Just 16 Goals Conceded so far, but there is a but...

[Nero]

And its that we conceded 9 in 4 games against the other 4 teams in the top 5.

 

Weve conceded just 7 goals in 14 games against teams outside the top 6

 

Seems the defence this season hasnt quite got the class of last season but is more robust against the lower ranked sides.

 

This for me is the biggest task to address in the transfer window.

[Daniele Giovanni]

But we are see out the majority of games and holding on, last season we didn't do that

[torryowl]

You concede more goals against the good teams than the poor ones ...I wonder why that is .

[Daniele Giovanni]

But this, but that, can't we just enjoy the moment of being 3rd? Does there always have to be a but? 

[bladeshater]

Relax stopping looking for things that aren't there 

[Nero]

36 minutes ago, Daniele Giovanni said:

But this, but that, can't we just enjoy the moment of being 3rd? Does there always have to be a but? 

I think its called trying to see where we can improve.

But no, you are all right,we can get the carpet slippers and cigars out and relax cos weve pizzed it.

[alanharper]

This is worrying you enough to make a thread at 5am on a Tuesday morning, 17 days after we last conceded a league goal? 

 

[Five Archers]

1 minute ago, Nero said:

I think its called trying to see where we can improve.

But no, you are all right,we can get the carpet slippers and cigars out and relax cos weve pizzed it.

Nothing wrong with looking for improvement mate, that is what we should constantly be doing

[Nero]

1 minute ago, alanharper said:

This is worrying you enough to make a thread at 5am on a Tuesday morning, 17 days after we last conceded a league goal? 

 

5 am where you are buddy. There are other timezones available.

[Daniele Giovanni]

8 minutes ago, Nero said:

5 am where you are buddy. There are other timezones available.

Wednesday were so bad you fled the country? 

[alanharper]

9 minutes ago, Nero said:

5 am where you are buddy. There are other timezones available.

 

I'm in our very own S6. But regardless of time zones, is this really suddenly such an issue for you today, 17 days since we conceded a league goal, when we've played 3 games since then, kept 2 clean sheets and only conceded once which was a penalty to a Premier League team? 

 

 

[PTLiam]

1 hour ago, torryowl said:

You concede more goals against the good teams than the poor ones ...I wonder why that is .

 

[Daniele Giovanni]

25 minutes ago, alanharper said:

 

I'm in our very own S6. But regardless of time zones, is this really suddenly such an issue for you today, 17 days since we conceded a league goal, when we've played 3 games since then, kept 2 clean sheets and only conceded once which was a penalty to a Premier League team? 

 

 

There are so many good things about Wednesday this season

[1963owl]

Some people can’t handle things going right for once

[Nero]

42 minutes ago, alanharper said:

 

I'm in our very own S6. But regardless of time zones, is this really suddenly such an issue for you today, 17 days since we conceded a league goal, when we've played 3 games since then, kept 2 clean sheets and only conceded once which was a penalty to a Premier League team? 

 

 

Blimey. I was getting slaughtered by the Moore Outers a couple of weeks ago for suggesting that 2 points per game is on target.

 

Now the Clappers are having a go at me for suggesting that our defence might need improving in bigger games.

 

Must be doing something right.

[1963owl]

&your answer is that we are all clappers?

[TheEnchanter]

I don't get why people get defensive when discussions are raised like the OP has. It looks like it's going to be fine margins as always and this is an area that might make a difference. Whilst there is no cause for alarm it is quite true that we might need to have 1 or 2 better results against the top 6 teams if we don't want to be playing play off football in May. 

[royalowlisback]

The opening post is a very valid point, it is an area we need to improve, otherwise it will be play-offs at best. 

 

We have become flat-track bullies, which is excellent up to a point - now we need to kick on against the teams around us, it really could come down to the odd point, or even goal difference, a few wins and clean sheets against our rivals could be massive. 

[Grants Left Boot]

But then on the flipside, three of those were in a brand new defence on the opening day of the season.  Would that be the same result now? Probably not.  And two of those 9 were when we were playing with 10 men against Peterborough  If James hadn't been sent off, would that have been the score?  If there had been a few more minutes left to play against Ipswich could we have got the winner?

 

It's all its and buts. 

 

But just looking at league games only, we are third, 1 point behind automatics, 11 wins out of 18 which is a 61% win rate.  6 away wins out of 9 (67% winrate). Plus we have the best clean sheet rate in league one at 50%.  Lost once at home and only failed to score in 2 out of 18 games.  1.89 goals scored per match and 0.89 conceded each match.

 

Nothing wrong with those stats   

[Tamworthowl]

If, repeat, if, two points per game is a guarantee of auto promotion, then we are doing fine.

 

Beat the bottom 16 home and away and we would end the season on at least 96 points. 7 goals in 14 games against the bottom 18 teams (not sure what it is for the bottom 16) suggests that we shouldn’t be too far off achieving that: we’ve only dropped four points so far (2 draws), but picked up 5 against the top 8. So we’re ahead of the game. 

Beating Shrewsbury is more important that getting points off Derby (that’ll be a bonus). The defence is doing fine. If anything, it’s the lack of goals against the lower teams (Bristol Rovers, Lincoln), teams that can defend well, that’s costing us.