Defending

Last season my biggest concern by far were the great number of goals we conceded. This through lack of pace and poor defending. I really want us to sign a decent right back as MDG is not the answer. He would always give a couple of chances away every game even in his favored position. He wasn't the only one left wanting at the back but we really need to rectify this issue. Is there any sign of a defender coming in soon?

 

You’re not wrong but the clock is ticking

 

There's no way Mael made 92+ mistakes last season

 

I reckon Mael made no more mistakes than Earl and Roberts. Which is commendable considering he had O'Keefe ****ing around in front of him.

 

Another pile on MDG thread.

I think there’s been enough of those.

 

Completely agree about Earl. Infact it was his huge mistake what amplified our **** run with that 98th minute penalty he gave away. We haven't been rate since!

 

Earl and MDG are both as **** as each other. It's like choosing between Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea

 

I think you are giving him to much credit. I stated he wasn't the only one, but in my view he was the most consistent. Never learned from mistakes. The defence was wide open for a ball over the top.

 

MDG isn’t the only one at fault in a poor defence but he’s definitely the main problem. His positional sense is non existent and he makes too many rash challenges. He just doesn’t seem to learn by his mistakes either. A full back he definitely isn’t. Earl always has a rick in him too and his lack of pace gets us into trouble.
That said, the protection or lack from midfield was also a big part of the problem last season.

 

It'd be interesting to see whose defensive errors led to conceding the most goals. I've got a theory but without this information it will very much be like my other posts, ie: crap.

 

I can’t help thinking that MDG’s biggest issue is his Frenchness

 

Roberts escapes alot of criticism as he was good 10 years ago he was good at times last season but at times awful, he's never been the best passer of a football but now his pace has gone which was his best attribute years ago. Still strong mind and vocal.

 

I am 100% in a minority I reckon, but I've actually preferred Roberts in this second spell. He had a bit of an iffy patch when he came back from injury earlier in the year, but otherwise I think he's been what's holding our fragile defence together. He needs someone with pace alongside him though. Hopefully Shep steps up.

 

It's concerning though that the majority of our business and players we've been linked with tends to be in attacking positions. I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't be linked with loads of wingers and strikers, but given we've needed tightening up at the back for the past 2 seasons, you'd have hoped we'd have at least added a long term replacement for Roberts to the side. Whilst they had their critics, we are a couple of bodies lighter in that area already with Pines and McCarthy moving on, and rumours of Lopata being moved on too. 4 senior centre halves should be enough for 2 positions, with Barrett and the other academy lad who's name I've forgotten as further cover, but I'm still sceptical about MDG and even more so about Earl.

Still, considering we were strongly linked with Paudie O'Connor , who would definitely have been starting at centre half had he signed, I think there's still scope for us to bring another centre half in. The number of loan slots we've filled though would suggest it's likely going to be someone we'll be paying a fee for, or one of the remaining free transfers.

 

I don’t think he’s better this spell but he’s certainly not as poor as people make out. The defence would definitely look worse without him imo.

 

We need a whole new defence in all honesty.
Whilst Sheperd coming back into the fold is a positive, it’s about more than just what individual players you’ve got, it’s the whole defensive structure of a team, of which we have none! Roberts is past his sell by date, despite being decent back up at this level, our full backs are none existent on a defensive level. And we already know Earl & MDG are not good enough at this level. Then there’s the midfield, which again, lacks any decent defensive capabilities, especially with Connell being so far out of his usual form.

It’s for this reason, I can only envisage a tough season ahead.

 

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spi...rb_id=alle&seit=2025&yt0=Show#google_vignette

Free agent list for CBs.

 

Definitely can't agree with that but if you think he's better this time round fair enough. Not much was holding that defence together we conceded as many as some relegated sides.

 

This might bite me on the backside but alongside under par performances we spent huge swathes of the last two years playing a system that the players just couldn’t adapt to. It could be argued the players weren’t good enough, were they being asked to do something they couldn’t do? Was the coaching good enough? Did the players get the message? Did they just become clueless overnight?

It was as clear as the nose on your face we were susceptible to a ball over the top into a striker with pace. We were also susceptible to a ball into the channel. The wing backs shot forward leaving space in behind and the centre halves seemed to have no idea what to do and it pulled us massively out of shape and gave away a thousand, or so it felt, easy goals. CH playing 4 at the back should negate that problem.

I still think we need an old head just to sit in front of the back four. Keen to take the ball into tricky spots and tell people what to do and where to be. Tactical bookings for professional fouls etc. Give the defence a screen and things might improve. Oh we do need a right back though. Massively.

 

I think I'd slightly prefer Earl out of those 4.