21 Feb 2021 22:12:43
Ok so I hear we are worst in the league on ALL defensive stats. Not true according to premierleague. com

Joint 11th on the league for clean sheets (7)
2nd in the league for tackles (452)
3rd in the league for saves (92)
7th in the league for blocks (91)
11th in the league for interceptions (254)

So what do the actual stats tell us?

That the defense have to work hard - harder than other teams and why? Because they get no protection. Tge defence are actually doing a brilliant job but they have too much pressure on them and why? Because our midfield are too easily bypassed. Defending starts from further up the field and that is where we are too weak.

1.) 22 Feb 2021
22 Feb 2021 01:15:23
As I said before I think its our formation.
Without the ball we are supposed to be 4-1-4-1 and with the ball it becomes more like 2-1-4-3.
This makes it tough for us when we lose possession.
Forcing one of the wing back to stay back or changing to 4-2-3-1 (so 2-2-3-3 with the ball) would make a huge difference.
The change would weaken us offensively of course so we need to recruit there to offset eg DePaul.

2.) 22 Feb 2021
22 Feb 2021 08:36:03
Thanks Canada never thought of it in that way before but makes a lot of sense as does buying De Paul.

3.) 22 Feb 2021
22 Feb 2021 08:39:45
The 4-1-4-1 does leave us more vulnerable when we lose possession and we do lose possession more than we should, which I agree Alf it does put a lot more pressure on our defenders.
Bielsa has used the 4-2-3-1 at Athletic Bilbao and Marseille.
I’m hoping when he is fit that Llorente will be deployed alongside KP for more stability in the defensive midfield. You could see then possibly using one of the DM’s used in an more attacking role perhaps against weaker teams. Would be nice to see KP chip in with a few goals.
For me I do love Bielsa’s style of football but the one weakness for me which allows too many opportunities to our opponents is the man marking. Too often when the ball goes stray or an attacker ala Vardy type peels or dribbles past his man marker and has acres of space to attack our goal.
For me zonal marking would be more effective.

4.) 22 Feb 2021
22 Feb 2021 10:56:16
Yes precisely. It is naive to say 'we have the worst goals conceded so we must improve defensively. By improving defensively we have to sacrifice elsewhere. That means not commiting as many men forward which would have a detrimental effect on how many we score meaning we lose 1-0 instead of 4-2 or we draw more but win less. The only way we win games for the most part is by overwhelming defenses with numbers and with superior fitness, we don't have enough players with the ability to unlock defenses. So that leaves us vulnerable to conceding as well. Tge best wag to remedy this is with players of better quality who gi e the ball away less often when in attack, or who make better use of our chances (we are top of the 'big chances missed'league) . That means for me first and foremost improving central midfield who have a job in defence and attack and the biggest area we couldn't afford to strengthen in the summer. Until then or with a complete change of tactics our goals conceded will not improve so get used to it. For me the more important stats are games won and goal difference and actually our goal difference is acceptable for a mid table team.

5.) 22 Feb 2021
22 Feb 2021 16:29:17
I would not be too unhappy at a change of formation, when circumstances call for it. For instanstance if we say that no one is of sufficient calibre to fully cover for KP, should we not revert to a 4-2-3-1 that Opti has said Bielsa has applied previously. I may be slightly detrimental to our attacking prowess but if both do not attack at the same time this failure may be somewhat alleviated.
Off the top of my head, how about Ayling and either Klich/ Dallas as DMs with Drameh drafted in as RB cover?

6.) 23 Feb 2021
23 Feb 2021 01:23:24
Don’t care what stats you find sky sports and bt sports won’t lie and when it comes to goals conceded in all
Different areas we are bottom three in every single area. fact we have so many clean sheets means we are inconsistent

Getting a proper left back will help

Not playing cooper will help

Defending set pieces better than a school team will help

Playing a dm better than Phillips who can run and protect defensive will help

Holding the ball better will help

Yes of course putting more into defence might stifle attack but not always

Facts are we concede in bottom three in every area and fact is that ain’t good enough however you want to look at it or whatever other stats you wish to use

Something in some way has to improve doesn’t it?