If l had a criticism....

[MrSnuggles]

It's just my opinion as a fan of 40+ yearsand objective supporter. When we are winning by one goal the last 10 minutes are uncomfortable to watch when we are sitting deep and constantly defending. Of course teams are going to press for the equaliser but without anyone up the field to hold the ball up and relieve the pressure, or better still run at their defense (and we have the players to do so), we are inviting the ball to be punted back into our box. Fortunately we have an amazing back 5 who deal with most of the threats but l wouldn't be as confident if Dunk and Duffy weren't playing

 

[whitelion]

What about Preston, came back from 2 - 1

The stat quoted was that we win every game where we score first - 15 this season. Where the opposition score first - 9 times we have won three drawn three and lost three and top that particular statistic for resilience.

 

[Triggaaar]

We'll have been the first championship team EVER to be top of the league with 60 points from fewer than 30 games to FAIL to be champions

You wanna bet?

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

You wanna bet?

bet on what? I'm lost in a maze of alternate realities!

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

It's just my opinion as a fan of 40+ yearsand objective supporter. When we are winning by one goal the last 10 minutes are uncomfortable to watch when we are sitting deep and constantly defending. Of course teams are going to press for the equaliser but without anyone up the field to hold the ball up and relieve the pressure, or better still run at their defense (and we have the players to do so), we are inviting the ball to be punted back into our box. Fortunately we have an amazing back 5 who deal with most of the threats but l wouldn't be as confident if Dunk and Duffy weren't playing

I guess its called playing to your strengths.

 

[Triggaaar]

The stat quoted was that we win every game where we score first

No it wasn't. The comment made was "We've won every game when we've taken the lead ...".
That's wrong (2 games). Sure, he could have said "we've won every game where we've scored first", but he didn't.
And in the context of this thread, defending a lead at the end of a game doesn't depend on whether we were first to score earlier in the game. We have failed at defending a lead twice (still not bad).

 

[Machiavelli]

If you would. We also took the lead against Reading, and failed to win.

Consider it done Master.

 

[Spiros]

Top of the league and eleven points clear of third you wouldn't think there is anything to criticise but one thing that puzzles me is when we take the lead, which we generally do, why do we start to sit deeper and deeper and bring all eleven players back behind the ball for opposition corners and free kicks? That just allows the opposition to push more men forward. We've pretty well got away with it for now but occasionally that's more by luck than judgement! (re Duffy's block from Noon last night).If we kept at least one player up by the half way line, like Wardy used to do, then generally they would have to keep two players back to mark him. It also provides an outlet to relieve the pressure rather than just having the ball punted up field and inviting the next long ball back!! Just saying...!!

I didn't used to like not leaving anyone up when we defend a corner, but we also do it even when we're not ahead. Several times this season we've scored from defending a set-piece with all 11 men behind the ball - when we win it we break quickly and before you know it we've scored.

I think we defend deeper after we've gone ahead because the opposition push at us more. Like Cardiff they tend to sit deep to invite us on.

 

[One Love]

The strategy of defensive stance to protect our lead in the closing stages used to annoy me. It's been so successful that now it doesn't, I just expect it.

The trouble is the statisticians have taken over football.

No doubt someone found out that you concede less goals defending a corner with all men back than leaving someone up front. Not sure if the fact that when you clear your lines you immediately lose possession again has been factored in but it probably has.

 

[Nixonator]

No it wasn't. The comment made was "We've won every game when we've taken the lead ...".
That's wrong (2 games). Sure, he could have said "we've won every game where we've scored first", but he didn't.
And in the context of this thread, defending a lead at the end of a game doesn't depend on whether we were first to score earlier in the game. We have failed at defending a lead twice (still not bad).

This.

Do not know why this stat was even quoted based on the topic. We defend leads and whilst i'm as uncomfortable as everyone else, CH plays the percentages. Aside from Preston at home I can't remember a time we've been leading and invited pressure which has resulted in us conceding. Reading maybe, but it's hard to remember anything about that game other than Kermogant's horror tackle at the end which still sees Liam out.

 

[whitelion]

No it wasn't. The comment made was "We've won every game when we've taken the lead ...".
That's wrong (2 games). Sure, he could have said "we've won every game where we've scored first", but he didn't.
And in the context of this thread, defending a lead at the end of a game doesn't depend on whether we were first to score earlier in the game. We have failed at defending a lead twice (still not bad).

Fair play.

I wonder if the OP meant scoring first though?

 

[Triggaaar]

I wonder if the OP meant scoring first though?

It doesn't matter, I'm not trying to give Machiavelli grief, just defending those that correctly mentioned Preston.

The point is, there are times when we defend a lead with an extra solid midfielder and it's a bit stressful to watch. It has worked most of the time (not quite all). There may be times when keeping a fast player near the half way line would help, we just don't know.

 

[biddles911]

The strategy of defensive stance to protect our lead in the closing stages used to annoy me. It's been so successful that now it doesn't, I just expect it.

The trouble is the statisticians have taken over football.

No doubt someone found out that you concede less goals defending a corner with all men back than leaving someone up front. Not sure if the fact that when you clear your lines you immediately lose possession again has been factored in but it probably has.

Can't say I like it but I accept that it has worked far more often than not, particularly this season.

What would help would be for Stockdale to catch the ball more often so we can get back into shape and play out from the back or punt upfield (Stockdale's pretty good at finding our forwards).

This is not an anti-Stockdale comment as I really rate him but his punching is not great and scrambled clearances by our defenders invariably keep coming back to us as OP observed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

This.

Do not know why this stat was even quoted based on the topic. We defend leads and whilst i'm as uncomfortable as everyone else, CH plays the percentages. Aside from Preston at home I can't remember a time we've been leading and invited pressure which has resulted in us conceding. Reading maybe, but it's hard to remember anything about that game other than Kermogant's horror tackle at the end which still sees Liam out.

Would love to see Kermogant nailed and out for a similar length of time. That tackle was worthy of a straight red.

If only Paul Clark was still playing.

 

[Don Tmatter]

Did notice Cardiff had 10 in our half (not on halfway line)for couple of their corners last night, did they do that because they've seen we don't leave anyone up when defending corners?

 

[Eric Youngs Contact Lense]

The other element of having everyone back is that it simply creates congestion, and it is just much harder to find a clear cut opportunity to score. Leaving one or two up front just creates more space to play in. For me, the reality of leaving one up at this level, is that the ball will still probably come straight back again and it can be harder to break quickly with one man that is marked tightly by two players. 10 players breaking from our box is harder to mark tightly and the opportunity for an accurate, quick throw or kick is greater. Doesn't apply in kids football where the defenders are likely to miss a long punt up front!

Am I on my own with this? I think filling our box at corners and free kicks makes sense.

 

[Finchley Seagull]

Would love to see Kermogant nailed and out for a similar length of time. That tackle was worthy of a straight red.

If only Paul Clark was still playing.

Equally great would be Rosenior scoring the winner in front of the Reading fans, after the abuse he got all game at the Madejski (including when stretchered off).

 

[Finchley Seagull]

No it wasn't. The comment made was "We've won every game when we've taken the lead ...".
That's wrong (2 games). Sure, he could have said "we've won every game where we've scored first", but he didn't.
And in the context of this thread, defending a lead at the end of a game doesn't depend on whether we were first to score earlier in the game. We have failed at defending a lead twice (still not bad).

Agreed. It is very good. And Reading scored pretty quickly after we did. I don't think it was a result of sitting back.

 

[Finchley Seagull]

Top of the league and eleven points clear of third you wouldn't think there is anything to criticise but one thing that puzzles me is when we take the lead, which we generally do, why do we start to sit deeper and deeper and bring all eleven players back behind the ball for opposition corners and free kicks? That just allows the opposition to push more men forward. We've pretty well got away with it for now but occasionally that's more by luck than judgement! (re Duffy's block from Noon last night).If we kept at least one player up by the half way line, like Wardy used to do, then generally they would have to keep two players back to mark him. It also provides an outlet to relieve the pressure rather than just having the ball punted up field and inviting the next long ball back!! Just saying...!!

We're far from alone. And to be honest, your comment about corners and free kicks often applies to when we're level with teams too. It's just the way we play.

I think it is very harsh to criticise this team at the moment. It seems like you just want something to complain about. Not saying that is true but it does seem that way to me.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Did notice Cardiff had 10 in our half (not on halfway line)for couple of their corners last night, did they do that because they've seen we don't leave anyone up when defending corners?

That was part of my point earlier. Had we left Knockaert upfront (who is unlikely to win a header anyway) they would have to drop 2 back. Were we to say leave Knockaert and March (both about 15 yds inside their respective touchlines) they most likely would have to drop 4 players back.

I'd love to see a manager go brave in these situations and see what happens...

Same with throw ins close to the opposition corner flag - I'd be intrigued to see what would happen if a team loaded the area around the throw in, and put a man (onside) in the box adjacent to the action.