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Baffled
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I'm just trying to figure out what's happened.
From being one of the pPrem's best defenses last year to what appears like one of the worst so far this season seems strange. Obviously players have dips in form but but three all at once? It could be that's all it is, Lescott blowing hot and cold, Yobo and Howard blowing mainly cold and our new Carsley hasn't had time to bed in yet.
But I wonder if all the mysterious goings on behind the scenes have affected the players' confidence. Deadline day dramas, Wyness's resignation, Moyes's unsigned contract, EGMs and the call in ? if you couple this with the fans' disappointment and frustration, it's enough to affect even the most consummate professional. It seems we've gone from a tight ship to a colander overnight.
Or am I reading too much into it?
Ste Blundell, Posted 19/09/2008 at 11:15:07
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Two things for me,
1, Carsley ( Castillo looks promising though.)
2, Lescott not wanting to play left back.
1, Carsley ( Castillo looks promising though.)
2, Lescott not wanting to play left back.
Lescott is not wanting to play left back as it appears he’s playing left wing! At least Jags looks solid.
I think the main problem is not having Carsley, nothing against castillo but comparing the 2, i think carsley closed down more, and more urgently, but the most valuble thing he used to do which would have been priceless last night was cover the LB and RB. He was always the spare man and would help to double up on opponents. For eg last night Arteta would usualy be too tired tracking back after an attack broke down leaving lescott exposed. Carsley would usualy be ready to tuck in giving the winger less chance to get the ball into the danger area, Castillo tends to stay more central and doesnt offer as much assistance. It is no coincidence that when ever carsley has missed large parts of a season over the last 6 years through injury or like the start of last season were he was dropped for jaggs we have leaked more goals an had lower league finishes
Lescott has had a mare at centre back too. Santa Cruz?s goal was down to him. So it isn?t the move to left back, he just seems to have caught Yobo?s habit of losing concentration at least once in a match. Moyes is considering changing things and I think dropping Lescott for a couple of matches may help focus his mind.
Lescott looks low on confidence to me. Which is odd because last year he was good whatever position he played. He often has a bit of trouble with long balls hit at him though.
Wasn’t Steve Round at Newcastle last year? Looks like he may need to look at how he’s coaching the defenders.
The answer to the original post is Carsley, he is the difference. He almost played as an extra deffender, which made the defence look great, but of course we suffered going forward because he was still in the 18 yard box. What the fuck is Moyes about playing Anichebe on the wing again? Maybe it was ok for Stoke but not Leige. He will keep doing that, just you watch, he is a tactical genius..... NOT!!!
I think playing more attacking football is partly to do with it, as well as a couple of key players off form.
This season we do not seam to want to defend and hope for a 1-0 win, or sit and defend when we get 1-0 up. I can see this season having far fewer 1-0 wins and more 2-0 wins. But with that I think we will concede more goals.
Classic example was stoke. Last season I reckon that would have been 1-0 to Everton.
This season we do not seam to want to defend and hope for a 1-0 win, or sit and defend when we get 1-0 up. I can see this season having far fewer 1-0 wins and more 2-0 wins. But with that I think we will concede more goals.
Classic example was stoke. Last season I reckon that would have been 1-0 to Everton.
It's reported on the official website that Tim Howard may not play on Sunday as he is still suffering from a virus which he played with on Thursday night......why the hell did we play him then if he was ill. Perhaps we should have tried Carlo Nash who may now play Sunday and we will get an idea of his worth. Perhaps Moysie thought Tim with a virus would be better against Standard Liege. Wonder what Joleon was suffering from ... dropsy or non-tackle syndrom?
The solution, for me, is play 2 defensive midfielders in the continental 4-2-3-1 type formation.
We can then play with two attacking full backs who can link up in the attacking play, and also allow the 3 more creative midfielders to really support the Yak up top.
Give Fellaini and Castillo time to bed in. I think Moyes sees the two of them, young Jack and captain extraordinaire as being capable of holding down the two positions.
Just a shame we’ve got 2 long term injured RB’s so Pip’s got to play RB instead of CM.
Or, hold on, is that such a bad thing???
We can then play with two attacking full backs who can link up in the attacking play, and also allow the 3 more creative midfielders to really support the Yak up top.
Give Fellaini and Castillo time to bed in. I think Moyes sees the two of them, young Jack and captain extraordinaire as being capable of holding down the two positions.
Just a shame we’ve got 2 long term injured RB’s so Pip’s got to play RB instead of CM.
Or, hold on, is that such a bad thing???
Wouldnt place too much concern on our current defensive frailties, Ste , we had similar problems at the beginning of last season before the lads in the back came good. Dont worry.
Our three "super defenders" Yobo, Jag and Lescott get paid a kings ransome to defend, they havent got 90 minutes concentration between the fucken three of them.
Yeah, lets make more excuses for them
Yeah, lets make more excuses for them
Is Dave Wilson the new Tony Marsh? He seems to be griping a lot today!!
Everton simply aren’t used to forcing a game against a fast counter-attacking teamThat’s why the uefa cup is important preparation if we have any champoins league ambitions.
Also,the utterly fucking abysmal crossing of Arteta meant that every time we got a corner Liege were more likely to score from it than we were.
Also,the utterly fucking abysmal crossing of Arteta meant that every time we got a corner Liege were more likely to score from it than we were.
Total.utter bollox.These off-the-field problems have absolutely nothing to do with the shambles in defence.
Lescott is out to prove he’s no left-back,Yobo has gone to sleep again and Jagielkais just Jagielka-crap! Don’t get me started on Howerd.
But now the manager’s got his 70 grand a week, he should be more than up to sorting it out.After all,he did write the book on defending!
Lescott is out to prove he’s no left-back,Yobo has gone to sleep again and Jagielkais just Jagielka-crap! Don’t get me started on Howerd.
But now the manager’s got his 70 grand a week, he should be more than up to sorting it out.After all,he did write the book on defending!
Jagielka crap? Alan, have you started on the weekend juice early? He?s a quality defender and was part of a solid defensive unit last year, that must come good again. Do you seriously think that Lescott would lose his England place to prove a point??... now that's utter bollox. The whole of the defense have lost the protection that Carsley has provided for years and it's gonna take time to build the trust and confidence in his replacement.... who shall we turn on next week, the Yak, Tim??
Fred Parsons,
I?m not the new anybody mate, you're right I am griping today; I?m pissed off by the number of people falling over themselves to express their gratitude to people who are doing a substandard job.
I?m not the new anybody mate, you're right I am griping today; I?m pissed off by the number of people falling over themselves to express their gratitude to people who are doing a substandard job.
Its not the defence as a whole, it has been down to individual errors which im sure will be cut out again soon. The only defender that I cant remember making a daft mistake which led to a goal is Neville. I agree with some people saying tho, that Lescott would benefit from a couple of games on the bench. Get Baines on, let him have a run and stop accomodating our 3 central defenders. Its 3 players for 2 positions and there should always be 1 of them sat on the bench and dealing with it.
Actually, the West Brom penalty was Neville's handball, but I thought it was a little unlucky.
The current problems have nothing to do with off-field activities. Players are paid to play football, they are only responsible for what goes on on the field. Bad players might allow themselves to be affected by off-field goings on, but we are a top-6 Premier League Club who have been playing in Europe the past few years. Our back 5 were all internationals.
To my mind, this blip comes down to Yobo and Lescott being off the pace, and this was exacerbated by us being short of bodies in midfield at the start of the season, which meant that Jags had to play in midfield.
The defence hasn?t changed since last season, and I hope they can get back to last year?s form soon ? we will surely not progress past Liege if they don?t. Come on Yobo and Lescott, follow Jags example and get back to doing what you were doing last year.
Firstly, I do really wonder what on earth has happened to our defence from last year, although I do partly agree that Carsley’s absence is a factor.
I think Castillo will fill the role very well and indeed give us more all round play, although he will I’m sure not give us the all out blockage that Carsley performed so well.
The defence need to step up to the plate and sort themselves out, because the luxury of Carsley is no longer there. A different style of DM is what we need going forward, and Castillo will only improve as he settles.
Last night, Yobo was sleep walking at times. I recall him allowing a player to just run inside him towards goal as Castillo chased, and he then remembered he was a defender and realised he should have tried to stop him !! Too late, but we got away with it on that occasion. Unbelievable.
I was on tender hooks everytime they attacked because we were defending like school boys. Last year I was extremely calm when the opposition came at us because we dealt with most things so well.
Lescott was just shocking last night, and has been awful from the off this season, apart from one decent game, and all regardless of which position he has played. Last year he was expert at shielding the ball out, but this year he seems to find it impossible, allowing a player to far too easily get round him and gift a chance. He needs to wake up quick, or England will be a distant memory for him. He is so much better than he is showing at the moment.
Jagielka on the other hand, since reverting back to centre back, where he should be, was brilliant last night again, and is a real positive for us. He reads the game superbly, makes his tackles and doesn’t switch off. For me he should be the one in the England squad at present. The only negative for him is one too many long balls, but i’m sure that will cut down as he gets used to the likes of Castillo coming short to start the play more often.
I just prey that Davey can sort out Yobo and Lescott, who for me are the under performers at present, because we need them both back up to the standard we know they can play at.
I think Castillo will fill the role very well and indeed give us more all round play, although he will I’m sure not give us the all out blockage that Carsley performed so well.
The defence need to step up to the plate and sort themselves out, because the luxury of Carsley is no longer there. A different style of DM is what we need going forward, and Castillo will only improve as he settles.
Last night, Yobo was sleep walking at times. I recall him allowing a player to just run inside him towards goal as Castillo chased, and he then remembered he was a defender and realised he should have tried to stop him !! Too late, but we got away with it on that occasion. Unbelievable.
I was on tender hooks everytime they attacked because we were defending like school boys. Last year I was extremely calm when the opposition came at us because we dealt with most things so well.
Lescott was just shocking last night, and has been awful from the off this season, apart from one decent game, and all regardless of which position he has played. Last year he was expert at shielding the ball out, but this year he seems to find it impossible, allowing a player to far too easily get round him and gift a chance. He needs to wake up quick, or England will be a distant memory for him. He is so much better than he is showing at the moment.
Jagielka on the other hand, since reverting back to centre back, where he should be, was brilliant last night again, and is a real positive for us. He reads the game superbly, makes his tackles and doesn’t switch off. For me he should be the one in the England squad at present. The only negative for him is one too many long balls, but i’m sure that will cut down as he gets used to the likes of Castillo coming short to start the play more often.
I just prey that Davey can sort out Yobo and Lescott, who for me are the under performers at present, because we need them both back up to the standard we know they can play at.
Carsley used to do most of the talking and spent a lot of time organising Yobo, Jags and Lescott. I do believe that Yobo and Lescott are basically quiet lads. Jags was new last year and took time to establish himself, but he will take on the mantle of the organiser - something he did well at Sheff Utd.
What it means though is that I suspect is that Lescott will have to play left back. I think his goals will keep him in at the expense of Baines.
Baines - Sunderland in January?
Dan, just to jog your memory it was Neville who failed to pick up the runner who scored once the winger left Lescott for dead. I think most of the players are still not up to the confidence levels that a good run of results bring.
Neil Styles, thanks for the comment mate.
Alan Myers, there are places you can go to learn to think you know.
Alan Myers, there are places you can go to learn to think you know.
Jags was fine. Lescott was the real problem, and I don?t know why. Yobo is always mercurial and does suffer from loss of concentration.
All I hope is that Jagielka improves on his organisational abilities for I seem to remember Sheff Utd were relegated when he was last organising anything.
For what it?s worth I don?t believe that Lescott is at all happy playing at left back. He is a centre back!!
For what it?s worth I don?t believe that Lescott is at all happy playing at left back. He is a centre back!!
As I recall, most of you were saying Carsley is crap and only knows how to HOOF a ball when he gets it. He has nothing in his game, and can’t even dribble and make a decent pass. Thats what was said last season.
This season (and we ONLY just begun) seems as though we are saying we miss Carsley, Lescott sucks, Yobo sucks, Jag sucks, etc.
Geez. A bunch of moaners.
This season (and we ONLY just begun) seems as though we are saying we miss Carsley, Lescott sucks, Yobo sucks, Jag sucks, etc.
Geez. A bunch of moaners.
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1 Posted 19/09/2008 at 11:58:35
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What's gone wrong? Isn't it the same personnel in the same positions? If we play like that against good attacking sides we'll get hammered. Every time they attacked my heart was in my mouth which isn't a good place for a heart to be - unless you're a cannibal. It was all down the same channel and nothing seemed to be done to eradicate the problem.
We also nearly paid the penalty - literally - at the end in the same area. Going forward we look like we'll score goals but you can't keep giving soft goals away. That's eight in three home games now. It also spreads fear and a lack of confidence throughout the whole team which doesn't auger well for the next few games.
Great team goal for Yakubu and a cracking individual one for Castillo though. Don't know what our Teta was doing in delaying the pass to the Yak when he should have put him in on goal. If DM sorts out the debacle at the back we could push on again this season.