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Conceding too many goals


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Whatever the result today I think there can be no doubt that we are conceding too many goals. Despite the good form so far this season I hope Adkins is looking to address this situation as that is now 10 conceded in 8 matches. There will come a time when the strikers will dry up so we need to work on keeping more clean sheets. I guess Seaborne's injury may not have helped but 3 defensive changes today is a sign that there is an issue and Adkins is trying to address it. Let’s just hope he succeeds and quickly.

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In part, the midfielders don't give the full backs enough protection - both our widemen, Lallana and Guly, like to come in-field which gives the opposition plenty of space down the wings. Contributes to our fluidity going forward but makes us vulnerable defensively. Its a particular problem against conventional 4-4-2s.

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Apart from Fonte that was a completely new back 4.

 

Thats true to an extent; but, with this formation/line-up, we've been gifting teams space down the flanks for a while. I didn't go today but the commentary suggested that Guly and Lallana weren't doubling up with the FBs while Forest were using the overlap v.well.

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In part, the midfielders don't give the full backs enough protection - both our widemen, Lallana and Guly, like to come in-field which gives the opposition plenty of space down the wings.

 

Spot on, that's exactly what happened today. It left Fox and Cork completely exposed and neither seemed to be able to deal with that, especially when Forest's full-backs bolstered the attack.

 

At the same time I'm still fairly happy as long as we're able to capitalise on our own chances and take the 'score one more than you' approach. You have to give opposition teams credit as well, it's not always just because we've been defending poorly.

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In part, the midfielders don't give the full backs enough protection - both our widemen, Lallana and Guly, like to come in-field which gives the opposition plenty of space down the wings. Contributes to our fluidity going forward but makes us vulnerable defensively. Its a particular problem against conventional 4-4-2s.

 

Nut and shell

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We are conceding a few goals, but anyone who thought we'd concede the same as last season, or less, is off their rocker.

 

We'll loose more games this year too, it's the nature of being in a higher league.

 

Talk about getting your excuses in early......

 

I am sure NA wont see it like that and dismiss it so easily.

 

I think some of our tomfoolery in the transfer market over the summer is coming home to roost.

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Talk about getting your excuses in early......

 

I am sure NA wont see it like that and dismiss it so easily.

 

I think some of our tomfoolery in the transfer market over the summer is coming home to roost.

 

I'm not getting my excuses in early.

 

But it looks like you're building up your ammunition ready to go full throttle when we lose.

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Alpine you are always looking for a reaction, but lets be honest if you take 3 starters out of a regular back 4 against tough opposition its not going to be perfect is it?

 

I agree. But this isnt a one match issue. There was a lead up to NA NEEDING to change 3/4 of the defence. It came to a head against Leicester in the first half.

 

I saw issues with the defence in the Leeds game.

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Talk about getting your excuses in early......

 

I am sure NA wont see it like that and dismiss it so easily.

 

I think some of our tomfoolery in the transfer market over the summer is coming home to roost.

 

Quite. We've only won seven of our first eight games this season. I don't think you need any more proof that we have made a serious mistake over the summer to be honest.

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I agree. But this isnt a one match issue. There was a lead up to NA NEEDING to change 3/4 of the defence. It came to a head against Leicester in the first half.

 

I saw issues with the defence in the Leeds game.

 

We will be attacked more in this league, teams will create more chances against us, because it's a higher level. We don't have the likes of Yeovil, Wallsall, Tranmere with their ''potent'' attacks.

 

We're up against players like Miller, Derbyshire, Zigic, Chorpa etc....a total jump in the level, anyone who didn't think we'd conceded a few more goals is expecting a little too much from this team.

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In part, the midfielders don't give the full backs enough protection - both our widemen, Lallana and Guly, like to come in-field which gives the opposition plenty of space down the wings. Contributes to our fluidity going forward but makes us vulnerable defensively. Its a particular problem against conventional 4-4-2s.

 

This is it in a nutshell. A lot of our sublime attacking play comes from Guly and Lallana being more attacking than defensive. I thought against Leeds we had the balance correct, maybe that was more to do with Leeds than ourselves though. I would prefer us to set up more defensively as I believe it is the far more practical method of achieving points. Always comparing our style to Brightons and have to admit they will bring home the points more often than not, we just expose ourselves to much.

 

I tend to agree with Adkins that for the forwards we have, we are playing the correct system although we could be more careful of exposing the holes so often. I feel if we had a strong, pacey forward we could play an attacking game whilst being more solid defensively, but that is just conjecture. The football we are playing is superb, so I'll just wait and see where Adkins takes us.

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Surely 3 2 is a usually a better game than 1 0

 

I'm sure if we were winning matches 1-0 instead of 3-2 people would be complaining that we're playing boring football.

 

We're conceding more than the others in the top 6 positions. But we're also scoring more. If you want to shore up at the back, you're going to sacrifice some attacking play and not score as many.

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I agree. But this isnt a one match issue. There was a lead up to NA NEEDING to change 3/4 of the defence. It came to a head against Leicester in the first half.

 

I saw issues with the defence in the Leeds game.

 

So we concede 3 against the team who are favourites to win the league and lose by the odd goal. Concede 2 against the second favourites and still win by the odd goal. In the other 4 league games this season, we've only conceded 3 goals, winning all of them. All in our first year after being promoted to a higher quality division, and you think we need to change 3 of our back 4? Having a laugh.

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We're gonna score one more than you!!!!!!!!!!

 

There are 2 ways to win a football match:

 

1. Score more goals than the opposition (ala Kevin Keegan)

2. Concede fewer goals than the opposition (ala George Graham)

 

The first gives us exciting matches; the second, very boring ones.

 

The style of football we play tends more towards the former (as Shurlock said).

 

Moreover, there are some very good teams in this league with some very good forwards. It has always been clearly obvious we will concede more goals than last season. Especially so when playing teams like Leicester with the money they have spent followed by a very good Forest side where we had to change 3 of our 4 defenders due to injury.

 

Still, it's nice to see continuity..... thanks for not disappointing us Alps!

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Adkins knows we had defensive concerns, he signed 2 defenders... both of whom made their debuts in a makeshift back 4, missing the shield of Cork in the MF, against a team with a useful attack....

 

So it's likely we were looking at the solution today but not in ideal circumstances. A lot of Defenders look shakey until they've settled in, so I'll reserve judgement until I've seen them play a good few games together. Hoping to get along and see Jos in action next game so then I'll have seen him myself.

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Whatever the result today I think there can be no doubt that we are conceding too many goals. Despite the good form so far this season I hope Adkins is looking to address this situation as that is now 10 conceded in 8 matches. There will come a time when the strikers will dry up so we need to work on keeping more clean sheets. I guess Seaborne's injury may not have helped but 3 defensive changes today is a sign that there is an issue and Adkins is trying to address it. Let’s just hope he succeeds and quickly.

 

yep, wish we more like Birmingham in 22nd place but having conceded less. This league is not about winning games, gaining points or enjoying good football but about conceding less- hang your head in shame Adkins.

 

Talk about getting your excuses in early......

 

I am sure NA wont see it like that and dismiss it so easily.

 

I think some of our tomfoolery in the transfer market over the summer is coming home to roost.

 

Adkins needs to explain and be made to account for our poor start - his tomfoolery in the preparation for this season has lead to a disappointing start. Winning 7 out of 8 is not good enough, he can make a weak attempt at a excuse saying that defeat was away to league favorites, we were the better team for a lot of the game and we did score 2 goals, but you are right - we have come into this season unprepared and looking weak.

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NickG and the rest who are having a pop. It is a concern that I am sure Adkins is addressing (especially after listening to his comments about the defence in the after match radio interview http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14773061.stm) and in no way was I having a pop at Adkins but just raising a concern and opening up a debate. Is there really any need for the childish sarcasm when people want to talk about something that perhaps you do not perceive as important? Why not open read and then close the thread without making your reactionary and childish remarks. A few of you really need to take a look at yourselves and do some growing up. This is the main reason few people want to open up threads for debate on here these days because of reactions from trolls like you.

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Adkins would be a fool not to be continually assessing, reviewing and seeking improvement all over the pitch. There is clearly room for this in defence and of course is valid topic for debate. I had concerns yesterday about the defence and am not sure about the new CB.

 

Equally only a fool would say that our start to the season shows an unprofessional preseason (and he did say it!).

 

Is it more likely that our forwards will dry up? Or our defence will improve (when Jaidi, Seaborne, Richardson, Harding, Butterfield return to fitness and new guy settles in?)

 

I would love a Svenson to play alongside Fonte and am sure Adkins would too but see little to worry about so far this season.

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