Our defenders are COWARDS!

[TaoistMonkey]

its not a coward thing to do its part of a human reaction. Get you mates to blast footballs at you from a yard or two out. The human brain takes over and goes for defence, you will protect parts of you body like the face from getting hit if you want to or not most of the time. They should have been closer but i wouldn't call them cowards

if your're not used to it yeah.

Kaboul should have charged at the ball a taken not only the ball but the player too.

but he gayed out of it.

 

[Bulletspur]

I think your poll is a bit one sided as it doesnt give one an option to vote to refute or disagree with your laughable suggestion. :shrug:

 

[Allen]

Have to agree too - even though this is a contemptious subject.

Dawson let us down really with his woeful close defending. He should have stood up to Adebayor for the 3rd goal.

And as for ball watching when Sagna run down the right side to the touchline and cut it back into the area.....what was Daws thinking?

Was he thinking that Sagna was going to march all the way into the goal?

He didn't even look behind him!

It was comical defending to say the least.

I trust that he was just a bit ring rusty.....

Or it'll be bad news for his rusty ring.....:wink:

We must get better at defending set pieces - it has been too bloody long.

Still - if your strikers aren't scoring,and they waste decent chances then what bloody hope have you got?

It's time the players pulled their bloody fingers out and knuckled down to some hard graft.

I won't part with another penny for this club until they do anyway.

The poor fans who shelled out for that ticket must be seething.

This is clutching at straws. Dawson always gives 100%; he's just back from injury and not match-fit.
Dawson has laid it down many a time for the team, so if you're trying to single him out, it's wrong.

Whether you're over the park or earning £70k a week... it means sod all to your nervous system and brain reaction.
Now there can be different levels of collective commitment, but this doesn't just turn up on match day. It's created by buying and deploying the adequate mentalities and a manager and captain on the pitch capable of seeing through that delivery on game day.

I think our defenders have been by far the most committed.

 

[Bulletspur]

This is clutching at straws. Dawson always gives 100%; he's just back from injury and not match-fit.
Dawson has laid it down many a time for the team, so if you're trying to single him out, it's wrong.

Whether you're over the park or earning £70k a week... it means sod all to your nervous system and brain reaction.
Now there can be different levels of collective commitment, but this doesn't just turn up on match day. It's created by buying and deploying the adequate mentalities and a manager and captain on the pitch capable of seeing through that delivery on game day.

I think our defenders have been by far the most committed.

Well said :hump: Even if our defenders arent up to standards expected of an EPL player, calling them cowards at the best smacks of desperation and fustration.

 

[TaoistMonkey]

against arse, for the goal, kaboul was a coward :up:

 

[Seanson]

Well said :hump: Even if our defenders arent up to standards expected of an EPL player, calling them cowards at the best smacks of desperation and fustration.

So I guess it would be alright for Robinson to turn his back to the ball instead of facing it. Why stop there, why should we expect our players to go for 50/50 balls, they might get hurt, now that wouldn't be right. Perhaps not only should the physical contact part of the game should be banned but being hit by the ball should be a rewarded by a free kick. Can't expect them to deny their natural instincts of self protection, not even for £30,000 a week. Next we will see Jol up in court for hurting his players feelings.

Amazing to see you posting that our defenders aren't premiership standard. Then of course it can't be the players fault that they are not tough enough. That would take some of the blame off Jol, and that wouldn't fit with the plan to get rid of Jol. Bolton must be glad that it is those "don't hit me I'm a Spurs player" visiting next weekend.... if Spurs fans aren't tough enough it's hardly surprising that some of our players think it's ok to duck a tackle or to turn their prettyboy faces away from the ball. Would Dave Mackay, Pat Jennings, Roy Keane, or John Terry duck away from the ball? I think not. Winners don't duck.

 

[TaoistMonkey]

So I guess it would be alright for Robinson to turn his back to the ball instead of facing it. Why stop there, why should we expect our players to go for 50/50 balls, they might get hurt, now that wouldn't be right. Perhaps not only should the physical contact part of the game should be banned but being hit by the ball should be a rewarded by a free kick. Can't expect them to deny their natural instincts of self protection, not even for £30,000 a week. Next we will see Jol up in court for hurting his players feelings.

Amazing to see you posting that our defenders aren't premiership standard. Then of course it can't be the players fault that they are not tough enough. That would take some of the blame off Jol, and that wouldn't fit with the plan to get rid of Jol. Bolton must be glad that it is those "don't hit me I'm a Spurs player" visiting next weekend.... if Spurs fans aren't tough enough it's hardly surprising that some of our players think it's ok to duck a tackle or to turn their prettyboy faces away from the ball. Would Dave Mackay, Pat Jennings, Roy Keane, or John Terry duck away from the ball? I think not. Winners don't duck.

funny you should mention robinson because when he came out for his lame punch it was as if he didn't wanna hurt himself when he came out.

he should have attacked the ball taking the ball and player clean out.

 

[TheBigMatch]

It sounds like Jol isn't too impressed with the players either so I'll leave Jol have my last word on the subject:"Defending set pieces is about toughness as well, We have to teach them to develop a killer instinct in dealing with the threat".

 

[easiman]

The problem with the defence is inexperience in the central pairing. Dawson and Kaboul still have plenty to learn. At right back we have a player that can be the best in the league (and indeed was a couple of years ago) but is prone to switching off.

The problem is more in midfield than defence. Whilst Dawson should have got closer to Adebayor, no midfielder tracked Fibreglass.

There is an insufficient defensive screen in front of our back four.

:clap::clap::clap:
Exactly right.

 

[alfieconnshair]

And Dawson is too frequently in the wrong place and then has to make heroic lunges which when they work make him look the hero he is in a lot of people's eyes. When he is too far away to lunge we give away goals. Hansen took him apart on MOTD and not for the first time. I know it was his first game but I have seen no evidence of him learning despite his frequent appearances last year. I know his do or die attitude and ever presence make him uncriticisable but I believe he has to take some blame for last year. If Robbo and Jol are criticised for our defensive liabilities why isn't Dawson? Watch his positioning throughout the game and do not just latch on to him when he is lunging in and recovering conceded ground.
Hard though it is to admit it, we are simply not good enough at the back. And even with the greatest coaching in the world, our defenders and keeper lack the experience and/or the ability to be in the right place when it comes to it on the pitch. And our lack of a defensive midfielder only exposes this more.
Failure to recognise that some of our players are not up to scratch and a failure to address this in the transfer market is what is ruining our club. Point the finger at Commolli for that, not Jol. He has not been given the players to work with this year.

 

[Seanson]

Just thought this from the discussion on Robinson was interesting with regard to not closing down the opposition:

My opinion, for what ist worth (whilst I have played in goal to a reasonable standard and been coached by the likes of Chris Woods, Englands ex keeper I'm not suggesting I am the fountain of wisdom on this).

Robbos positioning is not a problem - maybe a foot or so further out than I was advised, but I'm not going to argue with him about that.

People's points about the midfielders giving too much space, people not closing down are spot on - after all, one thing that is guaranteed is if you don't allow them space to shoot, they ain't gonna score screamers.

Robbo, as with all keepers, will analyse each and every goal he concedes, and he has stated he does this. He should be disappointed with himself for some of them, for example the Fabregas goal he did the hard part and got a hand to it, but did not prevent it from going in.

In an ideal world he would save every long shot, but some of them have been deflections, which is a keepers nightmare.

He does have an achilles heel, in that he doesn't command the six yard line and therefore crossing into the box is a problem. He tried to come out for the first goal, should have taken ball and man if it meant getting to the ball first, but misjudged it.

If anything, he needs to work on crosses, and the whole team on closing down outside the box.

Sorry for raising this cowardly defender topic, but it is a pet hate. It's not all bad though. King will surely be back soon. We're only 6 points off 4th. Jol still has one of the best defensive records of all Spurs managers. Poor Pleat couldn't make his top ranking defensive record count in the trophy stakes. And it is surely not turning away from the ball is something that can be taught. Come on you Spurs get stuck in.

 

[alfieconnshair]

And it is surely not turning away from the ball is something that can be taught. Come on you Spurs get stuck in.

I would have been quite happy to be invited to boot a few balls at a few of them after most weekends recently

 

[Seanson]

Aaaaaaaaahhhh! :bang::bang::bang: Lee feeble girly "attempt" at blocking Tevez's shot yesterday for the 1st Man United goal drove me mad. Why oh why can't these high earning players just go straight for the ball, make themselves big, and block the bloody shot properly. Malbranque (playing great this season and almost forgiven for giving the UEFA cup away last season:bang was just as bad. He stuck out a foot and turned away like a big girls blouse in the wind... and caused the ball to be deflected away from Cerny. Any player caught shying away from a shot should be made stand in the goals have penalties shot against him from within 10 foot. Until he has saved 50 (no hands except to protect the jewels) he shouldn't be let near a Premiership side. No wonder we're trying to sign Woodgate. A good defense needs real men. Huuuuuhhhhhh! that's better.

 

[g_harry]

im glad someone elese spotted this. lees attempt was pityful but worse than that if he had of actually stood up and went straight for the ball tevez would never have had a clean strike.

I remeber Mick McCarthy being furious they lost a game cos one of his players turned their back on the ball.

 

[Mattspur]

im glad someone elese spotted this. lees attempt was pityful but worse than that if he had of actually stood up and went straight for the ball tevez would never have had a clean strike.

I remeber Mick McCarthy being furious they lost a game cos one of his players turned their back on the ball.

I'm sure Giggs putting himself between man and ball had something to do with it. :roll:

 

[whatsappnin]

cowards???? hahaaha you make me larf!

 

[Seanson]

I'm sure Giggs putting himself between man and ball had something to do with it. :roll:

The only thing that was between Lee and Tevez was Lee's fear mg: and Tevez's delight :grin: to have a free shot on goal unhindered by a defender. He's generally a good player but I hope Ramos kicked his arse for turning away from that shot. I remember a few years back there was a funny photo of the Argentinian team holding handbags in a freekick wall; at least they were all holding their ground and facing the ball despite the threat to their tackle. It will be interesting to see how Woodgate behaves. Hopefully he's one to charge down :evil: the ball.

 

[Nayim60yards]

You know who we need in our defence? Dirty Sanchez. Those boys will take punishment all day long, they turn their backs on nothing! Don't know what their distribution is like though...

 

[Style_Over_Substance]

This thread is ridiculous, have you ever seen King play? He turns his back all the time! Would you call him a coward?

Basic rules of defending, if you dont turn your back you will concede a lot of handballs its inevitable! The key thing however is to make sure you havent completely taken your eye off the ball which can leave you getting absolutely mugged.