Our back four was a disaster under Sherwood and AVB as well. Not sure the fact we constantly get caught out has anything to do with Pochettino.
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Manager Mauricio Pochettino
- Thread starter WHITE&BLUE
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Our back four was a disaster under Sherwood and AVB as well. Not sure the fact we constantly get caught out has anything to do with Pochettino.
Our defence is leaky but I don't think you can really blame Poch.... We have young wingbacks that aren't mentally all that great. When they begin to understand the reading of the game more I think we will see a big improvement.
You've also gotta remember that Dier is playing out of position.
He's the manager. Surely it's got something to do with him if our defence is not performing?
I'm not blaming him entirely but he's not helping the situation yet.
For example, keeping a consistent back four as far as possible for mid week and weekend matches.
I like that sentiment. Too many people bang on about players need an arm around them, they're tired, give them time etc etc.
Key question - do they want to play?
If you look at any of the top teams - Chelsea, City, Bayern, etc. - their CBs never really change, nor the back 4 - only way to achieve consistency long term. This consttant shuffle is doing more harm than good
If you look at MOST teams playing midweek games and weekend games they will rotate the back four. I agree that we need to establish a permanent back line but that will happen in the later stages of the season. With the amount of games we are facing rotation is key in keeping the squad fit and available, not sidelined with injury. I would rather have the players all available coming into a busy Christmas period having seen the squad rotated to keep freshness the see them rotated due to injury and all suffering from fatigue.
Eric Dier is a good example of this. He looks knackered out there for us and he has had to play every game due to injuries.
Unless they're playing op teams (or admit defeat before the game kicks off (Liverpool)) teams always rotate. As a manger he will surly look at fixtures that he can use to rest for bigger/harder opponents. Unless you seem to think that player never suffer from fatigue?
I have no idea what most of the above means but having a consistent CB pairing in the the PL has yielded great results over the years.
You have no idea what the above means? :kaboullol:
aulinhofacepalm:I agree that a consistent CB pairing in the the PL has yielded great results over the years but we have more to think about.... Europa, FA cup and the league cup or did you forget that we have more than just 38 fixtures every weekend?
Yes - we can focus on the cups as well - but don't fuck about with our PL CB pairing - end of.You have no idea what the above means? :kaboullol:
I agree that a consistent CB pairing in the the PL has yielded great results over the years but we have more to think about.... Europa, FA cup and the league cup or did you forget that we have more than just 38 fixtures every weekend?
Who is our best CB pairing? None of them setting the world alight are they?
Kaboul - At least 1 or 2 brain farts every game leading to goals
Vertongen - Probably our best but liable to going in too early and getting beaten for pace
Fazio- Immense in the air but susceptible to balls in behind
Chirches - Devoid of confidence, complete disaster of a season so far
I appreciate that most players have some weakness and you need to have a CB pairing that compliment each other. I just don't think we have that. I can see why Kaboul is a first choice as he's the only one that has pace, but he makes too many errors. Not sure I know what the answer is tbh
Kaboul - At least 1 or 2 brain farts every game leading to goals
Vertongen - Probably our best but liable to going in too early and getting beaten for pace
Fazio- Immense in the air but susceptible to balls in behind
Chirches - Devoid of confidence, complete disaster of a season so far
I appreciate that most players have some weakness and you need to have a CB pairing that compliment each other. I just don't think we have that. I can see why Kaboul is a first choice as he's the only one that has pace, but he makes too many errors. Not sure I know what the answer is tbh
Fatigue matters. You need to rotate the players to make sure the minutes don't wind up in the red zone.
I think the problems we face are partly down to players learning the system, and partly down to some of our players being mistake prone.
The CM/DM don't drop back so quickly to cover the CBs when our fullbacks go forward. Which leaves the CBs exposed, and then causes errors. But the centrebacks don't seem to be on the same page about how high a line they should play, and who's covering what in the ball-over-the-top counter-attacks we face.
We seem to have a lot of trouble picking up the late runners, and cutting off passes to them. We also seem to be hesitant to challenge players early. We'll meet them, and then cover them, but still give them time with the ball to then make the play they choose. I think we should be more aggressive in challenging the player early, and forcing a choice they didn't want to make.
These seem like individual things for each player to work on, and that kind of coaching takes a lot of time to have an effect. Still, we've seen the improvements in Rose, Townsend and Chadli this year. We should be patient and give our defence time to develop as well.
We might see Dier at CB pretty soon!
For the time being I'd stick with Kaboul and Vertonghen as first choice. The potential is there.
In case it doesn't start working in the next say, half a dozen games, then we probably have to buy in January...
Pretty sure the russian owned pricks play midweek too and they make max 2 changes to their back 4.
It's always 4 out of Terry, Cahill, Zouma, Ivanovic, Azpelicantbefuckedspellingit & Luis. We have too many options and its actually a hindrance. Naughton, Dier, Kaboul, JV, Fazio, Chiriches, Rose & Davies all get rotated through our back 4
It's always 4 out of Terry, Cahill, Zouma, Ivanovic, Azpelicantbefuckedspellingit & Luis. We have too many options and its actually a hindrance. Naughton, Dier, Kaboul, JV, Fazio, Chiriches, Rose & Davies all get rotated through our back 4
Fazio - loves a red ticket
Before Kaboul was made captan (esentially rendering him an automatic starter if fit/available) - I would have gone with Dier / Verts
Now - I would go with Dier / Kaboul with Verts and Walker out wide. Rose and Naughton as far away as possible.
Switch to Fazio / Verts in EL / cup games