Defence an issue

[swaledale]

We have a strong midfield, good forward line and can score goals, but at the moment we seem to have an issue keeping goals out - sure most were the result of errors, but 2 concede against blackburn which could have cost us 2 pts and 2 today against Cardiff which did.

Not having a settled back four is an issue a new right back, (he looks promising but will tak time to gel)Buxton missing and Forsyth just not playing at the level he did last season are all contributing factors, but for me in every game we just seem to lose concentration for 10 minutes or so.

[Oldtimeram]

We are letting in far too many goals. What the answer is, I don't know, apart from buying two new centre backs

[Rob_the_Ram]

I think our style of play will let the opposition have chances.
But I agree we must still improve - hopefully a settled back four will help that. Be that Whitbread getting a run and improving on yesterday or Buxton fully overcoming his niggle and giving us the form of last season.

[Manofpride]

I've said and so have others even before Mac arrived that the centre backs are our weak link. Big hearts and giving 100% is a great thing but if you're not good enough the cracks will show. The good thing is we didn't lose so it's back to the training ground to try and eradicate the mistakes we are making!

[eamonnram]

Why on earth does everyone blame the centre backs time after time. It's a unit as a whole including the left back and right back. As when they don't do there job properly the centre back has to drift out of position. If we would of got that third goal yesterday everyone would be saying defence was brilliant again. Keogh was outstanding yesterday in my opinion.

[sheeeeeeeeeep]

From what I have seen it's the midfield being wide open half the time thats the problem.

[DerbyBoy16]

The problem yesterday (and Weds) is that Keogh and Whitbread should not be a defensive partnership. They're both far too similar, with neither being very commanding. The amount of headers Whitbread won yesterday (none) was frightening and led to their first.

Keogh's awareness and positional play from set plays/crosses is poor and led to many goals last season. Either of these two need Buxton beside them, because he is commanding, wins a lot more headers and his positional play is usually superb.

Do we think maybe Shotton should be given a chance at centre half?

Forsyth hasn't been up at the same level as last season. Defensively he's not done a lot wrong (granted he did get skinned for their second yesterday) it's just his distribution has been poor which puts pressure right back on us.

Christie is growing into the team more and more every week and I'm starting to really like him as a right back.

For me, I wouldn't mind seeing Shotton and Buxton as a defensive pairing, but I don't

[swaledale]

Good post, I don't think its just a question of getting a pair of quality centre backs in (assuming they are available at a price derby can afford!)

Last season we had a settled back four in most of the games and this IMO is the key. I agree that our style of play which is attack minded does leave us vulnerable to counter attacks, but worrying for me is the vulnerability to what i would call "soft goals" and these do stem from the team appearing to switch off for a period of time during a match.

IF we are going to have a serious chance of an automatic promotion place, then the team does have to tighten up at the back, its fine margins in this league and those two points dropped yesterday (I say dropped because we really have to win games like those) could prove crucial at the end of the season.

Still on the plus side Derby's games cannot be called boring at the moment!!

[Manofpride]

I still think we'll hit top 6.

[sheeeeeeeeeep]

People asking for Shotton at centre back need to remember that you rarely see a right footed player playing at left centre back, and. I dont think we should be dropping Keogh.