defence- what's the answer?

[bigroof]

But like PaulCAFC says earlier in the thread, this season - so far - the stats are better. 16 conceded in 12; take out the Wycombe game, and it's 11 in 11. They're doing something better, surely. Mostly it isn't long ball stuff, unless they're thwarted well by their opponents, and they stop thinking, and trusting themselves. It's been 4-4-2 nearly all the time, and always with young players on the flanks, each of whom have attacking instincts; they're having to discipline themselves, track runners and protect full-backs, and sometimes they just don't, because they're learning. Whichever combination makes up the middle pairing have to cover each other; this is easier when Hollands plays as he's naturally a deeper-lying type. When Jones plays with Bingham, watching it, you don't get the impression that they're so comfortable defensively. On the other hand, if the team are behind, or being denied space, maybe Jones and Bingham, with their quicker feet, would be the better answer; or try a diamond, with Hollands deep, and one of our bright young things at the attacking tip? It was good to see them experiment with that in the 2nd half v Wolves.

[Furberstreet]

We are conceding fewer goals, but we are now playing in a lower division. As bigroof rightly says the younger players are learning and the discipline and positioning will eventually become instinctive. It is the soft centre of midfield where we still have problems. I agree that a diamond formation could help. Hollands has had an inconsistent start but he will settle down and put in a good shift in deeper midfield position.

[gazan]

I think I've said it before. We don't have enough players who can actually hold on to the ball for very long. Murphy and Sorvel were both immovable players and could hang on until someone got into a good position. We don't really have that at the moment. The players don't use up the space in front of them, preferring to pass immediately. Fortunately, up front, we have (when Kiwomya gets back) at least two ball carriers who can take the ball upfield and keep it away from the defence for a while. Unfortunately the midfield rarely ventures forward and, as mentioned above, are always too ready to drop back and concede space. We need to close down UP the field.