Considering Lee Clark played 477 games, most in the Premier League, as a full back it seems odd that our weakness over the past 3 years has been our inability to defend properly.
You'd have thought if he knew anything at all, it would be how to set up a defence.
So what did Lee learn from his 477 games...if not how to defend properly. Then you have to consider many of those games were for Newcastle, who have a notorious reputation for leaky defences, so maybe there is a clue there ?
We have talented midfield players, and decent forwards but the whole thing collapses it seems due to defensive frailties.
Firstly our inability to defend crosses. Then it's positional play and awareness, followed by rashness and errors. Finally it's distribution from the back..by which I mean bringing the ball down, controlling it and finding our midfielders so that we can build through the talent we have.
Whenever I watch footy on TV, I'm always impressed how many centre backs have decent skills, awareness and a bit of pace. They carry the ball forward and then distribute it accurately, and if it breaks down they fall back and receive the ball again and try again.
It seems comical that we are still debating this, because everybody knows when building a team you start by building from the back.
We've tried loads of combinations, which frustratingly work really well for one game, then go haywire the next.
Maybe Alex Bruce is part of the solution, and after a couple more games I'm sure he'll get better still. So who do we put next to him...McCombe, Kay, Clarke...? I suppose Kay will get the chance on Boxing day, and hopefully that 'gells'. Is it somewhere we should be looking to bring in a loanee in january, and if so, who?
If we can just stabalise the centre back positions, I'm sure both full backs will benefit and certainly the midfield will...and hence the strikers..
We might just be one player short of a promotion side now, and that is another centre back...calm, skillfull and a leader of men. Perhaps LC should be looking there rather than at Ben Marshall and Iain Hume ?
defensive frailties
posted on 18/12/11
Darn, are you causing trouble ??
Hopefully the new central defensive partnership next week will have a blinder, to keep Clarke out !!
posted on 18/12/11
Could be the 2nd game in a run of 43 unbeaten...?
Most of LC's 'best' decisions have come about be accident ie injury and suspension..Kay has a chance to make the centre back position his own, and what better game than against a team at the bottom of the league ?
Darn is a well know provocateur...
posted on 18/12/11
One thing to address is that Jack Hunt isn't a full back - he's a right winger.
On centre halves - Nathan Clarke should be back soon - will he come into the equation? For me he's better than Boom Boom and his long throw is an added asset.
posted on 18/12/11
Nathan Clarke makes more mistakes than Kay and Boom Boom put together...he's been out on loan all over the place and no one wants him, they can't all be wrong.
If we are serious about promotion this time, then splash the cash on a quality centre back ....you know it makes sense.
posted on 18/12/11
Jackie Hunt is definatley not a winger, He may well be a good attacking full back one day, sooner rather than later if he has a good commanding centre half who is a leader, can bring the ball out with confidence and is not only reliable but as tuff as old boots (a cross between Kilkline n Morrison ), Not likely i know, But until then Hunt imo is a one trick pony, knock it past and run around, Ok until they have a left back with pace too.
posted on 18/12/11
Why would you sign Marshall over us, there's no chance of that happening. (A bit like when Afobe was suggested)
Also, only 2 of our loan players are crucial to our season so far, Batth and Marshall.
Batth almost guaranteed to return with Marshall less likely, still fancy him to stay til end of season at least.
Unlike yourselves we're not a 1 man team, when you lose rhodes in jan you'll be even more screwed as the only person that looked dangerous yesterday was Rhodes. Good luck without him.
posted on 18/12/11
Running scared these Wednesady boys now, wait till after the next 4 Laegue games & look at the League table then.
Ps Rhodes WON'T go anywere in Jan........
He might do in the summer even WHEN we go up !!
posted on 18/12/11
if marshalls agent is likely to more cash with a town deal and marshall more wages then he will be a town player whether u like it or not
posted on 18/12/11
We might just be one player short of a promotion side now, and that is another centre back...calm, skillfull and a leader of men. Perhaps LC should be looking there rather than at Ben Marshall and Iain Hume ?
posted on 18/12/11
Wise