Defence Under AVB

[Syn_13]

We absolutely need to work on set pieces.

Paulinho should help, he looks handy in the air.

 

[Mullers]

So keep Hugo and get a new right back

Simples

Fyp

 

[StartingPrice]

I think we had a shaky start, then through the late autumn/winter period the team got to grips to the system and we looked as defensively secure as we have done for god knows how long with Lloris sweeping up everything. Then towards the end of the season form definitely dipped and we started leaking goals again.

Yeah, I think I alluded to that in the intro - it is just a feeling have that we were looking really solid during the central portion of the season, after the squad began to acclimatize to AVB's methods, but then lost that defensive solidity a touch when Sandro was injured (no slight on Scott Parker intended). Unfortunately, the stats don't show whether that that feeling is correct or not.

This is why I see question marks over his future. He plays his best football in the middle third of the pitch. As you said, he's a bit weak defensively, sometimes too naive and gives away silly fouls/pens, and he just doesn't attack the final third enough at all. In a 4-4-2, when supported by a left mid he's a good option as he plays a support role, even if he won't overlap, hence doing well under Redknapp when linking with Bale who was so offensive that it didn't require an overlapping support. If we transition into a 4-3-3 he won't be so effective. You'll find the wide forwards tucking in which means that the wide options in attack will come from the attacking full back, with the centre/defensive mids providing cover for that full back. Unlike Walker, BAE won't be as inclined to do this whereas I can see a player like Rose, albeit not as developed as Ekotto, being more successful. I actually think Walker was very succesful in his first year with us because he didn't really have Lennon in front of him so had full reign of that right hand side, which is why he looked such a beast. Lennon helps out the defensive better than any winger I know, which is a great testament to his work rate, but it may limit Walker by having that winger in front of him, whereas Ekotto works better in that kind of system. I can see Walker doing a lot better in a 4-3-3 system.

I like Benny, and he's a good option to have, but he may not fit the style we want to adopt, especially if he doesn't have a left mid in front of him to provide support to. It's going to be tough because he'll have a lot of pressure from Rose who will be desperate to prove himself to further develop his career. Benny has already admitted to his laissez-faire attitude towards football so perhaps he won't be so bothered about not playing as many games. I think Rose and Ekotto would be good enough for us, at least until Jan anyway, as IMO, we need to focus on our striker situation first.

I pretty much agree with this: I don't want to start the LB debate here, as there is a thread for it - I just see it that any consistency at LB is going to be better than last season, and on top of which Rose is an ex-winger and so should be pretty well suited to providing the width in attack. I wouldn't theoretically have any objection if Levy/AVB/Franky went out and acquired one of the most amazing full-backs ever seen, I just don't see it as a priority ATM.
Do think Benny would want to play, however, the laissez-faire

 

[jedimonkey]

Nice article find, SP.

I saw another article some time last season saying that we were in the top 10 teams in Europe for allowing the least number of shots on goal as well. Only EPL team ahead of us was City.

 

[StartingPrice]

Paulinho should help, he looks handy in the air.

Let's hope so

 

[StartingPrice]

Nice article find, SP.

I saw another article some time last season saying that we were in the top 10 teams in Europe for allowing the least number of shots on goal as well. Only EPL team ahead of us was City.

Yeah, I remember something similar. Like I said, above, I have this feeling that it was in the mid season period when the team was improving due to adapting to AVB's methods a a touch better, while Sandro and Dembélé had a good partnership going. And it went when Sandro was injured, Dembélé was played before full recovery and never established a working partnership with Parker on the same level.
I don;t want to just blame Parker - he was better at winning the ball and giving it to a ball player (ala Modric), and his tendency to drive forward (to disappointing effect, usually) may have been influenced by Defoe going on his annual post-Chrimbo beano and Adebayor, well, just going on a beano.
It would be interesting if the stats could show whether this was a genuine memory or not.