What's happened with keeping clean sheets of late? We're letting goals in (ok it's one in each game since the league/cl started) but it's not like us is it!?
It's more than likely down to the injury problems and the continuous changing of the defence though, I suppose. Let's look at the three goals conceded then.
Haifa's goal at Anfield came from the midfield where the lad ran straight through skipping Hyypia's 'challenge' and straight through on goal - could that be a problem with midfield, or is it just down to our 'slow' defence?!
Then there was the Sheff Utd header - simply down to our lack of 'understanding' of our zonal marking system, in my opinion. Aurelio was meant to pick Hulse up but never tracked him giving the lad a free header. Could this be down to the changing of the team due to injuries? Possibly, but again I say it's that same old problem of this zonal marking. Just my opinion though as I've never liked the system Rafa tried at set pieces.
Then, last night. Reina makes the save but their player follows up to score. Lack of marking, changing of defensive players?! I don't know, but someone should have picked him up possibly, such as Finnan, Agger or Hyypia?! I'll put that one down to not picking up the player, as it was one of the first things I was taught as a defender in my playing days was to keep an eye on your player and be sharp and alert until the ball is dead. Perhaps I'm being picky, but that's my opinion.
Anyway, great save by Reina towards the end to tip away a superb effort to deny then the equalizer. Well done Pepe mate!
So, back to this conceding lark. It's early days in the season so it's possibly a case of settling down and getting match sharpness and understanding etc., and there's definitely a case that it's down to these injuries we've been getting, and keep getting. A few weeks ago I was thinking that Rafa'd have it tough to keep everyone happy, but with players dropping like flies with injuries we're getting a bit thin on the ground, especially in defence which makes it a lot easier to pick a team I suppose. We don't want more injuries as we're stretched for a left back as it is with only Aurelio available now.
Let's hope for a clean sheet, and an injury free game on Saturday as we look forward to the CL draw tomorrow.
I'm not criticising us at all with this post, just wondering what other's opinions are with the goals we're conceding having had such a great record with clean sheets last season. It's early days yet though.
It's more than likely down to the injury problems and the continuous changing of the defence though, I suppose. Let's look at the three goals conceded then.
Haifa's goal at Anfield came from the midfield where the lad ran straight through skipping Hyypia's 'challenge' and straight through on goal - could that be a problem with midfield, or is it just down to our 'slow' defence?!
Then there was the Sheff Utd header - simply down to our lack of 'understanding' of our zonal marking system, in my opinion. Aurelio was meant to pick Hulse up but never tracked him giving the lad a free header. Could this be down to the changing of the team due to injuries? Possibly, but again I say it's that same old problem of this zonal marking. Just my opinion though as I've never liked the system Rafa tried at set pieces.
Then, last night. Reina makes the save but their player follows up to score. Lack of marking, changing of defensive players?! I don't know, but someone should have picked him up possibly, such as Finnan, Agger or Hyypia?! I'll put that one down to not picking up the player, as it was one of the first things I was taught as a defender in my playing days was to keep an eye on your player and be sharp and alert until the ball is dead. Perhaps I'm being picky, but that's my opinion.
Anyway, great save by Reina towards the end to tip away a superb effort to deny then the equalizer. Well done Pepe mate!
So, back to this conceding lark. It's early days in the season so it's possibly a case of settling down and getting match sharpness and understanding etc., and there's definitely a case that it's down to these injuries we've been getting, and keep getting. A few weeks ago I was thinking that Rafa'd have it tough to keep everyone happy, but with players dropping like flies with injuries we're getting a bit thin on the ground, especially in defence which makes it a lot easier to pick a team I suppose. We don't want more injuries as we're stretched for a left back as it is with only Aurelio available now.
Let's hope for a clean sheet, and an injury free game on Saturday as we look forward to the CL draw tomorrow.
I'm not criticising us at all with this post, just wondering what other's opinions are with the goals we're conceding having had such a great record with clean sheets last season. It's early days yet though.
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