Cam the Ram Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I don't like to make threads moaning but I was just having a look through our recent results and noticed we've only kept 1 clean sheet in 10 matches and have conceded more than any other top half team. I think we can all agree if we tightened up our defence and kept up our scoring record we'd easily make top 2 So, who or what do we think the problem is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gritstone Ram Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I think things turned when hughes came off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uptherams Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Most people won't like this, but it is Eustace. Glad we have signed Thorne. Stick him in the side. No team playing a DM should be conceding the amount we do. The defense always looks worried when passing the ball around. The DM needs to step up and be available to pass to and help out in these situations. I am afraid Eustace is not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JE90 Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Spot on. But both the goals we conceded against Yeovil were counter attacks and 2 of today's were as well. Some of it is part and parcel of playing attacking football, but maybe getting in a proper defensive coach would be worth a thought? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cam the Ram Posted February 1, 2014 Author Share Posted February 1, 2014 Most people won't like this, but it is Eustace. Glad we have signed Thorne. Stick him in the side. No team playing a DM should be conceding the amount we do. The defense always looks worried when passing the ball around. The DM needs to step up and be available to pass to and help out in these situations. I am afraid Eustace is not. Yeah I like Eustace but I've always thought he was the main weakness sadly .... hopefully Thorne turns out to be class Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duracell Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Most people won't like this, but it is Eustace. Glad we have signed Thorne. Stick him in the side. No team playing a DM should be conceding the amount we do. The defense always looks worried when passing the ball around. The DM needs to step up and be available to pass to and help out in these situations. I am afraid Eustace is not. Agreed that Eustace is the problem. I think you're a bit harsh on him from a ball-playing perspective but he really doesn't suit a stretched game. Yeovil's first and Cywka's goal at Barnsley stick in the mind. Hopefully Thorne is first choice and Eustace may go back to doing what he was signed to do, and what he's brilliant at, namely seeing out games and being a calming influence. He's really good at that when he comes on. Just don't think he's a regular starter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-JW- Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 It is bizarre. We have an excellent goalie, statistically the best LB in the league arguably one of the best RB's and two quality CB's. Hughes was excellent today and was off the pitch for the last two goals but I don't think he gives us much defensively. Eustace is not the ideal CDM as he has no pace and struggles to get back on counter attacks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sage Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 It is mainly the way we play. We keep bombing forward, committing men. Their second goal was us getting caught on the break when we were 3-1 up with 15 to go. It's the price you pay to a certain extent. However, Thorne should replace Eustace as the game gets more stretched. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uptherams Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 So it is agreed. Drop Eustace for Thorne. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CumbrianRam Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Hughes went off and it all went downhill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-JW- Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 So it is agreed. Drop Eustace for Thorne. It's a big call either way against QPR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davenportram Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Isn't Thorne a left sided midfielder? Why would swapping him for Eustace make us better at the back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaffsRam Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 It is bizarre. We have an excellent goalie, statistically the best LB in the league arguably one of the best RB's and two quality CB's. Hughes was excellent today and was off the pitch for the last two goals but I don't think he gives us much defensively. Eustace is not the ideal CDM as he has no pace and struggles to get back on counter attacks. We have a solid defence. Player for player, they're good. The problem comes when you look at the amount of help they get from those in front of them. I'm not having a go as that's the tactic we've decided to run with and it's done us well so far, but it will have limitations, and we will get caught from time to time. Eustace, is playing a bigger part in the side than expected - he's the one tasked with sitting deeper than the likes of Hughes or Bryson so that they can get forward and help out at that end of the pitch. The downside of this is that Eustace ain't no spring chicken and quick counters are going to leave him susceptible. He got done like a kipper for Yeovil's opener on Tuesday. I don't know if it would be better to start with Eustace or Thorne at this point. I'd have said Eustace, with Thorne coming on later in the game when it opens up and Eustace is more at risk, but the Yeovil goals were both inside the first half. Given that, I'd give Thorne a try and then bring Eustace on later in the game to provide an older head in potentially tense situations. Of course the other obvious area in need of improvement is fooking penalty-taking..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 good points. would you think about starting whitbread? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cam the Ram Posted February 1, 2014 Author Share Posted February 1, 2014 good points. would you think about starting whitbread? In the 2 games and 30 minutes (Came off injured against Watford) he's played for us we've conceded 6 goals :wacko: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cisse Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Houston we have a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McMuffin Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 That's it blame the defence on the midfield?! Quality centre backs ahahahahahahaha Keogh is ok I suppose. Maybe and hopefully Whitebread will get his chance now. Not seen Keogh & Whitebread as a pair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChaddesdenRam Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Players just ghost past Eustace. Get Thorne in. We will definitely score vs QPR but there is no way we can keep a clean sheet with the current style of play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCFC_17 Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 strikers win you games, but defenders win you titles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChaddesdenRam Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 strikers win you games, but defenders win you titles Can't really get my head around that one. In order to win a league title you need to win football matches? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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