Why are we still leaking too many goals?

[bigandy99]

My question is a simple “why?”…

My personal opinion is we leave too many large gaps for others to exploit.. so why, after 38 games, have none of our managers/coaches solved it?..

Defending your goal at all costs is a fundamental part of any teams set up but our low return of clean sheets is ridiculous

Are we that bad that we can’t keep the ball out?..

This will need to change massively for next season if we’re to compete at the top.. I don’t think our defenders are that poor.. but we must solve this issue!!

[Tom1982]

Good call that. On paper, with the exception of Watson, I don’t mind that back 5 at all. Look a bit tighter but still a million miles off being decent. Must be a shape thing.

[aucklandaddick]

Mar 10, 2024 16:26:25 GMT Tom1982 said:

Good call that. On paper, with the exception of Watson, I don’t mind that back 5 at all. Look a bit tighter but still a million miles off being decent. Must be a shape thing.

I thought the shape looked ok on Saturday Tom, it was just individual errors on the day that cost us the two goals, NJ admitted this after the game
Gillesphey gave the ball away for the first and then the cross came in and it sort of ricocheted into the net but Isted looked pretty small to me trying to claw it out, thought he should have done better and I think NJ will bring in a commanding keeper in the summer
The second goal was down to lazy defending when Gillesphey let Armstrong ( who had great movement all game) the wrong side of him…..sounds like I am vilifying Gillesphey but I think he has actually been one of our few good signings this year
All season we have been punished for individual errors, the difference is that now NJ has organised the back three and instilled some confidence in them
Thomas did ok and won everything in the air but looked a bit bambi on ice on the deck and I think as a priority NJ will bring in a leader to play in the middle of the three next season

[manikin]

Still feel we have a CB problem.

[Occam’s Razor]

Defenders worth keeping for next season ~

REG
Small (definitely worth a 3 year deal)
Gillesphey
Jones

I’d also keep Ness and Assiimwe, but send them out on loan.

Defenders not worth keeping next season as either not good enough, or too injury prone ~

Hector
Thomas
Maynard Brewer
Isted
Edun
Tennai

[aucklandaddick]

Mar 11, 2024 9:41:09 GMT Occam’s Razor said:

Defenders worth keeping for next season ~

REG
Small (definitely worth a 3 year deal)
Gillesphey
Jones

I’d also keep Ness and Assiimwe, but send them out on loan.

Defenders not worth keeping next season as either not good enough, or too injury prone ~

Hector
Thomas
Maynard Brewer
Isted
Edun
Tennai

Agree 100% especially regarding Small, we just need to recruit a proper defensive organiser/ leader type to play in the middle of the back three

I like the wingbacks we now have in Small and Ramsay, we will need back ups though and Watson and Edun are both under contract so I can see these both staying

The key for us is to bring in 2 quality midfielders to compliment Coventry and Anderson, this will be the key to our success as with our current forwards we are always going to score goals

[seriouslyred]

Mar 10, 2024 16:18:46 GMT bigandy99 said:

My question is a simple “why?”…

My personal opinion is we leave too many large gaps for others to exploit.. so why, after 38 games, have none of our managers/coaches solved it?..

Defending your goal at all costs is a fundamental part of any teams set up but our low return of clean sheets is ridiculous

Are we that bad that we can’t keep the ball out?..

This will need to change massively for next season if we’re to compete at the top.. I don’t think our defenders are that poor.. but we must solve this issue!!

A few weeks back I posted that much of our defensive frailties were down to an incoherent midfield. The defence simply didn’t have a chance to reset every time the ball cleared.

These days we're clearing the ball quicker, sometimes straight to the oppo! But we're creating far more chances, so the ball is spending more time in our possession travelling in the right direction.

There are still individual errors on the ball and many believe we need a new, better first choice keeper. This means that one of Istead or AMB needs to be sold or loaned out. But our current centre backs appear competent enough, and it will be interesting to see who is renewed or replaced over the summer.

One thing's for sure: our xGa deteriorated at the end of November at the same time as our xG went over a cliff. Too early to tell for sure as too few games under Jones, but it looks as if our xGa is back to mid table levels.

As you state, perhaps not good enough for the top six? Ideally a mix of coaching and some new players gets us to where we want to be in August. Will be interesting to see where we get to over these last eight games.