The defensive side of the team

[Southcoastffc]

As one who found the 3 month pre-season posts on here really boring from a number of posters who just bombarded us with their knowledge on Tony Khan and our useless defence, its nice to point out that 1/5th through the season only two teams have conceded less than us and only one team has a better goal difference.

We are def tougher to breakdown than Slavisa's team and that is with Odoi on bench and Hector already unofficially here and ready to start on Jan 1st.

Based on what I am seeing, I think we will win the league. I dont say that lightly, I'm not one for knee-jerk posts and I dont come on here posting continual messages that say the same thing. I think we have the team that will improve more than any other in the league. By about game 20, we will be virtually unbeatable and will know how to play against the derivative of tactics being used against us.

]selective use of stats in not an intlligent way to asses anything.
we have won only once in the last six outings (inc cup). we have surrended a winning lead three times in that time, we are tenth.

in comparison with slav's sid we have a much better first 11 in terms of the 6 in front of the back four and it is clear oppoents are very wary of taking us on nd sit back.#

our back four os rather better than any of us anticipated but we have a decent holding central midfielder in arter OR Reed that is the big difference.

I am totally confident if slav had this squad we wuld be top and cruising. parker is OK and I was and remain content with his appointment but he is learning as he goes along.

I thought we would not be doing so well but knock and cav and reid d arter all were brought in and that transfrmed the situation. TK remains a problem but at least parker seems to be able to manae him better than slav did. I have no confidence they will do the necessary in the wnter break to assure top two. they probably think the squad is good enough and it isn't because we need a better right back and a back/partner for mitro.

this tpe of post is tiresome when we have had such a good win and seem to be turning the proverbial corner.

Is this meant to be funny? (Serious question!)

No not being funny.  I think the tone of the OP is wrong. I am delighted withthe progress but the stat that counts is we still have 10 points. I am one that predicteddoom during summer but am happy to be proved wrong, so far, and my natural enthusisam is now having to be held in check. I do now think we are looing like contenders and just need some fine tunning.

We won so no need for, what seemed to me,  a post being a bit finger pointing at fellow fans.

Thanks and fair enough.  I truly wondered if you were being humorous because you could just as easily have said we are unbeaten in 4 and 3 points off second place. 

[The Rational Fan]

MLM played as well as Ream did in the Premier League, MLM is a decent squad reserve in the PL and quality bench reserve in the championship. Hector is not needed to get promoted, but he is an improvement especially in the air and we need Hector so if we get promoted we have an established centre back partnership without Ream in it.

[YankeeJim]

Our back four are indeed our Achilles heel. While they are better organized than before, they are still venerable. What is making them look better is that our possession is quite high. Just as in Slava 's team. If they don't have the ball, they can't usually score. Look how poor we are when they are on  the break. Hector can't get here quick enough.

More vulnerable than venerable, but know what you mean...fewer goals conceded as we have so much possession, but always suspect to a quick counter attack. Shows, though , the truth about the need to defend as a team, not just as a back four.

Damn spellcheck. LOL

[toshes mate]

It is shame, IMO, that 70sPimlico shifts attention from the optimism of the OP to a critique on the condemnation of TK who was rightly blasted for his immature ineptitude in summer 2018 and winter 2019. He had since cobbled his explanations together in two episodic media events one behind a paywall.  It's the nearest we are going to get to an apology for his ineptitude. I'd like to think all those who have had a go at the guy since his miserable DoF PL debut failure have influenced changes in his behaviour which improved his focus for summer transfers just passed.  But I also hope the guy has learned the value of being a little more subservient to his coaching regime when deciding recruitment targets.  I also hope it will inspire the guy not to sack a coach unless and until he has soul searched very candidly and honestly and declared himself fault free. 

I haven't yet forgiven him for sacking Jokanovic and I doubt I ever will because it ranks with the worse decisions I have seen at Craven Cottage in my lifetime of support.  He has a lot left to do before I declare him a safe pair of hands.  Criticism of TK was more than deserved IMO, so thanks for opening the wounds again, 70sPimlico. 

[70sPimlico]

Criticism of TK was more than deserved IMO, so thanks for opening the wounds again, 70sPimlico.

I'm desperately sorry. As I said, it won't happen again. Sorry again, petal.

[toshes mate]

Criticism of TK was more than deserved IMO, so thanks for opening the wounds again, 70sPimlico.

I'm desperately sorry. As I said, it won't happen again. Sorry again, petal.

AAAAwwwwwwww!

[MJG]

We are def tougher to breakdown than Slavisa's team and that is with Odoi on bench and Hector already unofficially here and ready to start on Jan 1st.

For me thats one reason we are doing better.

[70sPimlico]

We are def tougher to breakdown than Slavisa's team and that is with Odoi on bench and Hector already unofficially here and ready to start on Jan 1st.

For me thats one reason we are doing better.

Yeh, you could be right. Sadly, as he's verging on cult status in my eyes. That flick. That goal. That night. That crossbar.

[Statto]

We are def tougher to breakdown than Slavisa's team and that is with Odoi on bench and Hector already unofficially here and ready to start on Jan 1st.

For me thats one reason we are doing better.

Yeh, you could be right.

Well thanks to TK, all it will take is one injury in the next 15 games and we'll have Odoi starting at CB again.

[70sPimlico]

We are def tougher to breakdown than Slavisa's team and that is with Odoi on bench and Hector already unofficially here and ready to start on Jan 1st.

For me thats one reason we are doing better.

Yeh, you could be right.

Well thanks to TK, all it will take is one injury in the next 15 games and we'll have Odoi starting at CB again.

With Reed, Arter & Stefjo back covering in front of them, I do believe we would cope.

[Jim©]

Well thanks to TK, all it will take is one injury in the next 15 games and we'll have Odoi starting at CB again.

Most sides in all 92 clubs will have the same issue. Look at Man City bemoaning the loss of Laporte. Look at Spurs fans moaning whenever Kane gets injured that they have no other CF.

I'd be interested to hear what calibre of player you think would happily come and bench warm for us in the championship who is better than either MLM or Odoi? Honestly, I don't think there'll be many.

[Statto]

I'd be interested to hear what calibre of player you think would happily come and bench warm for us in the championship who is better than either MLM or Odoi? Honestly, I don't think there'll be many.

Well, they don't have to come in as a bench warmer. They have to come in to compete with Mawson and Ream, with a good chance of making one of those two (probably Ream) the "bench warmer". That being the case...

Hector
Carter-Vickers
Kalas
Jansson
Flint
Scott McKenna

[Bassey the warrior]

I'd be interested to hear what calibre of player you think would happily come and bench warm for us in the championship who is better than either MLM or Odoi? Honestly, I don't think there'll be many.

Well, they don't have to come in as a bench warmer. They have to come in to compete with Mawson and Ream, with a good chance of making one of those two (probably Ream) the "bench warmer". That being the case...

Hector
Carter-Vickers
Kalas
Jansson
Flint
Scott McKenna

Disagree that Kalas is better than Odoi. About the same level. He's just changed clubs anyway, so it's a moot point.
Jansson also just moved.

[Statto]

I'd be interested to hear what calibre of player you think would happily come and bench warm for us in the championship who is better than either MLM or Odoi? Honestly, I don't think there'll be many.

Well, they don't have to come in as a bench warmer. They have to come in to compete with Mawson and Ream, with a good chance of making one of those two (probably Ream) the "bench warmer". That being the case...

Hector
Carter-Vickers
Kalas
Jansson
Flint
Scott McKenna

Disagree that Kalas is better than Odoi. About the same level. He's just changed clubs anyway, so it's a moot point.
Jansson also just moved.

Kalas vs Odoi is a matter of opinion, so you're entitled to your opinion and I'm not going to challenge it.

But the point about Kalas and Jansson having just changed clubs is irrelevant. This is a thread about TK's failure to sign defensive cover last summer. When the transfer window opened, they hadn't just changed clubs.

Actually all of those players changed clubs in the summer, except McKenna. 

[MJG]

Let's hope I'm wrong about Odoi

[Bassey the warrior]

I'd be interested to hear what calibre of player you think would happily come and bench warm for us in the championship who is better than either MLM or Odoi? Honestly, I don't think there'll be many.

Well, they don't have to come in as a bench warmer. They have to come in to compete with Mawson and Ream, with a good chance of making one of those two (probably Ream) the "bench warmer". That being the case...

Hector
Carter-Vickers
Kalas
Jansson
Flint
Scott McKenna

Disagree that Kalas is better than Odoi. About the same level. He's just changed clubs anyway, so it's a moot point.
Jansson also just moved.

Kalas vs Odoi is a matter of opinion, so you're entitled to your opinion and I'm not going to challenge it.

But the point about Kalas and Jansson having just changed clubs is irrelevant. This is a thread about TK's failure to sign defensive cover last summer. When the transfer window opened, they hadn't just changed clubs.

Actually all of those players changed clubs in the summer, except McKenna. 

It's far from ideal we didn't sign a defender but that aside the business was good in my opinion. Sounds like Chelsea wouldn't loan Hector to us and we couldn't buy him until we sold Sess. So it's tricky.

[Twig]

Criticism of TK was more than deserved IMO, so thanks for opening the wounds again, 70sPimlico.

I'm desperately sorry. As I said, it won't happen again. Sorry again, petal.

WUM

[Statto]

I'd be interested to hear what calibre of player you think would happily come and bench warm for us in the championship who is better than either MLM or Odoi? Honestly, I don't think there'll be many.

Well, they don't have to come in as a bench warmer. They have to come in to compete with Mawson and Ream, with a good chance of making one of those two (probably Ream) the "bench warmer". That being the case...

Hector
Carter-Vickers
Kalas
Jansson
Flint
Scott McKenna

Disagree that Kalas is better than Odoi. About the same level. He's just changed clubs anyway, so it's a moot point.
Jansson also just moved.

Kalas vs Odoi is a matter of opinion, so you're entitled to your opinion and I'm not going to challenge it.

But the point about Kalas and Jansson having just changed clubs is irrelevant. This is a thread about TK's failure to sign defensive cover last summer. When the transfer window opened, they hadn't just changed clubs.

Actually all of those players changed clubs in the summer, except McKenna. 

It's far from ideal we didn't sign a defender but that aside the business was good in my opinion. Sounds like Chelsea wouldn't loan Hector to us and we couldn't buy him until we sold Sess. So it's tricky.

Yes broadly agree with that

[Fernhurst]

Based on what I am seeing, I think we will win the league.

Wow ...... You do know Pimlico, Statto and Tosh will keep that quote until seasons end when they will beat you over the head with it!

Hopefully, you can do the reverse if proved right.

[The Rational Fan]

Based on what I am seeing, I think we will win the league.

Wow ...... You do know Pimlico, Statto and Tosh will keep that quote until seasons end when they will beat you over the head with it!

Hopefully, you can do the reverse if proved right.

Last 9 Games: 5 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss with 18 scored and 7 conceeded. That's 2 points per game, so on track for 90 points.