The best form of defence is attack!

Aussie Magpie Fan

I have noticed that Daryl Janmaat has come out in the local press singing the praises of our defensive unit. For the record,  here is what he has been saying.

“It’s important to be strong defensively, because if you defend well and have good attackers, you’ll always have a good chance of winning any game.

“We’re very strong defensively and that’s good, because a strong defence has to be the starting point for any successful team.

No way past!
No way past!

“We’re keeping down the number of chances our opponents are creating, and we’re very satisfied with that side of our game.”

It is hard to argue with what he has to say but I think there is more too it than that. I am sure that over the years, all of us have sat on the edge of our seats waiting anxiously for the final whistle to blow as the opposition team piles pressure on us as we try and hold on to a slender one goal advantage. It seemed to be a weekly occurrence and to be honest I was kind of getting used to the feeling as we have made an art form out of  failing to close out games.

However the past four or five games I have noticed that we have looked a lot more assured in the closing minutes of games and my nerves are all the better for it. Sure we have defended well . Janmaat & Dummet have been particularly impressive and even Taylor has won a few fans over with some solid efforts. But I think a large portion of the transformation is due to something else all together.

A forward line with pace and a forward line that offers a genuine threat on the counter!

Perez, Ameobi, Sissoko and Cabella, four players that are more than capable of quickly turning defence into attack . When a team carries this threat, opposition teams are less likely to push too high up the park and commit players forward. You can’t help but notice that teams are not flooding forward as much as they push for a goal. Take Liverpool for example, they sat back and the moment they did commit more players forward late in the game, we caught them on the counter and were unlucky not to go two up. Although it was disappointing not to score from that break, the most important thing is the doubt it creates for opposition defenders. For years we have watched left backs and right backs bomb forward with out fear or reprisal. so it is nice to see us dish it out in turn. Our central midfield has also shielded the back men well and Colback and Sissoko are both tidy passers of the ball which helps relive pressure via keeping possession. So the combination of players and styles is working at the moment and Pardew has the mix right. He may have stumbled upon it by forced injuries and no other options but that matters not, the results are what matters in the long run.

Now I am not the biggest fan of a game plan that relies on counter attacking as it’s main avenue to goal but if it is done well, it is hard to argue with the results. So if we keep up the work rate and keep winning games, I am all for a bit of counter attacking football.

What are your thoughts?

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202 thoughts on “The best form of defence is attack!”

  1. Both line ups suggest a physical battle to me, which is maybe why Pards hasn’t gone with Cabella.
    I see WHU playing alot of long high balls into Carroll – so we need to be first to the knock downs. Get the ball forward coz I think Perez, Goof and Sammy could cause their defence problems.
    I see a draw today.

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  2. Can only assum the idea is the old one of stay tight for first hour (and Sammy’s injured) I’m more worried about Tiote myself

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  4. A little suprised with Gouffron but Pards probably figures he can bring him on in the second half if we need a goal. Gouffron is more suited for the physical match this is likely to be and can probably do a better job defensively to keep their wingers from getting in crosses to AC

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  21. Dave ,agree, we can’t seem to break them down well enough.
    I would take off Wilo and put Cisse on later on as well

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  26. complete and utter fluke!

    Question is now, can we force the play and attack teams rather than just counter?

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  28. This games lost cause they will close us totally out now and we haven’t really had a realistic sniff all game

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  34. We don’t really look very good at breaking teams down. I fancy West Ham just shut up shop here and hit us on the break in the knowledge we won’t break them down.

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  38. Last week the hammers v Toffees was really volatile, west ham are a very crafty team mind. Lots of unsporting play went on last week in that game not least Tomkins clutching his face when his face wasn’t even touched.

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  43. Tight game.

    Two teams well structured at the moment. Can’t really fault anything. Perhaps Cabella for Gouf offers more offensively. But actually think that was an unfortunate loss.

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  45. West Ham were jammy today but it was a sterile game when it came to goal scoring opportunities really. Sissoko had a brain fart, let emotion get the better of him.

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  47. Hope its only one game for Sissoko, need Abeid back, Id give a game to Bigirimana, we dont play any better with Tioté and Gouffran in this side. Id go back to Taylor with Colo and Dummett LB for Chelsea, Taylor with Dummett if Colo aint fit for Burnley. Waiting for Aarons return.

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  51. I think Tioté is done with us, id even put Coloccini as Dm instead of him if Abeid aint fit

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  52. Transfer business in January needs to be in Kruse and Bamford. Out we need to find somebody stupid enough to give us a fee for Cisse

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  53. Bamford is on loan from Chelsea, but Id take him asap, Id take Carroll too if possible, my favourite but maybe unrealistic one choice: Jordan Rhodes for N9

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  54. I wanted to say, that despite the skills and pace, Haidara doesnt create that much, Ive seen Dummett being more dangerous as LB than him, and Id put him back there when Taylor and Coloccini are back. Janmaat Taylor Colo Dummett may be my favourite back4

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  55. Very poor performance and shocking from Sissoko. And he got a handshake from Pardew when he came off! He should be fined by the club. Two cards in 45 seconds? Ridiculous. Is a pro or a schoolboy?

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  56. Shame to load the winning run, but no shame in that, games away vs every team from Swansea down to Burnley are going to be a battle, and a level WDL record in them would be ok probably need a point at Turf Moor, however

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  57. Should read is he a pro or a schoolboy? I think I have the answer based on that performance. Ridiculous at any level.

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  59. Several of our players looked sulky all match. Sammeobi was one. Eliot doesn’t get to play enough and looked very shaky as well. Pardew’s plans are out the window again with all the injuries and suspensions and a busy Christmas season coming.

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  60. We need a top striker in January. Stop mucking about Ashley you cheapskate. We’re not impressed by the Scrooge act.

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  65. Fact: Our best defense is Janmaat Taylor Coloccini Dummett, or maybe Janmaat Coloccini Dummett (Santon LB when back)

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  69. cant complain really. they looked slightly more threatening but we were unfortunate to concede from a misplaced shot 🙄 0-0 would of summed the game up.

    Tiote looked rusty, Abeid / Taylor are the better option imo, sell Anita 😆
    Sammi looked a little tired and didnt create as many as he could have with his final ball.
    Sissoko will be a tad embarrassed watching that back..
    MOTM Collback, Perez, Dummett

    I wonder if Ferreyra will ever get a game before his loan spell ends? We seem to do better with the 1 forward option, not sure where this leaves Cisse, Ferreyra, Riviere, Armstrong and DJ

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  71. @BDave, poorer than previous games, but nobody really shone today. Perez showed some nice skill, shame most of it wasnt in the box.

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  72. I wouldn’t expect Tiote to start today if i’m being honest. His only just recovered from injury so Carbella should of started really. Cisse should have done better today. Sammy should of past the ball to Cisse instead of trying to do everything himself.

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  73. Very disappointed with our game management yesterday and the team selection. Gouffran really doesn’t bring anything to the team and Cabella is the better player.

    But it also shows we are a team lacking in goals and I think Pardew knows this. This is why we’re set up to defend deep and counter and when we need to attack and break teams down we struggle. I think we had one shot on target all game…

    Anyway I believe teams will have worked us out now and will sit back and not commit too many forward (like WH) and ask us to create our own chances. Burnley will do the same and the question is; Can we do it?

    On a plus side I think Perez looks lively but definitely support.

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  74. Never watched the game live yesterday, but just watched highlights on MOTD. It seemed that Dummet’s distribution from the back was excellent, and Perez is a real handful.

    For the West Ham goal, really disappointed with our defensive unit, 4 players watched Cresswell run past them, including Tiote and Colback, this is aslo not the first time that Janmaat has been caught hogging the sideline with a huge gap opening up at right centre half. Especially when he had a clear view of the West Ham attack…

    The Sissoko sending off was absolutely pathetic, the bloke should have his heed looked at. He cost us the chance of a point without a doubt.

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