Defensive Issue (seems obvious)

[Wonderwall]

This is the back four for each of our games this season, we have never used the same back four in back to back games! How are we supposed to get a settled back four? It looks like Peller is trying too hard to please everyone. FFS Get your BEST 4 Defenders and play them, let injury or a drop in form be the reason to change them. Not just because they might cry. The below list actually makes me angry with the count.

Game 1: PL NUFC - Clichy Kompany MDM Kolarov
Game 2: PL LFC - Zaba Kompany MDM Clichy
Game 3: PL SCFC - Sagna Kompany MDM Kolarov
Game 4: PL AFC - Zaba Kompany MDM Clichy
Game 5: UCL FCBM - Sagna Kompany MDM Clichy
Game 6: PL CFC - Zaba Kompany Mangala Kolarov
Game 7: LC SWFC - Sagna MDM Mangala Kolarov
Game 8: PL HCFC - Zaba Kompany Mangala Clichy
Game 9: UCL RFC - Zaba Kompany MDM Clichy
Game 10: PL AVFC - Zaba Kompany Mangala Kolarov
Game 11: PL THFC - Sagna Kompany MDM Clichy
Game 12: UCL CSKA - Zaba Kompany Mangala Kolarov
Game 13: PL WHU - Zaba Kompany Mangala Clichy
Game 14: LC NUFC - Sagna MDM Mangala Kolarov

[simon12]

This is the back four for each of our games this season, we have never used the same back four in back to back games! How are we supposed to get a settled back four? It looks like Peller is trying too hard to please everyone. FFS Get your BEST 4 Defenders and play them, let injury or a drop in form be the reason to change them. Not just because they might cry. The below list actually makes me angry with the count.

Game 1: PL NUFC - Clichy Kompany MDM Kolarov
Game 2: PL LFC - Zaba Kompany MDM Clichy
Game 3: PL SCFC - Sagna Kompany MDM Kolarov
Game 4: PL AFC - Zaba Kompany MDM Clichy
Game 5: UCL FCBM - Sagna Kompany MDM Clichy
Game 6: PL CFC - Zaba Kompany Mangala Kolarov
Game 7: LC SWFC - Sagna MDM Mangala Kolarov
Game 8: PL HCFC - Zaba Kompany Mangala Clichy
Game 9: UCL RFC - Zaba Kompany MDM Clichy
Game 10: PL AVFC - Zaba Kompany Mangala Kolarov
Game 11: PL THFC - Sagna Kompany MDM Clichy
Game 12: UCL CSKA - Zaba Kompany Mangala Kolarov
Game 13: PL WHU - Zaba Kompany Mangala Clichy
Game 14: LC NUFC - Sagna MDM Mangala Kolarov
Game 15:
Game 16:
Game 17:
Game 18:
Game 19:
Game 20:

That really is ridiculous isn't it.

[bayblue]

100% agree. Settled back four is what's called for.

Looking at your analysis I think we can confidently predict that Sundays back 4 will be:

Zaba, Komps, MDM, Kola

.....if only for the reason that this foursome hasn't yet played together

[Tokyo Blue]

I'd consider two separate back fives, that way people can get used to playing together and swap the whole five when necessary.

Hart
Zabaleta Kompany Demichelis Kolarov

or

Caballero
Sagna Boyata Mangala Clichy

[simon12]

I'd consider two separate back fives, that way people can get used to playing together and swap the whole five when necessary.

Hart
Zabaleta Kompany Demichelis Kolarov

or

Caballero
Sagna Boyata Mangala Clichy

For me it should be:

Hart
Zabaleta Kompany Mangala Clichy

Integrate Mangala properly then integrate Fernando properly. Dicking about with formations and trying to introduce too many new players at once doesn't work.

[Wonderwall]

I'd consider two separate back fives, that way people can get used to playing together and swap the whole five when necessary.

Hart
Zabaleta Kompany Demichelis Kolarov

or

Caballero
Sagna Boyata Mangala Clichy

For me it should be:

Hart
Zabaleta Kompany Mangala Clichy

Integrate Mangala properly then integrate Fernando properly. Dicking about with formations and trying to introduce too many new players at once doesn't work.

that was the WHU back four last week. However, we have to start somewhere and he needs to stick with it unless it proves to be poor, then change.

[sheblue]

If only we could put a MDM head on a pair of Mangala shoulders.

[Nigels Tackle]

If only we could put a MDM head on a pair of Mangala shoulders.

the lab in the new training complex is working on that

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

The central pairing needs to be the same. The full-backs can be rotated with less of a problem. However, a (relatively) settled back four would improve us no end.

[Ted Hughes]

Exactly the kind of shit Bob pulled.

Get a back 4 which looks solid after spending time & making mistakes trying to get there. Win the title. Fuck about with it as much as possible.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

The settled back 4 is no doubt part of the issue/problem but it's surely a bit deeper than that? We are not getting it right pretty well all over the pitch with the possible exception of Aguero. WHU aside he has been pretty special and even in that game if he had got it right we might well have won.

The defensive shield if you can call it that has been average at best.Fernando to me looked damned good in the initial game or so but since then (after his injury) he has been off the pace and we all know Yaya's defensive capabilities are not great. Going forward even Silva hasn't been consistently great.He is still quality but hasn't been at his best for much of the time.Nasri injured, Navas in and out but nothing special.The other player closer to his best has been Milner but teams need more of the players to be doing their jobs to expect to keep winning games.

After not being great so far in the season the capitulation at CSKA seems to have hit them quite hard.All seemed ok at WHU for 15/20 minutes but once we came under pressure both individuals and the team messed up.We almost recovered but not quite with a strong finish.Then v Newcastle we were shocking all round.

The game v the scum is massive and I hope Pellers comments and body language,which sounded pretty negative on behalf of the team, don't rub off.We must not lose.

[gillie]

Exactly the kind of shit Bob pulled.

Get a back 4 which looks solid after spending time & making mistakes trying to get there. Win the title. Fuck about with it as much as possible.

That is exactly spot on Ted.I said to my son whilst watching the Newcastle game that Pellegrini was making the same mistake Bob made by fucking about with the back four.Every top class team has a settled and solid back 5.

[bayblue]

100% agree. Settled back four is what's called for.

Looking at your analysis I think we can confidently predict that Sundays back 4 will be:

Zaba, Komps, MDM, Kola

.....if only for the reason that this foursome hasn't yet played together

...and so it (nearly) came to pass!!
Wonder what his fav back four really is?