Defence...

I'd also like to throw Craig Gordon in the mix. The guy look absolutely petrified before the AEK set piece that lead to the second goal. He fills me with no confidence at all, and despite being a decent shot stopper, his inability to command his box and organise the defence in front of him is so so frustrating .

I genuinely think if we had a boruc-type keeper (not even in ability, just in terms of presence and leadership) we would have a much better defence as a result.

 

This squad honestly could and really should have been able to get past them, they were no great shakes just well drilled in their defensive formation, we're just too naive at times with our attacking style and leave our defenders isolated. It seems to be our managers blind spot unfortunately, if we don't have the individual players of high enough ability to leave exposed like against decent opposition then we need to be giving them more protection as a unit.

Still think if Gamboa starts in front of Lustig we don't lose those same goals, now he might have made some other blunder and cost us who can say, but in the way we're playing Lustig is a square peg in a round hole, Gamboa is much better suited with the pace to get up and down. If we dont' sign a new RB, and Lustig continues to get picked in front of him it's utterly baffling.

 

Watch a game,any game at all and you'll notice 2 stats that stick out like a sore thumb every time.
1 The opposition will always have more free kicks awarded against them.
2 The opposition will always have more yellow cards awarded against them.
How often do you see the opposition boot lumps out of our players,it happens time after time after time,especially on KT and Broony.
I just wish we'd let the opposition know that we can do likewise,a Roy Aitken,Bobo Balde or Mick McCarthy type of player is what we badly require.

 

Exactly, the hearts game was a * embarrassment getting kicked up and down the pitch by them scumbags

 

Why are we so bad at defending?

Mainly down to the players we have. They are just not good enough with the exception of KT.
Most weeks they are not really tested so wont develop as players
Tactics with the tippy tappy * and SLOW build up -- yeah, it would be nice to build from the back but ffs we have to keep the momentum going forward
Concentration - see above, tippy tappy * by players who aint that good at passing the ball or controlling

Why can't we just go and sign some proven defenders i cannot fathom - the support have been calling out for this for years

 

Do a wee bit of research,check out the stats for the last 11 games between us and them,totally unbelievable and i include red cards too.

 

Dont like them at all but I watched Ajax v Dynamo Kiev last night,their movement on and off the ball was incredible,positional sense unreal,but what's annoying is we can step up a gear as v Rosenberg and the latter part v AEK,we should be doing this every time because we are much fitter than most clubs.

 

I’d say the bigger problem with that is we do * all with any set pieces we do get. Most of our defenders are big 6 foot plus guys but they’re all shitebags. They should be dominating both boxes. We’re technically way behind the best, and even mediocre sides in Europe, but being physically outmatched is simply unacceptable.
Tierneys the only one who gets stuck in but he’s probably the smallest guy we’ve got!
Ajer, Hendry and Boyata are frankly a disgrace physically speaking, bullied by anybody with a hint of strength.

Need a Balde or even a Majstorovic - not really a good player but a big * who wont be threatened or beaten 100% of the time in the air.

 

We need a right back and ideally two centre halves, although with the right quality I wouldn't complain with one centre back.

At the rate janko, Sviatchenko and mulgrew would be pushing for starts and we moved them on for combined fee off 1.5million or should I say we moved them on for jack hendry

 

Yep,I never thought I'd ever see the day when I'd have Gamboa in the team but tbf to him hes been good for a change.
Yer right about players bullying our guys and even at corners for us we very rarely seem to score nowadays.
One thing I hate is when we can't even beat the first defender,that shouldn't happen unless you misskick the ball.

 

7 games and 1 goal conceded when we were 4-0 up with some squad players playing.

Gotta give credit where it’s due even when there’s plenty negativity surrounding the team.

Hardly gave up any chances in these 7 games either.

 

Was thinking this too, we're not perfect at progressing the ball or getting involved in the play yet. But the back four so seem solid

 

Back 5 is absolutely fine.
Barely conceded a goal, first choice are all very good players.
Nothing to see here.

 

Defensively we are very solid, definitely been worked on. Midfield is the issue and that’s also in the gaps they leave.