(21-01-2024, 09:57 AM)Salvatore Matrecano Wrote: I’m convinced following yesterday this deserves its own thread. Too many people are bleating about possible points reductions but at the rate we are going thats not what will relegate us, its the fact we play quite well, get ourselves ahead and then concede, usually to a defensive mistake.

That was 2 of the 3 goals yesterday. The third was just a good goal. This is the Premier League and we need to accept that sometimes teams will score the odd blinder and there’s not much you can do. Therefore we need to cut out the soft ones.

Whats the problem?
Set pieces are one thing. The stat put on screen yesterday was we have conceded 11 goals from set pieces the worst in the league 

Personnel.
Its obvious fingers will be pointed at this one.
Last season we eventually came up with a relatively settled back line
Navas, Aurier, Boly Felipe Worrall Lodi
This season I haven’t got a clue how we will line up at the back one game to the next, we don’t seem to have a regular choice in any position either goalkeeper, Centre back or Full back.

Our squad has:
5 goalkeepers 
7 centre backs
6 full backs
Think Nuno needs to choose his men and stick to a plan but is it any wonder he is confused.

Leadership and tactics.
I question how sensible it is to have 2 raw centre backs playing however good they are. Everyone says how good Murillo is and that he is learning therefore will make a few mistakes. Thats fine but how many is acceptable? 
We badly miss Felipe from last season organising the back line in my opinion.

Recruitment.
The thorny issue. Are we stronger in number but weaker in quality than last season? But whats done is done and we need to make the best of what we have.
Any suggestions welcome, Im sure Nuno would welcome them too.

(21-01-2024, 10:37 AM)zicorice Wrote: This thread is the one that highlights what is keeping me awake at night. Teavelling from Blackpool to Brentford  to Bristol in 9 days, we find every possible way of conceding so far.

It's definitely quantity over quality at present. I think it shows how good Felipe was last season too. I'd take any offer on any of our Centre backs that gives a profit right now.

(21-01-2024, 11:14 AM)Jacksbadhobbits Wrote:

(21-01-2024, 10:37 AM)zicorice Wrote: This thread is the one that highlights what is keeping me awake at night. Teavelling from Blackpool to Brentford  to Bristol in 9 days, we find every possible way of conceding so far.

It's definitely quantity over quality at present. I think it shows how good Felipe was last season too. I'd take any offer on any of our Centre backs that gives a profit right now.

The free kick was the goal that hurt us most yesterday. Brentford hadn’t had a sniff up until then. It gave them a massive lift. It was the type of goal you see in schoolboy football. It was a terrible mistake by Mangala in the first place and what followed was amateurish. We are desperate for a decent keeper

(21-01-2024, 08:45 PM)pennhillred Wrote: Sincere apologies if it’s been mentioned elsewhere, but by my reckoning, that’s the 5th time this season we’ve lost 3-2 after being in the lead at some point. And that’s crazy.

And so many of those goals were soft and avoidable.

If only we can cut these types of goals out, we’ll be really looking up.

Hopefully we can fix this soon, which for me means we have to get a new goalie this window but the rest of the defence have to step up too.

(22-01-2024, 11:31 AM)Salvatore Matrecano Wrote:

(21-01-2024, 08:45 PM)pennhillred Wrote: Sincere apologies if it’s been mentioned elsewhere, but by my reckoning, that’s the 5th time this season we’ve lost 3-2 after being in the lead at some point. And that’s crazy.

And so many of those goals were soft and avoidable.

If only we can cut these types of goals out, we’ll be really looking up.

Hopefully we can fix this soon, which for me means we have to get a new goalie this window but the rest of the defence have to step up too.

Unbelievably we have been in 8 games where the scoreline finished 3-2 since we returned to the PL.

We have lost all 8.

(22-01-2024, 11:46 AM)Shawoddyred Wrote:

(22-01-2024, 11:31 AM)Salvatore Matrecano Wrote:

(21-01-2024, 08:45 PM)pennhillred Wrote: Sincere apologies if it’s been mentioned elsewhere, but by my reckoning, that’s the 5th time this season we’ve lost 3-2 after being in the lead at some point. And that’s crazy.

And so many of those goals were soft and avoidable.

If only we can cut these types of goals out, we’ll be really looking up.

Hopefully we can fix this soon, which for me means we have to get a new goalie this window but the rest of the defence have to step up too.

Unbelievably we have been in 8 games where the scoreline finished 3-2 since we returned to the PL.

We have lost all 8.

..... takes note for predictions league.....

(27-01-2024, 08:50 AM)Sniffer Dog (Admin) Wrote: A clean sheet last night and Turner didn't really have a save to make.

A nice positive to take from the match.