Ronny under MASSIVE pressure now.

The second goal wasnt really anything to do with the way we were set up though, it was Forrest being asleep/lazy.

 

Fair enough, but that's still not an individual error, not the formation's fault. Forrest was back in defence.

 

Well then for the sake of argument, lets change the word philosophy for "footballing approach" - if your "approach" is to win in an entertaining manner, then thats fine by me. Surely you can't even think that the manager sends his players out onto the park in any other manner?

We have been extremely unlucky that valuable players this season have been injured, left the club or seriously under-performing, but i firmly believe this to be a season of transition that requires seeing out the team's development.

Liverpool were rocked by their star player - and without doubt the nucleus of their team leaving - and they too have been suffering as a result of top players underperforming.

But enough about England for the time being - should our defence become more aggressive and apt, and (to agree with you) the midfield do more to help out - along with many of our chances being converted at a decent rate - then we'll be on to a winner.

 

Part of the problem for me, it's the attitude to defending. We don't defend as a team and that leaves us open to be exposed. We should be just as determined defending than as we are going forward.

It's a mindset just now.

 

I think we're used to dealing without Lustig and Forrest to be honest, if we can't cope without them then we are in trouble as both are very injury prone. The last part is what I'm getting at - offer more protection and defend as a team. If we do that the goals will start going back in.

For me just now the winning run we went on was disguised by Guidetti's cracking form, it wasn't any better than we were playing at the start of the season, just we had a player of better wuality finishing chances.

 

I agree with that, but Id like to think Forrest received an absolute bollocking from Deila, Collins or someone for that goal.

 

I still don't see how the problem domestically is defending. We're dominating possession and not conceding more goals than earlier seasons. I agree that we need some work defensively, but it won't help us take our chances. We've created enough chances to win every single game, but the finishing has been poor, even back when Guidetti was in form.

 

* sake efe

 

I've agreed with you on the protection point, hence why in other such threads I have advocated we get ourselves a midfield "enforcer" i.e. a sitting defensive midfielder, but that still does not solve the problemcwith experienced and established defenders (for what ever reason) being incapable of doing the simplest of defensive duties.

Guidetti's early form showed what we were missing - someone clinical to convert our countless possession and chances on target. That's why the manager signed him and why he should be credited for such a shrewd move.

 

I'm seriously sick of hearing about this philosophy. What a load of * man.

Get the points in the bag, * his philosophy.... Is his philosophy to make poor tactical decisions. Or is the tactics on the park down to schoolboy footballers, the same players who played well under Lennon.

I'm all for backing the manager, but some people just cannot admit when he's wrong.

 

We know how to solve that though and Deila refuses to. So you look at the problems he should be looking at. If we have games where we don't take our chances, which we definitely will, then we need to not concede.

 

It's not disguised with Guidetti's cracking form, it shows the system/philosphy can work with a striker doing his job..

Creating chances RC apart is what this system affords..

I agree we should defend just as aggressively this needs improving, but it's a hard balance to get right.

Let's see how he gets on with addressing these issues.

 

Do you not think Deila's approach to games is to win then?

Is his set up what is causing the likes of Ambrose and co to be completely incapable of bettering "poorer" opposition forwards?

Why is Deila shelving so much of the blame when - as you say - these players have played so well under Mr. Lennon in the past?

 

No it doesn't, it shows you what a really good player can do for you. In a 4231 we need to get the full team involved in scoring. If Guidetti doesn't and Stokes doesn't who do we rely on?

I think his approach to play the way he wants and results second. He's stated as much before when he was commentating in Norway.

 

But he's also stated in the past that he has had to tinker with the way he wanted to play when it was required, so he can hardly be called out as "stubborn" in that respect.

 

See I think thats * from elbow, results then good football. You can easily tweak it when we are more solid and have our players on who'll put the ball in the net on the field.

 

But we DO have solid players who are capable of all these things, and had them from the start when Deila set his team out the way he wanted them to play - as is a manager's prerogative with his team.

Europe aside, every single team/formation that Deila has sent out for EVERY SPFL gamr this season went out on the park as favourites.

 

I think he's more interested in his style of play or his "philosophy" as tirelessly mentioned.

Of course he wants to win, but so do other teams managers. They set up to beat us, they change their tactics to suit the best way they can play against us.

Yes the players are to take a lot of the blame. I don't doubt that. I do think it's very hard to be a defender under the way Deila has us playing though. It leaves them exposed, and vulnerable, no matter how good you are. And it certainly doesnt help having an absolute shambolic calamity in Ambrose.

I just hope this "aww its okay, we can see ronnys philosophy" pish doesn't continue to go on and on, because if it does we'll be in a real title race. Aberdeen aren't conceding goals right now, and are winning games. I don't know how long that will continue, but it'd be ignorant to just assume it wont.

Dropping 15 points in 18 games is rather poor for a club with the resources we have. And i put a lot of blame on to Ronny Deila's tactics

 

Yes but that managers perogative isn't setting them out like that, he'll rather set them out with the glaring weaknesses we can all see just now.

Last paragraph there, I've been pointing that out but folk still think it's acceptable to be trailing Aberdeen at the midway point of the season. As outright favourites, we should be far more comfortable than we are just now.

 

Well it's easy to do, it's easy to fix.
We're all agreed on one quick way to fix the defense and that is to get shot of Ambrose.

I'll tell you one quickfire way to kill to birds with the one stone. The boy that played centre back for Aberdeen yesterday looked absolutely solid.

His name is Ash Taylor and they've got him on a short term deal that runs out in the Summer.

You know that guy we've been looking for who plays centre back, right footed that can also play defensive midfield, well he plays those positions and also right back.

1 metre 93, 76kg? how is that even possible?

Anyway he stood out a mile the few times St Johnstone threw the ball in the box.

Matthews has looked a bit lost since Ledley left. Ash Taylor's Welsh. So maybe that could do the trick and at the same time upset Aberdeen's defense a little.

That might be a long shot, but one surefire bet is Armstrong. Would they sell to us though?

With Armstrong he's got a fantastic understanding with Mackay-Steven who MacNamara
made a thing about mentioning he wants to go and play in England.

So waht happens if you go in and offer £1million for Mackay-Steven and whatever Armstrong costs is worth taking the hit.

Mackay-Stevens has been playing down the right, cutting inside and Armstrong can find him with his eyes closed.

It's about combinations. Stick with what works and look to fix the pockets that need players who can link up better.

Johansen, Guidetti and Stokes link up pretty well. Griffiths looks excellent off the bench.
Scepovic is your target man, but we could look to bring in another British style striker.

Don't think that does any harm really.

But the main one's would be a centre back, playmaker who's 6ft and someone on the wing who's also got some battling defensive qualities.

Hopefully that's what we're after.