Will we ever keep a clean sheet again?

There has undoubtedly been an issue with injuries, but right now I see two major issues - terrible set-piece defending and too many individuals further up the pitch not engaged in defending as a team.

Set pieces needs a change in approach. We're not nearly aggressive enough at attacking the ball when defending set pieces, so the solution might be as simple as to properly use some physicality and risk the odd penalty instead of just standing and watching them score week after week. If that's not on the table, either different marking systems or going "full Claudio" and leaving 3 men up the field to put the pressure on delivery. Considering that we're conceding anyway, the latter feels like a "we might as well" option.

For the problem with engagement in defending, that's partly an attitude thing and partly a personnel thing. As much as he's maligned, Perez in engaged with defending. So is Albrighton. Lookman not so much, Barnes barely even understands there is such a thing as defending. And then there's Soumare. I thought for a while that he looked like a talent that needed some time to settle and overcome his obvious issues. I'm now horribly suspicious that he's a player who just doesn't have any interest in the game when he doesn't have the ball at his feet. Just watch his movement off the ball, whether we're in possession or not. He ambles, rarely gets into a sprint and only acts and gives some token effort when he realises - usually two seconds too late - that it was his responsibility to do something. He's being absolutely carried, and it's no wonder that the team's constantly under pressure when we have someone like that playing in central midfield.

Our signings this summer just gone have been largely poor. If I was at the top of the club hierarchy, I'd be asking serious questions about recruitment.

Soumare came with all the right reviews Dunge, it just seems that he may be a good example of where the lower intensity of the French league masked some of the glaring issues you’ve flagged.

Like all new players, I won’t write him off for a season, but boy does he need to up his fitness and physicality if he’s going to succeed in this league. He’s like a poor man’s Pogba currently but with less rubbish hair.

Dunge: re going "full Claudio" and leaving 3 men up the field to put the pressure on delivery. Considering that we're conceding anyway, the latter feels like a "we might as well" option.

I couldn’t agree more. With 3 lurking near the half way line, that means at least 3 of the opposition have to stay back, which gives more space in the six yard box for Kasper to come and catch crosses. Dream on. Perhaps it’s time for Ward to get a sniff.
And as for Soumare, given his youth, he clearly should be a lot more mobile than he has shown to date. In Tielemans absence, Dewsbury-Hall is far more capable and should be starting.

Joby - a brilliantly scripted post; well said.

And then there's Soumare. I thought for a while that he looked like a talent that needed some time to settle and overcome his obvious issues. I'm now horribly suspicious that he's a player who just doesn't have any interest in the game when he doesn't have the ball at his feet. Just watch his movement off the ball, whether we're in possession or not. He ambles, rarely gets into a sprint and only acts and gives some token effort when he realises - usually two seconds too late - that it was his responsibility to do something. He's being absolutely carried, and it's no wonder that the team's constantly under pressure when we have someone like that playing in central midfield.
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This. Just this.

comment by old warwick fox (U11640)
posted 49 minutes ago
Dunge: re going "full Claudio" and leaving 3 men up the field to put the pressure on delivery. Considering that we're conceding anyway, the latter feels like a "we might as well" option.

I couldn’t agree more. With 3 lurking near the half way line, that means at least 3 of the opposition have to stay back, which gives more space in the six yard box for Kasper to come and catch crosses. Dream on. Perhaps it’s time for Ward to get a sniff.
And as for Soumare, given his youth, he clearly should be a lot more mobile than he has shown to date. In Tielemans absence, Dewsbury-Hall is far more capable and should be starting.

Joby - a brilliantly scripted post; well said.
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We do not need to put three players on the half way line. Just the sight of Vardy hovering around the centre spot would be sufficient to terrify most defences into leaving several of their better, potentially taller, defenders back. Preferable for them to be occupied away from our goal than attacking it.

Add in Barnes as well if you like, given that he is useless at defending.

We were hopeless last night until KDH came on for Soumare, afterwards we mostly dominated the game. Unfortunately I think that says everything you need to know about the performance of our latest midfield acquisition. Let's be kind and say he needs some more time to come to terms with the speed and intensity of the Premier League.

At least we managed to show enough spirit to come back twice from a deficit, allowing a reasonable trip back on the bus getting back in the early hours this morning!

Things yer maw asked when you reached ‘that’ age

Some good suggestions here.

Step one. Drop Soumare and replace him with KDH. I’ve not been convinced by the latter either, but it’s reached that “may as well give him a try” stage
Step Two. Get Tielemans back fit ASAP
Step Three. Try something different in the defence. Go man to man or leave one or two upfield. We’ve got good candidates in Barnes and Vardy to do that job
Step Four. Hope we get the likes of Justin, Fofana and Ricardo back fit ASAP

It’s interesting that nobody is suggesting we change personnel with the likes of Vestergaard and Bertrand available to come in. What wasteful signings they were!

I wonder if we should swallow some pride and do something in January. Maybe offer £15m and Jannik Vestergaard for Tarkowski from Burnley - or maybe £10m without JV.

comment by TheBlackCountry (U22512)
posted 8 hours, 30 minutes ago
You are having a decent season to be fair. You can’t keep over achieving in this league year after year. A couple of seasons that end with you greater than the sum of your parts, is all you can hope for.
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It’s always helpful when fans of other teams come onto our board to tell us that we should just be grateful for what we’ve got - with no further analysis. With that level of insight you should really consider a future career as a pundit on Sky Sports in you’re not already.

With our unprecedented and horrendous run of injuries you could argue we over achieved last season and this season (currently 8th) is around where we should be. If you actually watched our matches you’d know that there is a massive difference in form of individual players between this and last season though.

With a fully fit squad (Tielemans, Ricardo, Fofana and Justin all back) and no further injuries allowing for consistency of selection I wouldn’t just be hoping that we’d be challenging for top six, but expecting it. That may not be the case after next summer when we’re likely to lose more of our best players (particularly Tielemans).

There are three really good teams in this league, but really not that much between the rest down to about 15th. Leicester City fans won’t be the only set of fans bemoaning a lack of consistency and luck with injuries.

But let’s just all stick to our position in the food chain eh and not let any thoughts of further ambition trouble us - even if we do have potentially the best squad in our entire history and a rare opportunity to capitalise.

Yes, when fofana returns

I thought it was supposed to Happen when Evans returned?