The case for the defence

[tonyh]

The back four have been getting some stick, but in their defence (pun intended):

When we had players like Ainsworth and McCarthy, the job of the right back was easier, because they ran up and down the line tirelessly and gave the right back support. JMW has improved in this respect, but Duffy is often left isolated.

The central defenders don't have someone sitting in front and stopping through balls and marking the opposition play-maker. It sticks out when the opposition have someone who is good on the ball and has all day to pick a pass. Gone are the Andy Porter days when he marked Man City's Kinkladze out of the game. I prefer Burge to Griff, but it is expecting a lot for 2 midfielders to cope with 3 or 4 opponents. Swansea have made their wingers tuck in more this season and it helps defensively.

We gave away two sloppy goals on Saturday, but we missed 5 gilt-edged chances. Mind you, the strikers were due one off day.

[fairportnick]

There is no case for the defence.

[tisdeano]

not a bad defence.............till a ball is played into the air in our own box

[soothsayer]

You only have to see how few clean sheets we've kept to know we have to do better especially if we go up.

[hamilboy]

The defence is crying out for some pace in it either from full backs or centre backs,also we need someone who can organise the defence on corners or free kicks out wide.How many times this season has clayton won headers inside the box in those situations not many i think for a man of his size it is unbelievable.He does not react quick enough then he looks round to see who he can blame where in the position he is he ought to by now know how to organise the defenders around him.

[Seamus O'Wye]

There is no case for the defence.

 

...or if there is, it will definitely be a brief one!

On the other hand, it could be an 'open and shut' case, though our defence has definitely been more open than shut of late!

[onestepatatime]

As I have said on another thred maybe we are getting in today a new class defender to help Purse shore up the defence. With our ability to score goals we obviously need to see we can stop goals going in and then our dream of promotion may be realised.

[Tosh]

If we finish second I will be more than happy with our defence!

[Vital Spark]

There is no case for the defence.

 

The league table would suggest otherwise.

 

You've got a very blinkered opinion on MacDonald that's your problem.

[Vital Spark]

The criticism of MacDonald really annoys me. Yes, he sometimes does appear clumsy and slow to react, but it is no coincidence that he was a key member of the same team that smashed its way to the top of the table in the autumn. He's made some mistakes along the way, but he's also saved our skins on several occasions with last ditch clearances and challenges. If Clayton was the player you all crave for with blistering pace and reactions he'd be playing elsewhere at a much higher level. Just give tha lad a break and face reality that we are watching L2 football and it will always be far from perfect.

 

He's sadly become the latest scapegoat for the boo boys, some of whom I thought had more knowledge of the game than they indicate on here.

[darren gilson]

If we finish second I will be more than happy with our defence!

 

Agreed!

 

Funny how the defence only gets stick after a defeat like on New Years Day, no one gave a stuff the previous 2 games against Rotherham & Dagenham.

 

Whenever we lose certain people see it as an opportunity to point the finger rather than just accept that we are not going to win every game. Against Chesterfield it was Adams fault, against Fleetwood it was Chilvers & McDonalds fault, rather than collectively the team and management got it wrong.

 

I seem to recall everyone praising Chilvers when he was here last year but now he is 1 of the first to recieve the stick, Mcdonald has been pretty solid for us all season.

 

It would seem individuals at the club do something and supporters can't let it drop and any chance they get to have a cheap dig they do so, examples:

 

Some can't forgive Adams for joining the board for a period of time, so whenever they get a chance they have a dig

Some don't like the fact that Clayton McDonald was in court for a serious crime and can't let it drop despite him getting cleared, so whenever they can have a pop they will.

 

If you want honesty it was the forwards that cost us the game both against Fleetwood & Chesterfield, if they miss a chance nobody bats an eyelid, if a defender makes a mistake or the keeper its highly likely it can result in a goal.

 

I actually think a section of vale fans are ungrateful twerps who IMO have no right to moan considering the position we were in around the summer and what the team have done is pretty remarkable and that includes Chilvers, Andrews, McDonald, Duffy and anyone else that the supporters like to single out.

 

I even read on here that we should look to get better than JMW & Vincent as they were let go by their previous employers who are in the league above so they are obviously not good enough for league 1. Vincent was let go because he hardly played due to injury not because of his ability, but it seems a pre season with Micky Adams has really improved his fitness, and he has been ever present apart from a 1 game ban and a week of sickness.

 

Overall there is no case to answer, we are second in the league, we are adding another 4/5 players this month so if individuals dont perform they will lose the shirt but it will push players to perform because they wont get a game.

[Vital Spark]

Some good points DG.

[Dynamo]

Agreed!

 

Funny how the defence only gets stick after a defeat like on New Years Day, no one gave a stuff the previous 2 games against Rotherham & Dagenham.

 

Whenever we lose certain people see it as an opportunity to point the finger rather than just accept that we are not going to win every game. Against Chesterfield it was Adams fault, against Fleetwood it was Chilvers & McDonalds fault, rather than collectively the team and management got it wrong.

 

I seem to recall everyone praising Chilvers when he was here last year but now he is 1 of the first to recieve the stick, Mcdonald has been pretty solid for us all season.

 

It would seem individuals at the club do something and supporters can't let it drop and any chance they get to have a cheap dig they do so, examples:

 

Some can't forgive Adams for joining the board for a period of time, so whenever they get a chance they have a dig

Some don't like the fact that Clayton McDonald was in court for a serious crime and can't let it drop despite him getting cleared, so whenever they can have a pop they will.

 

If you want honesty it was the forwards that cost us the game both against Fleetwood & Chesterfield, if they miss a chance nobody bats an eyelid, if a defender makes a mistake or the keeper its highly likely it can result in a goal.

 

I actually think a section of vale fans are ungrateful twerps who IMO have no right to moan considering the position we were in around the summer and what the team have done is pretty remarkable and that includes Chilvers, Andrews, McDonald, Duffy and anyone else that the supporters like to single out.

 

I even read on here that we should look to get better than JMW & Vincent as they were let go by their previous employers who are in the league above so they are obviously not good enough for league 1. Vincent was let go because he hardly played due to injury not because of his ability, but it seems a pre season with Micky Adams has really improved his fitness, and he has been ever present apart from a 1 game ban and a week of sickness.

 

Overall there is no case to answer, we are second in the league, we are adding another 4/5 players this month so if individuals dont perform they will lose the shirt but it will push players to perform because they wont get a game.

 

darren gilson,

 

That's a superb post. Couldn't agree with you anymore.

[bookworm]

that is fair comment, a lot of good points.