Conceding Soft Goals

[Salvatore Matrecano]

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.

[BomberBowyer]

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.

Great points SM. I’d like to think Nuno and his coaching team know what we need to turn this around defensively but with AFCON, P&S and a bloated squad we are having to get by for now with what we have. 

Ideally for me we see one of Turner or Vlad along with Horath shipped out and replaced with an experienced and commanding PL standard keeper. Think that will help for one as will help give the defenders and other players confidence.  Then would be good to see the likes of Worrall, McKenna, Felipe, Tavares and as many of the fringe players/those that have been out on loan elsewhere like Bowler, Dennis etc shifted out to create space for an experienced CB, additional Winger and Striker option, though the latter maybe not as important as was with Wood’s current form and Taiwo due back soon. 

Having Boly, Niakathe and Aina back after AFCON will give us a bit of experience and quality in key positions back although one, if not both Boly and Niakathe seemingly are injury prone hence the thinking re bringing in aother experienced CB.

[zicorice]

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.

[Jacksbadhobbits]

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

[Paplane]

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

How many games this season have we had a talking point about a keeper issue?  Loads. Im now thinking unless we get a new keeper in were going down, such is the effect it's having.

[pennhillred]

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.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

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.

[Shawoddyred]

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.....

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

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.....

Looking at the table you could do with some help mate ::

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

A clean sheet last night and Turner didn't really have a save to make.

A nice positive to take from the match.

[Tricky]

A clean sheet last night and Turner didn't really have a save to make.

A nice positive to take from the match.

You can see why Turner is the USMNT first choice keeper! America, America's No1.............. :fishing:

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Bump.

We have just shipped 3 avoidable goals at home again.

This will relegate us if it continues.

It has to stop immediately or we are in serious trouble.