards the back 3 must be organised correctly at all times, one lapse in concentration will result in a chance. As said before Mads got beaten too easily but Helik gambled on going to the player rather than holding his ground. He’s had a couple of shakey games in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong he’s been a brilliant signing and still performing well, just not to his usual high standards. Sollbauer is steady and the 3 at the back suits him as he’s played a lot at fullback in his career. Maybe you could say he didn’t cover Helik but that’s the gamble. He had a man and didn’t go across until he had cover from Brittain, by that time it was too late. You could go a little further and point the finger at Styles! He didn’t track his man and pulled up instead of busting a gut to get back into the box. If he’d cut the corner maybe he could have got closer to the scorer? It’s all if’s but’s and maybes. I think it was a cumulative of errors that cost us. Only slightly annoying thing is we had a warning a couple of minutes earlier which we didn’t defend properly either.
I don't believe he had to though. If he stays marking Armstrong, Nyambe is on the byline - he has no passes available. If he cuts back inside then Mads is still just behind him to intercept
Mads was a bit naive. He couldn’t match Nyambe for pace (not many can in our division) so instead of trying to fight him just cut the corner. It’s basic defending for centre halves covering fullbacks.
I was thinking along those lines myself, not particularly Styles, but any midfielder should have been tracking back with Armstrong.
He was playing wingback at that point, he just didn’t seem to react to the danger. I suppose he’s not really a defensive player so can be excused a little. There was plenty of errors after that I was just playing devils advocate
I agree, but I was talking about Helik leaving his marker who scored. Helik covers Armstrong then Nyambe doesn't have a pass
Am not sure you can just leave someone in then box, with the ball without closing him down, unless he's close enough for the keeper to deal with. But once he did go, am not sure what he thought he would achieve with the slide. And once he did go, someone had to react and cover him. As said above, a number of errors. I do think Mads looks uncomfortable when defending in the full back position though. A left back / left sided defender would be just as important as a striker in January imo.
Also with the amount of chances we had I think our attacking players need to shoulder much of the blame for not taking enough of the chances.
Yep, Woodrow and Victor both should've done better with headers. Brittain lost his composure after a long run, Andersen should've done better with a header in the first half. Watching the recap this morning, and not sure how we lost the game.
Alfie Mawson/Ethan Pinnock would have loved playing on the left of a back 3, even maybe Liam Lindsay! We’ve had a glut of left sided centre halves in recent years.
