I have been pondering this question for some time now and honestly, I can't exactly come out with a pausible explaination for the way our defence plays.

We have always bought defenders with solid reputations before they get here but the moment they play their first match for us, they become novices without the slightest basic defending skills. I mean take our current batch of last line, Goma had a very solid reputation before he got here and I'm sure a large number of us was happy when he was signed. Marcelino and Dabs was to say the least considered very solid back in their homeland. Barton is finally showing signs of why we bought him for 4m in the last year or so but before that, we were all howling for him to get off the field. Even looking back to the heady days of being runnersup two seasons in a row not too long back, we were not exactly keeping them out and locking the door tight. We basically scored lots and lots of goals to counter the ones we let in.

I just wonder whether it's not so much the players fault but maybe the coaching staff, especially those in charge of the defensive side, who ever they may be. Could it be that our defensive manuals don't contain ways to defend a corner or freekicks??? Could it be time for a change of the way we train our defenders???

I don't know but I just feel there is more to why the defenders can't defend than just the players themselves, sure what they do on the field is their responsibility but I'm sure whatever happens in the backroom and training sessions has a huge bearing on match day.

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2000

Answers

A number of reasons! the defence has never looked solid with Barton and Dabizas in it. I still can't like Dabizas, I know he gives his all but the defensive record speaks volumes.

We have no hugely vocal commanding centre back who organises the process. Goma looks quiet as does Marcellino and they're both short of confidence so they wouldn't look to lead.

I'd like to see Griffin given a chance at right back with Domi at left back. Two full backs who operate with pace and can both play the ball. Centrally I'd have to drop Dabs and stick Goma and Marcellino in there and say "you are the partnership for this season, get to know each other!"

That is the back four, they are our defence for the year, the only way your going to be out of the team is if you're injured. Hell, might as well try it, nothing else has really worked has it?

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2000

Maverick
I'd agree with you if it wasn't for the fact the guy pulling the strings keeps reminding them, but the defence keeps taking no notice.

I don't see how doziness can be trained out of players, whatever methods are used.

It wouldn't surprise me if half the trouble is just lingo problems, pure and simple.

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2000

We've always been crap because we feed players in to an already shaky defence. A new player looks for guidance from his teammates as to what's expected of him, and in our case that means learning to stare in fixed horror like a rabbit into headlights.

Gullit tried to fix the problem by bringing in a completely new batch which failed spectacularly through injuries. YBR tried bringing in a cool head and professional approach in Helder but his (Helder's) legs were so dodgy he only managed to feature in half the games he was on loan here for.

Dabizas and Pearce were both fighters, but they are not really team- players, each hurling themselves into the tackle with the resultant risk of red cards, pens and missing the tackle and leaving the opponent one-on-one. We could probably put up with this if we had a commanding keeper, but still no sign of one of them.

The various fixes we've had reccommended involve bringing in the likes of Hendry (see Helder's dodgy legs for details) or World Class players like Guardiola to keep the ball away from the defence as Batty used to. There's only one real way to fix this, though, and that's to give these players time together to form an undestanding. They act like a bunch of strangers because they are.

Look how much more reliable Barton is now he doesn't have the millstone of Watson round his neck; without Europe we simply don't have enough games for squad rotation to act as anything but a distraction. Dabizas still has his faults but was vastly improved by a continuous run last season. Losing Howey is a great step forward because he was always good enough to displace one of the others when fit and yet would piss off back to the treatment room after his standard 7 game spell.

Let's see if Goma and Marcellino are any good. Play them for a run of games. If we are really just in another transitional year then there will be no harm done. If he can't do anything else with them then at least YBR will demonstrate what he did with Pistone which is that you can't sell a player unless you can convince someone that you would field him yourself.

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2000

Planet football report that Celta Vigo are ready to bid for Marcellino. More disruption.

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2000

It takes years to build a great defence...Arsenal and Villa's (and Villa's is a very good defence) have been in the building for ages. I would suggest that unless we buy Ekioghu and Southagte as a package, we will have to wait for the bairns to yield a home built defence.

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2000

I'd still like to see a commanding keeper. One who organises his defence. That or a commanding defender (a bit like Adams and Stam do for their teams). I also believe the best place for a skipper is in the back 4 (or 5).

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2000