FA Cup 2012/2013 - Third Round.

[BWFC_Insane]

... we mostly seem to spend most of the last fifteen unless we're losing and the opposition just sit back and defend a lead .. Being unable to do that must surely have registered with Dougie by now? A two goal lead never seems to be enough or safe these days.

I agree. Yet isn't it odd that other teams "sit back & defend a lead" ..... while, when we do it we are "shoved back into our own box and under siege" ?!

I'm not having a pop, but it seems that when it's done poorly (as we have done for years) it's a bad thing, yet when it's done well it's admirable.

I hate it. Always have. If you've got into a winning position playing one way why change it ? As they have to come after you then they will leave gaps.

Then again, I'm not a managing a team, but it does seem counter-intuitive.

Either way though, if you DO do it then ffs do it well !!

Aye, point being Bobo, we're defending a lead, then a draw and finish up with nothing. With a really strong defence, fine, but we don't have one.

This argument comes up a lot But what changed yesterday was Sunderland.

When a team is losing they have to come out and play. Bolton didn't sit back we were pushed back.

It happens in most games and is virtually unavoidable. Watch the best teams they all have periods in games where they are penned in and have to defend and see it out. Our problem is we can't see it out because our back four aren't good enough.

But we left two up front yesterday. Made no difference, because Sunderland kept coming and kept pumping balls into the box we couldn't deal with.

When we played under Allardyce we saw leads and games out by making it scrappy defending set pieces well and in general defending well. It's the only way.

When a team decides to attack you full on and builds momentum no amount if sticking extra front men on or trying to 'play as you were' will help if you can't defend in the first place. Every single game will have you under pressure for periods. And you have to see them out, and that's what we can't do. Simple as.

[TANGODANCER]

With regard to the last part of a game and teams attempting to protect a lead, it's worth remembering that there are two teams involved in a game and the team that's losing with time running out generally throws caution to the wind. It's not a case of inviting them on, it's their choice to lay siege.

Aye, I'm well aware of that, but with ten in the box constantly clearing it back to the opposition, it's no solution is it? Can't be denied we've done that regularly in the past. To break you have to have somebody forward. I've always believed (despite what Big Sam said) that too many defenders just get in each others way. The opposition won't commit everybody forward if we have a couple of lurkers around the halfway line. Just a view as we'll do what we'll do anyway.

[Bruce Rioja]

I can't find the Swansea - Arsenal game on TV, nor can I see who's showing the Mansfield - Liverpool game. Anyone?

[Athers]

ESPN

[Bruce Rioja]

ESPN

Both? Bollocks!

[SmokinFrazier]

I've always believed (despite what Big Sam said) that too many defenders just get in each others way.

I agree with this.

In most games when teams start to defend very deep, they lose that organisation that is present when they have four or five people back. It's far easier for the defensive leader or the keeper to structure the defence when it's four or five people back, rather than everyone, including non-defenders. If you're asking a striker to come back and get into good defensive positions without any help, it's a big ask.

Even when Chelsea prepared to defend deep against Barcelona, they relied on luck several times in those matches, not to mention last gasp tackles. Even when the best teams try to do it and have players like Terry and Lampard organising things, it's not an easy ask.

[Bruce Rioja]

I've always believed (despite what Big Sam said) that too many defenders just get in each others way.

I agree with this.

II don't.

I don't recall players falling over one and other when BSA stuck 10 behind the ball because each player knew what he was doing, as did the team as a unit. Players get in each others way when the mentality, or the shout from the bench is "Right lads, everybody back"!

Freedman said a few weeks ago that our players don't know how to see a game out and that he was going to teach them how to. I'm yet to see a single shred of evidence that this problem's being addressed or that Freedman's as big as the statement he made.

[Annoyed Grunt]

Home to Cheltenham or Everton if we get through.

[officer_dibble]

Isnt that a bit Jim Bowen on bullseye? (if you could defend corners) "Look at what you could have won".

[Athers]

did someone say corners

[officer_dibble]

Grandad Corners is here kids. If he offers you a sweet dont eat it!

[boltonboris]

I've always believed (despite what Big Sam said) that too many defenders just get in each others way.

I agree with this.

II don't.

I don't recall players falling over one and other when BSA stuck 10 behind the ball because each player knew what he was doing, as did the team as a unit. Players get in each others way when the mentality, or the shout from the bench is "Right lads, everybody back"!

Freedman said a few weeks ago that our players don't know how to see a game out and that he was going to teach them how to. I'm yet to see a single shred of evidence that this problem's being addressed or that Freedman's as big as the statement he made.

Exactly. He tells us every week that they can't do it. Yet he keeps telling them to.

He fvcked about with the comfortable side and we threw it away.

Again, Coyle got hammered for doing that. From the evidence I've seen, Freedman IS Coyle. Only more negative.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Sordell is best out of Bolton now but to be honest and I'm not good with geography but exactly how is a move to Cardiff going to cure his homesickness?

Perhaps it's not the place but the face: the only time he's ever played consistently well is under Malky Mackay at Watford. Then again, maybe this absence of mind and heart is something we've convinced ourselves of... but if he was as lacklustre as some say, you have to imagine it hardly chimes with the manager's recent comments about only wanting players who want to play for the club.

As for defending a lead, we've been crap at that for as long as I've been watching us. The sages tell us DF likes to sit on a lead, but they usually say a one-goal lead, so perhaps scoring two confused him?

[BWFC_Insane]

I've always believed (despite what Big Sam said) that too many defenders just get in each others way.

I agree with this.

II don't.

I don't recall players falling over one and other when BSA stuck 10 behind the ball because each player knew what he was doing, as did the team as a unit. Players get in each others way when the mentality, or the shout from the bench is "Right lads, everybody back"!

Freedman said a few weeks ago that our players don't know how to see a game out and that he was going to teach them how to. I'm yet to see a single shred of evidence that this problem's being addressed or that Freedman's as big as the statement he made.

Exactly. He tells us every week that they can't do it. Yet he keeps telling them to.

He fvcked about with the comfortable side and we threw it away.

Again, Coyle got hammered for doing that. From the evidence I've seen, Freedman IS Coyle. Only more negative.

How so? He changed Sordell when we had conceded and were clearly under the cosh because Sordell was literally comtributing nothing to the game, he wasn't holding the ball or helping to relieve pressure.

Bringing Davies on was entirely sensible given we couldnt defend corners set pieces or crosses and clearly Sunderland were bullying us in the air.

[Jez]

I hope we weasel through and then make everton draw at the Reebok, we could be the great frustrators.

[Enoch]

The sages tell us DF likes to sit on a lead, but they usually say a one-goal lead, so perhaps scoring two confused him?

As for Sordell, I've read that he was rubbish and disinterested yesterday, also that barring Lonergan he was our best player and plenty in between.

Quite confusing.

If you were to believe any of it.

[Harry Genshaw]

Tower FM spent the 1st half praising Sordell and criticizing Ngog

The BSA approach when we were under the cosh was all about stopping our opponents getting into any sort of rhythm by breaking up their play. Often, this was by way of a cheap foul. In them days though we could defend set pieces really well so it was an effective tactic. At the moment I dread any cross coming into our box

[89bwfc89]

Tower FM spent the 1st half praising Sordell and criticizing Ngog

The BSA approach when we were under the cosh was all about stopping our opponents getting into any sort of rhythm by breaking up their play. Often, this was by way of a cheap foul. In them days though we could defend set pieces really well so it was an effective tactic. At the moment I dread any cross coming into our box

IMO neither of them were up to much yesterday.

[BWFC_Insane]

Tower FM spent the 1st half praising Sordell and criticizing Ngog

The BSA approach when we were under the cosh was all about stopping our opponents getting into any sort of rhythm by breaking up their play. Often, this was by way of a cheap foul. In them days though we could defend set pieces really well so it was an effective tactic. At the moment I dread any cross coming into our box

Tower FM, nuff said.

NGog did his usual trick of looking really dangerous until it came to a final pass or shot.

Sordell just looked like it was all a bit much like hard work. Perhaps it's confidence more than owt else. Time will tell.

[Prufrock]

Tower FM spent the 1st half praising Sordell and criticizing Ngog

The BSA approach when we were under the cosh was all about stopping our opponents getting into any sort of rhythm by breaking up their play. Often, this was by way of a cheap foul. In them days though we could defend set pieces really well so it was an effective tactic. At the moment I dread any cross coming into our box

Tower FM, nuff said.

NGog did his usual trick of looking really dangerous until it came to a final pass or shot.

Sordell just looked like it was all a bit much like hard work. Perhaps it's confidence more than owt else. Time will tell.

That, and scoring. You missed scoring.That surely has to count for something, a little bit...