Our defence

[olaftab]

Well the best 6 months we’ve had in decades came without Mings, but included Kamara and Pau. If you straight swap Mings for Torres you will gain some defensive strength, but you’ll lose a key component of our build up. Over a season I suspect the net result is worse in that scenario, Kamara protects the defence and is critical.

Yes indeed. However it has to be Torres/Konsa with Kamara just in front unless we go 3 plus Maatsen and Nedeljkovic. However this option weakens attack🤔

[VillaTim]

There’s a difference between being quite good at bringing the ball out and what Pau does. He is elite level in terms of his distribution, it brings loads to our game. It also makes the opposition hesitant about pressing us. As demonstrated from the first half of last season Pau can be part of a team that competes at the very top. Mings is a brilliant option for the squad, but the idea he’s just a nailed on starter even if he suffers no challenges from a year out seems odd.

Disagree 100% . If Mings comes back as good as before then Torres won't  be starting games but will be a great squad player. This defence has to tighten up , it's a priority

[PaulWinch again]

That’s fine Tim, we disagree on this. Torres was never signed to be a squad player, in the modern game distribution from defence is critical to be a top side. He’ll start most games when he’s fit.

Kamara’s return and working on improved defensive discipline more widely within the team is what’s needed most.

[PaulWinch again]

Well the best 6 months we’ve had in decades came without Mings, but included Kamara and Pau. If you straight swap Mings for Torres you will gain some defensive strength, but you’ll lose a key component of our build up. Over a season I suspect the net result is worse in that scenario, Kamara protects the defence and is critical.

Yes indeed. However it has to be Torres/Konsa with Kamara just in front unless we go 3 plus Maatsen and Nedeljkovic. However this option weakens attack🤔

Yup I’d agree.

[VillaTim]

That’s fine Tim, we disagree on this. Torres was never signed to be a squad player, in the modern game distribution from defence is critical to be a top side. He’ll start most games when he’s fit.

Kamara’s return and working on improved defensive discipline more widely within the team is what’s needed most.

Guess we will find out over the coming weeks / months. We've had a generous fixture list to open the campaign yet still shipped 2 goals a game on average , the fixtures aren't so friendly in October and November and unless we tighten up we are going to be conceding 3 or 4 goals regularly. It's a huge issue on the horizon.

[Scott Nielsen]

I think it's fair to look both at the stats and the eye-test and conclude that we're conceding goals more from errors than structural issues. However, if you're making errors, you're not defending well!

I know what you mean but when it has been going on for nine months, it must be structural. I can take us playing poorly at times but to continously leak goals this way is not sustainable for where we want to be.

The common diagnosis it's down to missing Kamara has some merit, obviously, but not being able to adjust for that over the course of half a season and more, is very concerning.

[Demitri_C]

I really do not understand why we loaned out enzo a DM who would probably be very handy right now. Kamara being out is clearly a issue but onana as good as he can be isnt a replacement for kamara

Defensively we look a complete shambles.  Conceding 2 vs everton and ipswich. Letting wolves score too its not great reading tbh. I would have expected onw or two clean sheets from those three games

[sid1964]

Torres is so important to the way that we play, there is no way he will become a squad player.

Before his injury when Mings played did we never concede a goal or lose a game? he must have been our Beckenbauer.

If Mings returns to the team, we will probably play 3 centre halves, it will be interesting to see who is dropped from the team?

The goal keeper has also been at fault for a few of the goals we have conceded recently.

[Neil Hawkes]

Big Emi.
Konsa-Mings-Torres.
RB-Kamara-LB.
Tielemens.
Rogers-Ramsey.
Watkins.
I'd like to see as a starting 11.
With the subs we have, not only can we replace like for like, but we can also change the starting shape depending on whats needed during the game.

[eamonn]

Has anyone pulled out stats for our defensive record with and without Kamara?

[Drummond]

Well given the respective defensive and attacking numbers today vs Ipswich theres a chance for Martinez to have no goals conceded.

Ipswich average the lowest shots on target per 90 less than 3 at 2.8

They have the lowest amount of shots at goal by any team: 14
In 5 games they have scored 3 goals from xG of around 3.2

Everysing points to a clean sheet here.

That aged well.

[caster troy]

I think Mings will be a direct replacement for Carlos, with Konsa still playing right back when we are out of possession, then right side of three in build up.

We need to cut out errors. It's a small sample size but we have conceded three goals from cheap turnovers (Carlos v Wolves, Onana v Everton, Konsa v Ipswich) and there have been a couple I'd have expected Emi to save. Maybe we are too casual against weaker opposition. I don't think we have looked too bad when set in our defensive shape, but the way we are set up we are vulnerable if we don't protect the ball well enough. That is where Kamara comes in hopefully.

[Risso]

Well given the respective defensive and attacking numbers today vs Ipswich theres a chance for Martinez to have no goals conceded.

Ipswich average the lowest shots on target per 90 less than 3 at 2.8

They have the lowest amount of shots at goal by any team: 14
In 5 games they have scored 3 goals from xG of around 3.2

Everysing points to a clean sheet here.

That aged well.

As well as the most annoying posters, they're also far and away the worst tipsters on here. Which considering they started off as betting bot Brice Jovial is quite funny.

[cdbearsfan]

Only 13% of posters predicted a draw, so not really sure why FV needs to be singled out.

[Mister E]

There’s a difference between being quite good at bringing the ball out and what Pau does. He is elite level in terms of his distribution, it brings loads to our game. It also makes the opposition hesitant about pressing us. As demonstrated from the first half of last season Pau can be part of a team that competes at the very top. Mings is a brilliant option for the squad, but the idea he’s just a nailed on starter even if he suffers no challenges from a year out seems odd.

Shame that he was a bit crap yesterday ...