Lambert in or out? Poll reset with majority 'in', 7th May

[OCD]

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"How many clean sheets did we have last season? It was the same at Norwich." - It's not just us that struggled for clean sheets, it's the way the Premier League is now.

Hmm, not too sure about that.

How many other teams put together a 24 match run without a single clean sheet?

Not many but if you can find a stat that shows the collective number of clean sheets in every season since the start of the Premier League, I would put money on there being a general decline. Or another stat would be the total number of goals scored each season, I would imagine there would be a general increase. The game just seems to have been becoming more offensive - look at full backs. In the old days they used to actually be decent defenders. These days they're expected to provide width going forward first and foremost with much less emphasis put on their ability to defend. Glen Johnson's last 2 performances for England have been the antithesis of this - not bad going forward but awful defensively.

[pauliewalnuts]

Totally get that, was just trying to say that our defensive record - regardless of how many clean sheets in the PL in general - was pretty abysmal last season.

I am totally behind Lambert, but we can't defend so poorly next season. If we do, we're going to finish roughly where we did this year, and that's not going to go down too well.

[Ads]

I

Totally get that, was just trying to say that our defensive record - regardless of how many clean sheets in the PL in general - was pretty abysmal last season.

I am totally behind Lambert, but we can't defend so poorly next season. If we do, we're going to finish roughly where we did this year, and that's not going to go down too well.

We conceded a lot of goals that I thought were down to incredibly silly defending. Clark’s mare against Citeh stands out chief amongst them.

[Concrete John]

I

Totally get that, was just trying to say that our defensive record - regardless of how many clean sheets in the PL in general - was pretty abysmal last season.

I am totally behind Lambert, but we can't defend so poorly next season. If we do, we're going to finish roughly where we did this year, and that's not going to go down too well.

We conceded a lot of goals that I thought were down to incredibly silly defending. Clark’s mare against Citeh stands out chief amongst them.

Pretty much the point I was making previously.  We don't have to change our overall approach and set up more defensively, just cut out the daft mistakes.

If the target is 10th next year, then West Ham shipped 53 compared to our 69 - I think we can make a big dent in that deficit if we just stop gifting teams goals. 

[TonyD]

Two decent defender buys and we will finish higher than tenth next season.

[OCD]

Totally get that, was just trying to say that our defensive record - regardless of how many clean sheets in the PL in general - was pretty abysmal last season.

I am totally behind Lambert, but we can't defend so poorly next season. If we do, we're going to finish roughly where we did this year, and that's not going to go down too well.

I don't think you'll get much argument there.

I wonder how much our defensive record was down to Lambert's tactics and how much was down to a combination of 1) Dunne missing the whole season and Vlaar missing a chunk of the season - presumably he planned on that as his first choice pairing with Clark and Baker stepping in when necessary and; 2) The defence/midfield having so many players playing their first full season in the Premier League.

Either way, presumably a more experienced centre back will replace Dunne, the inexperienced players have endured (and survived) a tough season which they should be all the better for having come out the other side and with some new additions and ousting of dead wood the squad as a whole should be stronger next season. With all that it's hard to think that our defensive record will be as bad next season.

[Matt Collins]

There's no two ways about it, our defence needs improving significantly. We shouldn't forget that none of our back first choice back five this year had any sort of premier league pedigree going into the season. So that experience and some hard work over the summer should help.

Having said that, I still think we just need a better left back and someone to go straight in at centre back. If Bennett and Baker can fight their way past them, then great.

[Drummond]

Regarding the discussion about Collins and Vlaar; Collins was a very bad influence on the dressing room, Vlaar the complete opposite and a good captain.

[N'ZMAV]

Both just average defenders however.

[Toronto Villa]

Both just average defenders however.

even average defenders can be made to look significantly better than they are in the right system or with the right partner. See exhibit A - Curtis Davies. With Martin Laursen, looked every bit the promising CB we paid 10m for. Asked to do it on his own or with a less accomplished partner...well let's be polite and say not so good. Stick Vlaar next to a solid CB and he'll be better and his overall positive outlook and leadership qualities become enhanced.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Two decent defender buys and we will finish higher than tenth next season.

'Ill go top 8. I love where we're going.

[Mazrim]

To be fair, Davies did well alongside Knight for a good while too. And then it all went to pot.

[Brend'Watkins]

Both just average defenders however.

That's a little unfair on Vlaar. Ideally in his first full season in a new league he would have had the experience of Dunne alongside him.  Rookies like Clark and Baker made his job that more difficult.  I think he will shine next season if we have to make do with Baker but will look very good alongside an experienced new player.

[Fernando Partridge]

http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/sports-breakfast/130606/lambert-bentekes-future-and-villas-young-stars-199087

From this morning talking To Alan Brazil and Neilwarnock

[olaftab]

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"How many clean sheets did we have last season? It was the same at Norwich." - It's not just us that struggled for clean sheets, it's the way the Premier League is now.

Hmm, not too sure about that.

How many other teams put together a 24 match run without a single clean sheet?

Clean sheets are overrated. EPL is about goals goals and oh yes goals. You just have to score one more.....