Ongoing Defensive Frailties

[warleyboy]

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/premier-league/8833217/villa-draw-with-wycombe

How bad is our defense.
Surely Lambo can see our weakness from set pieces, time and time again.
What were Vlaar and Clarke thinking for that second goal ?

So what's the answer, and who currently is our best pairing.

This has got to be addressed before the start of the season.

[LeeB]

It's pre-season.

[pauliewalnuts]

It's pre-season so not really worth panicking about yet, but if we do defend this season like last, we're going to struggle.

[warleyboy]

It's pre-season.

Correct, but take a look at the DVD of previous season, does it have an ounce of similarity about it.
Of course it does.
It maybe pre season, but like the subject matter, "ongoing defensive frailties"

[Phil from the upper holte]

Even so I think defensively we need work. My mate said the other day he didn't think he could set up a defence and I think he's right. Unless we sort it we'll struggle next season

[Phil from the upper holte]

Norwich were hardly great at defending when he was there

[PeterWithesShin]

31 games since our last clean sheet, including the 4 friendlies so far.

[warleyboy]

How about giving Paul McGrath a call and getting him on the coaching staff, or someone of similar vain.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Mate and I at the game were stunned at the poor quality of the defending at the corner - we failed to attack the ball at the near post, and again at the far post.
We were stuffed by a pretty run-of-the-mill routine executed by a pretty poor side.

We need to better than this at set pieces and I hope we will be by August 17th.

[warleyboy]

31 games since our last clean sheet, including the 4 friendlies so far.

Exactly Mr Shin, this is no coincidence, and how many goals have we allowed in from corners.
I'm a massive fan of Lambo and what he is achieving, but it has to be dealt with, and quickly.

[Villafirst]

First goal was a freak! Second goal could've been closed out - poor marking. Need Okore to add some steel in the middle of defence. On a different note the away kit is awful especially Brad's "pink" goalie top!

[dave shelley]

How about giving Paul McGrath a call and getting him on the coaching staff, or someone of similar vain.

The thing with Paul McGrath is that he was such a naturally gifted footballer and his talents were such that IMO they couldn't be taught.  I think in interview once when asked how did he find himself in such and such a position to make such and such a tackle? he replied I don't know.

I had a young lad playing for me a few years ago who was much the same.  He was a natural and it was my belief that he could have had a future in the game but he wasn't interested.  I take your point though, we need someone with experience that has the ability to communicate the art of defending.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I like the look of Okore but it doesn't mean he's goin to settle immediately and end our defensive problems

[warleyboy]

How about giving Paul McGrath a call and getting him on the coaching staff, or someone of similar vain.

The thing with Paul McGrath is that he was such a naturally gifted footballer and his talents were such that IMO they couldn't be taught.  I think in interview once when asked how did he find himself in such and such a position to make such and such a tackle? he replied I don't know.


I had a young lad playing for me a few years ago who was much the same.  He was a natural and it was my belief that he could have had a future in the game but he wasn't interested.  I take your point though, we need someone with experience that has the ability to communicate the art of defending.

Totally agree Dave, I think the best players are naturally talented, and happen to be in the right place at the right time.
But, it wouldn't hurt to have that input, especially at the academy levels.

I hate to say it, but I'm not sure that concrete Ron cuts the mustard for me, I would expect this guy to be leading the line, a Mellberg or Laursen type.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

When they scored their second goal I was immediately transported back to the Bradford games. A poorish team have a bit of a strength and use it to exploit our weakness, almost at will. And we seem to be unable to do anything about it.
Vlaar and Clark didn't win that much in the air today and looked pretty ruffled by their big centre forward on a regular basis.
Agreed that organisation is what's needed most. We looked a bit of a shambles at times.