Essendon Defence

[bomber69]

How is it that with our star-studded line-up in defence we have conceded the most points of any team. Up to Round 5 we have conceded 602 points, averaging 120.4 points a game.

I think it has alot to do with the attacking style that Knights has us playing, but it leaves us very vulnerable for counter-attack.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Schmick]

Simple really. High scoring gameplan mixed in with a poor midfield and there lies your answer.

 

[football_legends]

Essendon? we r just shit!

 

[The Dustbin]

Turnovers and missing targets going forward. So far this year when a 'clanger' has occured we have been smashed on the rebound.

 

[football_legends]

Loyd needs a pay cut! over paid actors at the moment!

 

[The Dustbin]

Essendon? we r just shit!

But, you support unlisted.

 

[Windas_Magic]

Our defence has done very well considering how opposition have been able to dominate the midfield in some games. Ryder has been shutting down his opponent, Houli has been doing well (beat Milne hands down), Mal has been solid (only bad game was against Fev), Fletch is worrying me a bit, doesn't have the pace or engine to play on key forwards but is very effective as a spare man and our run out of defence has been acceptional in most games. I think Rama has to become more accountable of his opponent, Clarke got away from him quite a bit and has been beaten in most games.
Rama should be used on the wing with his great foot skills and i for one would like to see Reimers forward. Our midfield accountability has let us down more than anything

 

[The Dustbin]

Loyd needs a pay cut! over paid actors at the moment!

Ok. Now you can ____ off.

Poor attempt.

 

[football_legends]

Mal is as slow as my 90 year old grand mother playing 18 holes of golf! like a gay man he always plays from behind! Paddy Ryder should be in defence and Fletcher, f___off Mal! like Sheedy getting all these old Carlton hacks playing with us, now even sheedy picks against us!

 

[Colin D'Cops]

A defence is only as good as its midfield...With McVeigh out, one of / if not our best midfielder, mix that with an attacking gameplan with young kids, there lies your answer...

 

[football_legends]

A defence is only as good as its midfield...With McVeigh out, one of / if not our best midfielder, mix that with an attacking gameplan with young kids, there lies your answer...

bombers won't win more than 4 games just like Carlton last year! thanks to Sheeds!

 

[The Dustbin]

Mal is as slow as my 90 year old grand mother playing 18 holes of golf! like a gay man he always plays from behind! Paddy Ryder should be in defence and Fletcher, f___off Mal! like Sheedy getting all these old Carlton hacks playing with us, now even sheedy picks against us!

Your grandmother does well to play golf at her age.

Stop wasting our time and ____ off.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

bombers won't win more than 4 games just like Carlton last year! thanks to Sheeds!

You are an absolute tool, and to add to that, f___ off...!

 

[The Dustbin]

bombers won't win more than 4 games just like Carlton last year! thanks to Sheeds!

Pack your bags and enjoy your holiday.

 

[Windas_Magic]

bombers won't win more than 4 games just like Carlton last year! thanks to Sheeds!

run along now

 

[monty1104]

Lol, what a spaz

Anyway, our defense isnt so bad considering the lack of defensive pressure the midfield applies.

 

[The_Young_Gun]

bombers won't win more than 4 games just like Carlton last year! thanks to Sheeds!

"Hopefully Merve will pardon me on this one"

"F___ OFF!!!!"

Go talk you crap with the rest of your kind on the Collingwood Forums.

 

[ant555]

If the midfield cant stop the footy coming in through the corridoor then our defence is going to continue to look ordinary. Its all about the inside pressure Force the opposition to go wider. If they are going to get easy kicks make sure they are down the wings. Dont let players run acorss the middle to link up easily when the ball is switched.
If you force the opposition to come into the forward line via the wings it is easier to zone off the kicks coming in and help the defenders.

 

[dejaSLATTERY]

Its our game style, and turnovers which is the problem

When we turn it over when we are running forward that's when teams are hurting us.

And with llyod as our only tall up fwd isnt helping much either.

 

[Shane Hird]

Houli is doing a wonderful job when asked to play defender and we should be talking about how lucky we are to have this kid who can play very well in the centre and then,when told, can shift his focus to being in defence and beat his more experienced opponent.

Stop freak'in whinging about Mal and Fletcher is getting older. Serves no purpose to complain about old champs who have lost a yard or two if they are still doing their job to a reasonable standard.

Blokes like Dyson,McPhee,Winderlich and Pev are our main worries. If players like them (and they have mates) don't do constructive things with the football,it's gunna put added pressure on our backline.

In saying all that, if we didn't have Paddy playing in our backline we would be truly f----ed.

 

[BomberFletch31]

As has already been mentioned, our lack of defensive pressure by the midfielders is making the defenders' jobs a lot more difficult. Ryder is doing brilliantly at the moment, Michael holds his own and Fletch does pretty well sometimes considering his age at the moment - had a fantastic game against the Dogs. Ryder is more of a half back than a full back, so it does make me wonder who will take over when Fletch retires.

Most of our key position players - Lloyd, Lucas, Fletcher and Michael are on the wrong side of 30. I don't think any of them will play in another Essendon premiership, unfortunately. Playing kids now will cause us some short term pain, but it'll be worth it. I hope ...

 

[Big Blow Hard]

Mal is as slow as my 90 year old grand mother playing 18 holes of golf! like a gay man he always plays from behind! Paddy Ryder should be in defence and Fletcher, f___off Mal! like Sheedy getting all these old Carlton hacks playing with us, now even sheedy picks against us!

Um, doesnt at least one gay guy have to play from the front as well?

 

[GoDons]

If the midfield cant stop the footy coming in through the corridoor then our defence is going to continue to look ordinary. Its all about the inside pressure Force the opposition to go wider. If they are going to get easy kicks make sure they are down the wings. Dont let players run acorss the middle to link up easily when the ball is switched.
If you force the opposition to come into the forward line via the wings it is easier to zone off the kicks coming in and help the defenders.

On top of that, if we're going to leave a paddock for opposition forwards to lead into, we're going to be exposed.

This was especially on show against Carlton, and it just made Fevola's job too easily.

Our midfield must work back more.

 

[The Dustbin]

Houli is doing a wonderful job when asked to play defender and we should be talking about how lucky we are to have this kid who can play very well in the centre and then,when told, can shift his focus to being in defence and beat his more experienced opponent.

Stop freak'in whinging about Mal and Fletcher is getting older. Serves no purpose to complain about old champs who have lost a yard or two if they are still doing their job to a reasonable standard.

Blokes like Dyson,McPhee,Winderlich and Pev are our main worries. If players like them (and they have mates) don't do constructive things with the football,it's gunna put added pressure on our backline.

In saying all that, if we didn't have Paddy playing in our backline we would be truly f----ed.

McPhee has been consistently good for 4 of the matches and Winderlich virtually didn't have a pre-season.

 

[The_Young_Gun]

Windalich should have taken over Courtney Dempseys job when Courtney got injured, it was that sort of HBF role where he'd be a spare man in defence and would rebound the ball more than often (He did a bit of that last year). But in the last few games I havn't seen that and its our midfield that have to do the extra work by getting the ball out of our backline.