Losing the will to live.

[mickd1961]

I firmly believe that our players are so weighed down by this defensive mentality that they've more or less given up without realising it.

When I played we used to do some "attack v defence" type training whereby as defenders we would give the ball back to the attackers once we'd repelled their attack but there would be no attacking done by us defenders at all.

It's fun doing this for 15 minutes but once the attackers have notched a couple it's hard to keep up the intensity.

I think that these 30% possession stats have worn our lot down and they are fed up with playing a 10-0-1 formation.

Playing two strikers and knocking the ball long would at least give our defending midfielders and defence some respite whereas at present we constantly give the ball away in the centre circle and have no time to breath.

Gareth Barry must be kicking himself for signing up for these hard yards at his time of life!

[Leicesterbaggie]

This is a very good point. With so little possession we are constantly having to concentrate on keeping our shape and tracking the movement of the opposition. With this happening week in, week out the players must find it very difficult to retain the necessary levels of concentration. I think that this is the reason why we have conceded so many late goals. When a side is in possession and is on the front foot the pressure is off and you are the side asking the questions. Let's face it, we are supposed to be the masters of the defensive system but I haven't seen much of it of late. I don't blame the players as I firmly believe that this constant pressure that we are under has taken its toll.

[WBA1955]

Attack is the best form of defence. Other teams can't hurt you if you have the ball. Simple rules for a simple game. This was preached by Buckingham, Hagan, Ashman, Giles, Allen, Atkinson and Ardiles, and weren't those years fun?

[goodlordmurphy]

Attack is the best form of defence. Other teams can't hurt you if you have the ball. Simple rules for a simple game. This was preached by Buckingham, Hagan, Ashman, Giles, Allen, Atkinson and Ardiles, and weren't those years fun?

Big fun '55...never expecting to win the league but always expecting to win individual games which we often did...always having a say who would win it...cup runs exciting for the most part with a few horrendous results at times but it was easy to forgive them those because the next week would always be normal service resumed. Yes blue and white striped eyes...but who wants to talk about the dire years.