Our 'pressure skills' are our biggest problem

[windows]

People will rightly point out our deficiencies in defence. BUT I think our pressure skills are our biggest problem. I think our ineffective run out of the backline is the second biggest problem.

In terms of pressure skills, what worries me is that too often sides can flow freely through midfield against us. Too often we allow loose players to drift forward against us who either kick or set up easy goals.

It is an intensity and concentration of effort thing. Compare this to the Pies (best at this in the league IMO) and the gap is startling. Even though he didn't get a lot of it tonight, we should NEVER drop Pfeiffer. He is exactly what we need. 6 more of him to surround our class players and we'd win more games than we'd lose.

 

[one eyed bluey]

Yep agree. I dont think we can blame fitness that much anymore.
Collingwoods a great example of intensity and organization in defensive aspects of the game even though they dont have super talent through the mid's. Ratts needs to get the tackle bags out and get these guys on the angry pills and also, as pagan would say, teach them to 'do the basics right' to be competitive and win games. The chasing, tackling, smothering, not getting sucked in to the contest.

We're a young team improving dramatically but this is where our overall team improvement will/needs to come from.

But dont worry we are on the up the talent is there.

 

[audas]

People will rightly point out our deficiencies in defence. BUT I think our pressure skills are our biggest problem. I think our ineffective run out of the backline is the second biggest problem.

In terms of pressure skills, what worries me is that too often sides can flow freely through midfield against us. Too often we allow loose players to drift forward against us who either kick or set up easy goals.

It is an intensity and concentration of effort thing. Compare this to the Pies (best at this in the league IMO) and the gap is startling. Even though he didn't get a lot of it tonight, we should NEVER drop Pfeiffer. He is exactly what we need. 6 more of him to surround our class players and we'd win more games than we'd lose.

we've won 2 games out of the last 22 - thats some turn around.