Is the art of defending dead?

[Rikmeister]

Listening to the pundits on the BBC Football Daily podcast talk about Liverpool losing 7-2 the same day Man U lost 6-1 trying to explain what is happening, one of the theories is that defending is much poorer than it was years ago. While I think this is true, may be there are other reasons too.

Would be interested to hear what others think.
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-s...d-liverpool-at-sixes-and-sevens-idUKKBN26P0VT

 

[Rikmeister]

Have you read this article? Quite interesting.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54433028

Talks about the lack of fan pressure impacting player's decision making. But Micah/Chris Sutton do think the standard of goalkeepers have dropped in the EPL.

Haven't read it, but I will now. Thanks.

"There have been an average of 3.79 goals per game - the highest in an English top flight since the 3.95 goals per game in 1930-31" - there has to be something going on, surely?

 

[Rikmeister]

Mm i am personally in the "no fans is causing this" to happen. More of a chaotic free for all, tactics sometimes flying out the window...maybe the feel of a training ground game with less people watching. Rather than the loud/swearing at you fans to pull your socks up.

I wonder if having an atmospher more akin to a training session/reserve match isn't leading player to subconsciously play as if they were in a training session/reserve match.

 

[Rikmeister]

The standard of defending is the worst I can remember, so many basic mistakes nowadays it’s frightening.

Yes, but why? I don't think there is the same emphasis on defending as there used to be but even by comparison to last year a LOT more goals are being let in this season.

 

[Rikmeister]

The lack of fans thing should work in a way that defending improves also no? Lack of pressure from fans == less prone to mistakes?

You have a good point. Also, you would have thought with out the crowd noise it would be easier for defences to organise e.g. for someone to shout "push up" or "drop back" as appropriate.

 

[Rikmeister]

Somebody made the point that the handball rules are making the most difference.

I think there's been more penalties than normal, and also defenders are having to limit themselves by defending as though they're wearing a straight jacket so more chances are occurring and less blocks.

Penalties look like a part of the answer. There have been 18 scored already after 3 rounds of games but only 84 in 2018-19 (the last complete season). I haven't done the stats but I think there must be other reasons too.
https://www.myfootballfacts.com/pre...ier-league/premier-league-penalty-statistics/

 

[Rikmeister]

There is clearly something at play here because the defending in Uniteds 6-1 loss wasn't bad it was non existent. We weren't cut to pieces with good passes or caught slightly flat or out of position, we were just nowhere to be seen half the time. The amount of space on our left side was appalling. Defending well against good teams is hard. Uniteds defending was suicidal and Liverpool were just hit repeatedly on the break and with balls in behind. Utterly bizarre games.

The remarkable thing is, especially with the Liverpool goals, was that the players didn't seen to learn from their mistakes, they didn't adjust their game, they kept falling into the same trap again and again. As you say, bizarre.

 

[Rikmeister]

Footballers on a whole are not the smartest in the book. Harry Kane seems really simple from that recent documentary. Footballers do what their manager tells them. That's why your Pirlo's, Scholes, Xavi are such a rare breed because they actually had brains.

Footballers live in a bubble. They're brought up in a bubble (unless they've come via non-league and had normal jobs before). They can be very insular and unaware of how normal people live, but unless there is genetic or environmental pressure coupling high footballing ability with low intelligence I don't see why footballers should be any more or less smart that the average man/woman in the street.

 

[Rikmeister]

Footballers live in a bubble indeed, but doesn't the majority of them come from fairly poor backgrounds? So shouldn't they be more aware of the "real" life?

I think that was true in the past. I don't know about now. But I guess Marcus Rashford would be a good case for your argument.

 

[Rikmeister]

*very* good teams (Liverpool, City) can play possession foootball and win, and that for other teams they're as likely to win with 40% as with 60%.


This belief that every side in the league needs to be playing out from the back and playing a high line is killing the mid table sides, and at times will come back to bite the top teams as well.

When Leicester won the league their possession % was very low. Wasn't it under 50%?