Ongoing Defensive Frailties

[saunders_heroes]

I wouldn't say the clean sheets thing is quite a red herring. It means you can never win by scoring one goal.  That's a bit of a bummer!

Precisely. It means we have to score a minimum of 2 goals to win a game. Something we've done just once so far this season. Why people try to play the clean sheets argument down is anyone's guess.

[Chris Smith]

I wouldn't say the clean sheets thing is quite a red herring. It means you can never win by scoring one goal.  That's a bit of a bummer!

Precisely. It means we have to score a minimum of 2 goals to win a game. Something we've done just once so far this season. Why people try to play the clean sheets argument down is anyone's guess.

It isn't 'playing it down' it's being factual. Last season only two sides, Man City (34) and Arsenal (37), averaged less than one goal conceded per game.

Nobody would argue that we didn't have huge problems to start with but similarly, if you stick to the facts, we improved after Christmas when it contributed to our better results.

[saunders_heroes]

I wouldn't say the clean sheets thing is quite a red herring. It means you can never win by scoring one goal.  That's a bit of a bummer!

Precisely. It means we have to score a minimum of 2 goals to win a game. Something we've done just once so far this season. Why people try to play the clean sheets argument down is anyone's guess.

It isn't 'playing it down' it's being factual. Last season only two sides, Man City (34) and Arsenal (37), averaged less than one goal conceded per game.

Nobody would argue that we didn't have huge problems to start with but similarly, if you stick to the facts, we improved after Christmas when it contributed to our better results.

But to Villa it's immensely important because we have to score more than 1 goal to win a game. Imagine how much we'd improve as a team if Lambert could only muster a decent defence.

[Matt Collins]

I don't see what on earth those arsenal and city stats prove? We're not aiming for an average of less than a goal a game conceded. Just not to concede in every game (which we've now managed)

If you were to go a whole season never being able to win a game with one goal, I doubt very much you could get anywhere near top half.

[olaftab]

After Ron went off and Lowton came on I thought we regressed back to bad old days of 12 months ago. Both Rodriguez and Osvaldo were allowed to pick easy headers.
Any idea how many games Ron will miss?

[ozzjim]

After Ron went off and Lowton came on I thought we regressed back to bad old days of 12 months ago. Both Rodriguez and Osvaldo were allowed to pick easy headers.
Any idea how many games Ron will miss?

Got to admit I thought both the goals were really poor headers to concede if you are a centre back. The Clark/ Baker pairing is nowhere near good enough and could de rail what has been a really solid foundation to a season.

[Ian.]

Well hopefully Ron's back at the weekend, we've been shit at the back for ages now. Ron and Clark have been excellent lately. Mind you what threat will Fulham pose? Bent can't play and Berbatov can't be arsed I hope.

[Toronto Villa]

it will be just our luck that the two central defenders none of us wanted injured at the start of the season are the two that are injured.

[Dante Lavelli]

Let's put it in perspective, this is effectively out 3rd and 4th choice centre backs.  Most teams would struggle with that situation.
I'm not even sure I know who Arsenal's 4th choice CB is, and they're top of the league.

[Matt Collins]

I wouldn't say the clean sheets thing is quite a red herring. It means you can never win by scoring one goal.  That's a bit of a bummer!

Precisely. It means we have to score a minimum of 2 goals to win a game. Something we've done just once so far this season. Why people try to play the clean sheets argument down is anyone's guess.

It isn't 'playing it down' it's being factual. Last season only two sides, Man City (34) and Arsenal (37), averaged less than one goal conceded per game.

Nobody would argue that we didn't have huge problems to start with but similarly, if you stick to the facts, we improved after Christmas when it contributed to our better results.

Sorry but the argument doesn't make sense. I don't mind if we AVERAGE conceding a goal a game so much. But if you concede at least one in EVERY game then you're going to struggle to win.

We'd have lost v Sunderland west ham and hull, drawn v Norwich, if we couldn't keep a clean sheet. That's 5 fewer points and close to the relegation zone

It's pretty simple really

[dave.woodhall]

Sorry but the argument doesn't make sense. I don't mind if we AVERAGE conceding a goal a game so much. But if you concede at least one in EVERY game then you're going to struggle to win.

We'd have lost v Sunderland west ham and hull, drawn v Norwich, if we couldn't keep a clean sheet. That's 5 fewer points and close to the relegation zone

It's pretty simple really

Are you trying to tell us that if we let in more goals we'd get less points?

[Matt Collins]

Yep, seems like it!

I just can't see how anyone can argue that keeping clean sheets doesn't make a massive difference to your ability to win games.

[SoccerHQ]

Clear that Ron is the glue....we conceded 2 today and let's be honest it could've been a lot more against a team that have lost 6 on the bounce and struggle to score more than 1 goal a game, not good enough.

What would people do v United?

Lowton has to be back in for me, put him RB and have Bacuna ahead of him. Prey Ron is fit and Luna aswell, if not I'd be tempted to throw Bennett in if he can have a week's training without cutting his knee, we need some natural balance there.

Despite them being in their worst form for a decade, it's deluded to think anything resembling the shambles we put out today at the back will keep Rooney and RVP goalless for 98 minutes.

We also need our strikers to actually turn up big time next weekend.

[Irish villain]

I will always see Herd as more of a defensive midfielder/right back than central defender.

[eastie]

I will always see Herd as more of a defensive midfielder/right back than central defender.

I thought herd gave it a good go today - we were all over the place at times and the full backs failed to stop far too many crosses coming in - in truth we were lucky to lose only 2-0 .

Vlaar and okore are both decent on my view but we may need a loan as cover until okore is back - Clark had improved a lot this season and baker is still a worry although he does try his best .

Lowton needs to be brought in at right back .