Our defence

[Ads]

Don’t care about 18 months of evidence? Cool.

Not forgetting Spurs, Ipswich, Palace, (bizarre when Konsa didn’t play(, Liverpool.

But definitely forgetting Bayern, Young Boys, Bologna, Man Utd.

Not very scientific really is it?

It's definitely not scientific when Cash played v Man U

Yes, I remember his through ball to Rashford.

Was that one of the games Ads mentioned then?

The one where Carlos played a Palace player in because he's so error prone. Time has ticked on. It's irrelevant what happened in August 23 or whenever.

[Percy McCarthy]

Don’t care about 18 months of evidence? Cool.

Not forgetting Spurs, Ipswich, Palace, (bizarre when Konsa didn’t play(, Liverpool.

But definitely forgetting Bayern, Young Boys, Bologna, Man Utd.

Not very scientific really is it?

It's definitely not scientific when Cash played v Man U

Yes, I remember his through ball to Rashford.

Was that one of the games Ads mentioned then?

The one where Carlos played a Palace player in because he's so error prone. Time has ticked on. It's irrelevant what happened in August 23 or whenever.

You would say that. Your preferred defence was letting loads in against Newcastle and Liverpool. Who would have thought that that clown show would keep clean sheets against Man City and Arsenal three months later? Oh, they didn’t.

I’m surprised you think our games v Young Boys, Bayern, Bologna and Man Utd are irrelevant though. All that money for what?

[VillaTim]

17 goals conceded already , worst defence in the top 10 .
It needs sorting as an absolute priority and if that means leaving Torres out so be it

[eye digress]

Is the defence the priority though?

I don’t mean to be glib, but football is about scoring and not conceding.

For me, the more worrisome dimension at the moment is our attacking play.

Maybe we could have a poll on that?

[Sexual Ealing]

Is the defence the priority though?

I don’t mean to be glib, but football is about scoring and not conceding.

For me, the more worrisome dimension at the moment is our attacking play.

Maybe we could have a poll on that?

Agreed. I don't want Unai to turn into John Gregory or O'Neill in the hunt for clean sheets. Kick the fuck out of the opposition at the other end of the pitch.

[VillaTim]

Is the defence the priority though?

I don’t mean to be glib, but football is about scoring and not conceding.

For me, the more worrisome dimension at the moment is our attacking play.

Maybe we could have a poll on that?

Build from the back, a strong defence is the starting point and a foundation to build upon . Playing football like Kevin Keegan's Newcastle only ends one way

[Ads]

My prefered defence hasn't played together yet. It definitely doesn't contain our best centre half at right back where he's been poor this season or where it includes Carlos giving a goal away.

We've not played Newcastle yet and we just let in 2 last night against Liverpool. I'm not sure you watch the games.

Evidence for that would be that, despite playing really well and dominating Bologna, they created 4 chances. Bailey doing a Carlos notwithstanding, every attack of purpose was to get between the space of Konsa and Carlos. Konsa being drawn out, Carlos not getting tight. Just poor. It doesn't pass the eye test and is an obvious vulnerability. But, yes, it was a clean sheet so that means it's the best or something.

[Percy McCarthy]

My prefered defence hasn't played together yet. It definitely doesn't contain our best centre half at right back where he's been poor this season or where it includes Carlos giving a goal away.

We've not played Newcastle yet and we just let in 2 last night against Liverpool. I'm not sure you watch the games.

Evidence for that would be that, despite playing really well and dominating Bologna, they created 4 chances. Bailey doing a Carlos notwithstanding, every attack of purpose was to get between the space of Konsa and Carlos. Konsa being drawn out, Carlos not getting tight. Just poor. It doesn't pass the eye test and is an obvious vulnerability. But, yes, it was a clean sheet so that means it's the best or something.

Preferred to the one that concedes fewer goals I meant. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.

Anyway I think not conceding goals, even if it looks ;(to Ads) like we might, is better than letting goals in, but looking (to Ads) like we won’t.

If anything, I think your way would be more fun for fans of the teams we play.  Have you thought about pitching it to them?

[pauliewalnuts]

Oh god, please make it stop.

It's the new Luke Young saga.

[Mister E]

Is the defence the priority though?
I don’t mean to be glib, but football is about scoring and not conceding.
For me, the more worrisome dimension at the moment is our attacking play.
Maybe we could have a poll on that?

I think you answered your own question in statement 2. Not conceding is a first principle of the game: yes, if we score more than the opposition menas we win, but if we don't score we certainly should avoid conceding.

[AV82EC]

Oh god, please make it stop.

It's the new Luke Young saga.

I’m sorry but this is H & V we’re on and if someone is going to die on a proverbial statistical hill then it’s going to be here.

[Chip Butty 111]

We've been messing about with different players in defence all season. Right back was a priority in the summer if Ned wasn't ready for the 1st team. FWIW I think he's OK. Taking our best CB and moving him to RB has left us looking vulnerable and Torres/Mings/Carlos seem error prone in a pair without Konsa. We have lost the chemistry in defence and also in midfield from last season, and up front we look powder puff, Watkins seems to have lost his confidence and a yard, Bailey doesn't look fit and Philogene loses the ball for fun. Despite this we are 1 point off third in the table and in the hunt still. I'd spend on a continental right back in January as a priority,  and I'd also consider playing Maatsen in front of Digne as a wide attacking midfielder.

[VillaTim]

Increasingly it's looking like RB is Emery's blind spot . Square pegs in round holes won't work in this league or the ECL. My top target would be Dumfries but not sure we have the financial wriggle room for him . This is where Monchi needs to earn his corn, go out and find us a quality RB bargain as I don't think Ned is quite ready yet , neither is Bogarde as we've seen .

[Percy McCarthy]

Increasingly it's looking like RB is Emery's blind spot . Square pegs in round holes won't work in this league or the ECL.

See, this is the kind of madness that keeps this subject on the boil. We’ve conceded 1 goal in 4 ECL games. Not a one in open play.

How is it not working?

[VillaTim]

Increasingly it's looking like RB is Emery's blind spot . Square pegs in round holes won't work in this league or the ECL.

See, this is the kind of madness that keeps this subject on the boil. We’ve conceded 1 goal in 4 ECL games. Not a one in open play.

How is it not working?

If you look at it overall rather than just those 4 games it really doesn't work (in my opinion) Konsa is a CB not a RB, our goals against in the Prem is the worst in the top 10 , he offers very little going forward down the right wing , look at the Ipswich game where he plunders away possession instead of a simple pass and bang they catch us and score . I like Konsa but he's a CB