Tim Howard; cause of the defensive frailties
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Does anyone else think that Tim Howard has a lot to do with our current dreadful defence?
How many times this season have we seen him half save shots. like yesterday's second, which spill out and cause a goal. Don't know much about Carlo Nash but , the way Howard is playing at the moment, he needs a rest.
Jonathan Tasker,
London Posted 19/10/2008 at 12:44:44
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You ain?t seen Carlo Nash, mate!
Couldn?t agree more, Jonathan. I have said on other threads I don't rate Howard much at all. No confidence in crosses or catching and holding onto a ball. IMO, he has been responsible for quite a few of the goals we have gifted to teams this season.
He was also a key part of virtually the same defence that’s been practically watertight before.
Howard has been dodgy this season, he's a good shot stopper but anything thrown in from wide or set pieces and he looks lost. His communication is also lacking, but the defense is under constant pressure due to the inability of the midfield to retain any decent possession. Most games this season we have looked tired and weak after 60 minutes and the defence is then left to face a barrage for the last 25-30 minutes. Defenders are being left with no option but to hoof as Osman and Arteta have gone AWOL so can people get off Hibbert's back as more often than not he gets given the ball in terrible positions and no-one shows for him.
If Moyes would have thought about things properly, he should have realised Alex Ferguson doesn?t get rid of good players, he is nobody's fool.
Still waiting to see him come off his line for a cross, corner, long ball etc.....
Last decent keeper Nigel Martyn, who must of completely ignored the goalkeeping coach, seeing as how he has managed to ruin every other recent keeper with his advice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Howard just isn’t good enough, and doesn’t command his box, the defence don’t know what he’s going to do next.
I believe the reason for our poor defensive form is down to David Moyes. The reason I believe this is because of his failure to sign a defensive mid and a back-up defensive mid. In an ideal world we would've kept Carsley and signed someone better, with him as back-up.
Here lies the problem at the start of the season: we had Rodwell and Jagielka in midfield... Rodwell is a 17-year-old centre-back and Jagielka a centre-back, thus increasing the pressure on the back four when playing against professional Premier League midfielders. This also led to the spliting up of the succesful back four of last season: Lesscott, Jagielka, Yobo & Neville, which was protected by Carsley.
I thought super Lee was a decent player but not the player to take us forward; now he is looked back on as if he was better than he was. Carsley was a average Premier League player who looks better to some because of the sheer lack of central midfield quality we possess.
Well that's all you can expect for three million a year... Moyes, what a genius. Did anyone else notice on the weekend once again, Moyes?s failure to change things before the goal goes in? To give him some credit, this time he was trying to make the change but why not ten minutes before? What an inept tactical manager.
Five more years of this god help us all.
I am far from happy with Howard but Nash is crap, we would be better of playing Jags in goal.
A mate who?s a Sheff Wed supporter is astonished that we have never given Turner a run in the side. I feel that Ian Turner has had a raw deal from DM. His limited opportunities have come at short notice in what have often been big games. A goalkeeper needs a decent run in a side and I think Turner deserves a chance. He won?t get it though. If you are a favourite of Moyes's, it?s hard to get dropped. If you are out of favour for whatever reason (James Vaughan?) then you'd better look for a new club.
Agreed on Turner. Not sure what message he would have taken from the signing of Nash.
Vishal Poorundersingh
Posted 20/10/2008 at 12:06:48
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Actually this would have been question, Howard is not performing like before, no more clean sheets since a long time ago. Bring on Nash or Turner, they deserve a chance.
Take a look at midfield, which is exceptionally unbalanced. I would argue that our defense is in the shape it is because our midfield is providing no cover for it.
Which one of the three from Saturday was his fault? The first defelected off a defender and went the other way from where Howard was waiting to receive the ball. The second was a header from 3 feet away after Tim had made a great save on the initial shot, and Van Persie was played on side by our left back who was standing at the right post.... how he got there is unknown to me.... and the third was a bullet that was unsighted caused by two or three defenders. I know that several posters have called for Nash or Turner, but really....
Our back 4 is absolutley the worst I have seen in probably 7-8 years. There is no organizer, no ability to make the big stop, no consistency, and now no Yobo. He?s gone from a 10 million rated player to a sub?s bench warmer because we have to dress 7. All those calling for Leighton Baines to be included in the side at left back please shut up.
In what way was Howard to blame for Arsenal?s second goal? I thought it was cracking save myself!
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1 Posted 19/10/2008 at 15:49:20
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