Defending corners

While the team has been rightly criticised for bringing all 11 back inviting any clearances to come straight back I see we have adopted new tactics on Saturday.

1. Nobody defending neither front nor back posts!

2. Our central defender Ream not marking anybody at all, when he actually managed to stay on his feet!

What's the next masterplan - All 11 upfield???

Don't know if you saw the second goal against us on Saturday but Knight was stood apparently not marking anybody on our 6 yard line and Ream somewhere miles away (I think?) marking their centre backs run into the area?

Bogdan called to collect the ball I assume - because Knight never jumped at all - and once again failed to collect.

Faye seemed to put two Bolton players on the ground whilst heading in the goal.

Maybe there was a foul but the basic defending was not there in any event - it simply did not exist!

Coyle is right to call them soft goals - they are - but what exactly as he done to stop them happening in the future? We had the worst record against dead ball situations last season - so it is not like he doesn't already KNOW the problem exists!

If we can't defend against bog standard corners or free kicks then we aren't going to be promoted - its as simple as that.

He's got rid of Jussi and Al-Habsi for Bogdan, he brought in Mears, bought Mills, Ream and Alonso resigned Knight and chooses to play Ricketts out of position - this IS Coyle's defence - nothing to do with Megson now - so when are we actually going to see it work effectively?

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two people are actually lying on the floor at Bogdans feet. Not sure how that happened.

While I have never been a fan of Knight and certainly would not have offerred him a new contract I have to say that he has probably been our best defender so far - I don't believe I am saying this! To date he has been badly let down by his fellow central defenders

Ream despite his size has no upper body strength and is to easily brushed aside. His heading ability is weak and lacks concentration causing him nto lose his marker to often.

Mills has been very disapointing so far, but it's early days yet so I'm not writing him off. A player that has been highly rated by the professionals within the game and has been described as the best centre half in the Championship. So theres hope?

All 4 full backs used so far have defended woefully and our midfielders have not protected the back 4. Hopefully Spearing will help in this regard.

Faye's attack of the ball and bullying of defenders/keepers on Saturday is something we knew all about from his days at the Reebock. He upset a lot more highly rated defenders than ours.

The Championship loan window opens this weekend I understand, and as we are able to loan 4 more players so perhaps we may resolve the problem - Wishfull thinking?

It's looking like a long hard season ahead.

If you look at that picture, Knight isn't marking anyone, his head his turned and he's looking up the pitch as Faye is about to nod in.

he then berates the other defenders.

The third goal, Ream is fouled IMO, but even so he has to do better than he did. Knight is then easily beaten, once the ball goes in he berates the people in the middle. (fair enough, someone lost their runner but there were three poor defensive plays in that goal and knight was one of them)

Here's where Faye hits the post.

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Again you'll have to tell me who Knight is marking, i don't know, and i don't think he does.

Whoever that is next to him (ricketts?) is also completely lost. Three Hull players are attacking the ball and one Bolton man is.

surely the idea at the corner is to pick up your man, position, or get on the post?

I have already posted that I am no fan of Knight and would have released him. The photo posted shows total dissaray in the defence. Knight is not the only culprit but in some peoples eyes he is responsible for every mistake made even the change in the weather and the credit crunch.

We have seen this in earlier years with criticism aimed at Julian Darby, Warren Joyce and even Roy Greaves with his crab like desire to retain possession of the ball.

What happened to having a man on each post? Have they been told not to bother doing it anymore or have they been told to do it but no-one takes any notice?

Chung always used to stand next to one of the posts but in this instance he's just doing exactly the same as Ream and trying to track their centre back's run into the box.

Most fans will remember the number of goal line clearances from corner kicks made by Simon Charlton in his Reebock career

Barryjw wrote:I have already posted that I am no fan of Knight and would have released him. The photo posted shows total dissaray in the defence. Knight is not the only culprit but in some peoples eyes he is responsible for every mistake made even the change in the weather and the credit crunch.

We have seen this in earlier years with criticism aimed at Julian Darby, Warren Joyce and even Roy Greaves with his crab like desire to retain possession of the ball.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to "blame" anyone in particular, I'm just not of the opinion that Knight has stood out in a good way this season, which seems to be the word on the street.

I think it's fair to say organisation is at an all time low, especially at set pieces, and ultimately as bad as our defenders have been the blame comes back to the managers and the coaching staff.

but as far as Knight goes, i've not seen anything this season from him that i didn't see last season, he's still good at clearing long balls and he makes the odd good tackle but otherwise i think he's been poor. "best defender?" Maybe, but hardly a glowing endorsement.

Hipster - I agree with you entirely and was trying to say the same in my posts

Watch the game here with the second goal at about 1.07 with the header off the post about 30 secs later.

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You will see that there is nobody actually on the posts at either corner obviously they are instructed they don't need to do it.

The defence is a real worry to me - just look how Ream gets pushed off the ball leading up to the third goal - he's simply being bullied at this level - dare I say it - he's too light weight at the moment.

Mills positioning sense on the few clips I've seen of him so far - seems to be as good as Knights - ie non-existent!

I just don't see anything good about Alonso - no wonder Ricketts has to play out of position and Mears as been a big disappointment to me so far.

I am also not impressed about Bogdan's command of his area and despite his superb shot stopping, it doesn't count for much if he drops the next cross on to the toe of their centre forward.

All in all a complete shambles of a defence and tbh I can't see how anyone can improve it - we've got to get a decent left back in on loan as a priority, play Ricketts either as right back or possibly centre half with Knight (it did actually work for a few weeks when Cahill was out for a while) and hope the young lad is able to make the right back spot his.

We are stuck with Bogdan for now - he needs to get as much catching practice as he can in and hope for the best.

It's a pigs ear of a mess really - how could Coyle let it happen - one clean sheet in the last 47 away league games - it's not as though its suddenly just become a problem is it!

Ream was stood behind CYL when the ball came in for the 2nd goal.No player on any post.Knight picked no one up and was stood in the 6yard box.Why Ream was not picking up their forwards is Laughable its not even schoolboy standard.Why he was stood behind CYL is incredulous.The whole back 4 were pathetic.Mears needs to be changed for Riley.Alonso needs to go LB and Mills and Ricketts should go CB;s.Knight is finished and Ream looked more comfortable in the Premier.People slagging Mills after2 games is a joke Sven paid £5 million for him and he managed England.Now im sure he had him watched before he signed him so give the guy a chance.

Mills doesn't look match fit and needs a few more games before we judge him properly. Keith Andrews runs around a lot but his distribution is lacking because he can't seem to pass the ball to another white shirt.