Full Steam Ahead to Orient (a) 10/08, 17:30

[DJBlu]

Just watching the 90 again and Schon on the 55th to 56th minute is brilliant. Under the cosh and he's a pest for 2 minutes slowing the game. Gritty which ends in Kelman getting a yellow.

[BWFC_Insane]

Should Toal be getting pelters for missing that header that Baxter bailed him out for in the 96th minute?

I don’t think he had a great game. Both wide centre backs had fairly torrid times Iredale was very off where he needs to be imo. I quite like Jack I think he’s a fighter but inconsistency is a concern.

[Worthy4England]

Should Toal be getting pelters for missing that header that Baxter bailed him out for in the 96th minute?

I don’t think he had a great game. Both wide centre backs had fairly torrid times Iredale was very off where he needs to be imo. I quite like Jack I think he’s a fighter but inconsistency is a concern.

Some of the metrics that we've used to express how good we've been, seemed to be pretty tilted in their favour - shots, shots on, etc. with possession being pretty equal. I still need convincing we have the best balance between attack and defence, but probably needs more games to see how it pans out. Baxter as others have said probably motm.

[Mar]

I got the impression they had more chances but ours were of a better quality ala Charles'.

Not much in it. Orient will be ruing their keeper.

[DJBlu]

I got the impression they had more chances but ours were of a better quality ala Charles'.

Not much in it. Orient will be ruing their keeper.

And ours.

[TANGODANCER]

Baxter as others have said probably motm.

No disagreeing, but that's a bit of a worry when you look at it. When your keeper is M.O.T.M either means your playing a very good side or your defence needs a look at. As has been said, early days yet, but it's the goals against as much of those "for" that determine results. Rico looked a touch weary early on and neither he nor Toal are exactly sprint champs. We need to defend before the opp reach our eighteen yard area. More then once a single striker has turned three defenders inside out. I think we're very penalty aware and a fine line always exists when strikers are agony aunt actors. Kamikaze tackling can cost us dear, like I said, fine lines.

All said, we won and took the points, and that's what matters. Que Sera to the rest..

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Some of the metrics that we've used to express how good we've been, seemed to be pretty tilted in their favour - shots, shots on, etc. with possession being pretty equal.

Main statistic was in our favour though

[BWFC_Insane]

Should Toal be getting pelters for missing that header that Baxter bailed him out for in the 96th minute?

I don’t think he had a great game. Both wide centre backs had fairly torrid times Iredale was very off where he needs to be imo. I quite like Jack I think he’s a fighter but inconsistency is a concern.

Some of the metrics that we've used to express how good we've been, seemed to be pretty tilted in their favour - shots, shots on, etc. with possession being pretty equal. I still need convincing we have the best balance between attack and defence, but probably needs more games to see how it pans out. Baxter as others have said probably motm.

I think the metrics are absolutely used to mislead and hopefully aren’t mentioned ever. The result matters. Good times, nay great teams win time and time again when they look like they shouldn’t. That for me happens in this league two.

We play top teams off the pitch yet they get a result against us. It’s not a fluke.

I’d be delighted this season if we never have to mention possession or xG again!

[Worthy4England]

Some of the metrics that we've used to express how good we've been, seemed to be pretty tilted in their favour - shots, shots on, etc. with possession being pretty equal.

Main statistic was in our favour though

That's the important one. So happy. But I'm still not convinced we've solved defensive solidity yet. It cost us last year.

[GhostoftheBok]

That's the important one. So happy. But I'm still not convinced we've solved defensive solidity yet. It cost us last year.

We've changed a lot of the pressing triggers and that'll take time.

We play a high line, so that forward pressure has to be there to prevent direct balls isolating the wide centre backs.

It will improve.

That 1 v 1 of Kelman on Iredale was really all they had, aside from the odd set piece.

I don't expect to have all these issues fixed day one, but what matters is they are fixable rather than fundamental.

These issues look fixable.

[BWFC_Insane]

That's the important one. So happy. But I'm still not convinced we've solved defensive solidity yet. It cost us last year.

We've changed a lot of the pressing triggers and that'll take time.

We play a high line, so that forward pressure has to be there to prevent direct balls isolating the wide centre backs.

It will improve.

That 1 v 1 of Kelman on Iredale was really all they had, aside from the odd set piece.

I don't expect to have all these issues fixed day one, but what matters is they are fixable rather than fundamental.

These issues look fixable.

A lot of our defensive problems are individual though. Physicality. Mentality. And reading of the game. It’s not just us there are a few teams who struggle this way. I think it’s where some in the game have abandoned the idea that primarily defenders are there to keep it out of the goal.

I mean defensively speaking this lot are an embarrassment compared to players we’ve had historically. Many of them wouldn’t be able to play a high line or pass the ball sideways so much but still the art of defending I think is often neglected for the sake of some sort of modern system or style.

[TANGODANCER]

the art of defending I think is often neglected for the sake of some sort of modern system or style.

Now there's a thing..

[GhostoftheBok]

A reminder that this "embarrassment" of a back line conceded 36 goals all season in 22/23. Johnston, Santos and Toal.

They idea they simply can't defend is a nonsense. As is the suggestion Evatt can't organise a defence.

[BWFC_Insane]

A reminder that this "embarrassment" of a back line conceded 36 goals all season in 22/23. Johnston, Santos and Toal.

They idea they simply can't defend is a nonsense. As is the suggestion Evatt can't organise a defence.

Nobody has called it an embarrassment. Johnston as has been pointed out is recovering from a serious injury so we can’t expect him at his peak yet.

That back three was strong but we also had wing backs who were more on the defensive side of the spectrum.

Regardless that is the sort of defensive form we need to replicate this season and if we’ve got the players there is no reason we shouldn’t.

[truewhite15]

A reminder that this "embarrassment" of a back line conceded 36 goals all season in 22/23. Johnston, Santos and Toal.

They idea they simply can't defend is a nonsense. As is the suggestion Evatt can't organise a defence.

Nobody has called it an embarrassment. Johnston as has been pointed out is recovering from a serious injury so we can’t expect him at his peak yet.

That back three was strong but we also had wing backs who were more on the defensive side of the spectrum.

Regardless that is the sort of defensive form we need to replicate this season and if we’ve got the players there is no reason we shouldn’t.

You LITERALLY called them an "embarrassment" in your last post.

[TANGODANCER]

A reminder that this "embarrassment" of a back line conceded 36 goals all season in 22/23. Johnston, Santos and Toal.

They idea they simply can't defend is a nonsense. As is the suggestion Evatt can't organise a defence.

Nobody has called it an embarrassment. Johnston as has been pointed out is recovering from a serious injury so we can’t expect him at his peak yet.

That back three was strong but we also had wing backs who were more on the defensive side of the spectrum.

Regardless that is the sort of defensive form we need to replicate this season and if we’ve got the players there is no reason we shouldn’t.

You LITERALLY called them an "embarrassment" in your last post.

Ah, but that was yesterday. We'll have improved since then..

[BWFC_Insane]

A reminder that this "embarrassment" of a back line conceded 36 goals all season in 22/23. Johnston, Santos and Toal.

They idea they simply can't defend is a nonsense. As is the suggestion Evatt can't organise a defence.

Nobody has called it an embarrassment. Johnston as has been pointed out is recovering from a serious injury so we can’t expect him at his peak yet.

That back three was strong but we also had wing backs who were more on the defensive side of the spectrum.

Regardless that is the sort of defensive form we need to replicate this season and if we’ve got the players there is no reason we shouldn’t.

You LITERALLY called them an "embarrassment" in your last post.

Defensively speaking compared to some of the best defenders we’ve had yes. But that was more modern football not that they are an embarrassment relatively.

If we focus on pure defending then they are. Bergsson, Taggart, Fairclough, Charlton, Ngotty, Laville
- some of the best defenders we’ve had but you wouldn’t fancy asking many of those to play wide centre back in this system. Those players focussed on reading the game, defending the 18 yard box and getting the ball away from danger. But they didn’t have to carry it 50 yards or find defence splitting passes or cover half a pitch in behind them nor be a hybrid centre half full back (at once).

It was looking at the way football is nowadays. Pure defenders - in some teams simply don’t fit.

[DJBlu]

Howdy,

I've just made something that I think will be really good for the rest of the season should you like it. For those lucky members that perch their arses on my couch, could you follow this link and have a look.

viewtopic.php?f=29&p=1181772#p1181772

Any feedback would be appreciated.

[sonicthewhite]

Howdy,

I've just made something that I think will be really good for the rest of the season should you like it. For those lucky members that perch their arses on my couch, could you follow this link and have a look.

viewtopic.php?f=29&p=1181772#p1181772

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Bloody good stuff mate.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Amazeballs. Thanks as ever.