So you think we should change the entire way we play? If you bring in a centre half, Sparkes and Rafferty you have 5 defenders on the pitch and the manager would be villifield. He gets accused of not being attacking enough in what is effectively 2 4 1 3 when we are attacking.Blue Walter wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 7:24 pmWe have had Hume on the books who is a full back but obviously not being considered so that means Sparkes is the only option. I think an option would have been is play to our strengths, such as it is, which is playing a different way to use Sparkes best attribute. We have become predictable with a weakness in that left side area which teams have exploited so a change of system may well achieve two things. Playing wing backs would certainly give the opposition something new to discover about out team but also utilising Sparkes best asset. Releasing him from defence, to a degree, and using his services from his excellent crossing ability may be a way out until Ogilvie is fit enough to return. If its successful maybe Ogilvie will be the one kicking his heels.Mickemo wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 6:42 pmI don’t disagree with him being our weakest link defensively but the errors have happened right across the defence.Blue Walter wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 5:46 pmI haven't put the blame squarely on the left back position have I?What I have said is that position is currently our weakest link. I disagree that the balance has been right either, perhaps from the right side it has because Rafferty is a good full back at this level. If Sparkes is seen as a chance creating player, where he has created the most 'assists' by any Pompey player so far this season, then play him in a position where he excels. Whether or not you see him as a good defender or not is the question and I happen to think he isn't. I think he is great going forward but we also need defensive stability. I agree that goals against us have come from a mixture of indidual mistakes and not entirely down to one player, which is what I have said. Because I happen to have said that I think Sparkes is our weakest defensive player some people choose to say that I am blaming him entirely, which I haven't.Mickemo wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 5:22 pmAt what cost - do you think we will create more or less opportunities for our front 3 that way?Blue Walter wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2024 5:23 pmIf that is the case maybe they should do more defending.Pompey1984+1 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2024 4:49 pm The big elephant in the room here is, do we really play with defensive full backs? Personally I'd say not, JM wants them to push on past the wingers.
I think the balance between Full Backs defending and attacking has been about right this season.
I agree individual errors have cost us a number of goals this season but they aren’t limited to Left Back are they!
You have an unusual way of expressing that you don’t blame him entirely - the title of this thread is telling don’t you think.
I maintain my view that the full back balance between defence and attack - if anything we’ve been a little too risk averse for my liking at FP in recent games ( I get why that is though)
Now a question for you, who would YOU have played instead of Sparkes at LB noting Ogilvie has been out injured for most of the season and also acknowledging that Hume like Sparkes is better when attacking??
I don't know why you keep reminding me that Sparkes is not the only one to have made mistakes because this is something I have acknowledged myself, plenty of times. Also I don't think I have a 'strange way of expressing myself" on my views at all. I have never said it has all been down to one player and I never titled the thread. The thread author asked the question and I have answered with my view. Other posters on here will read my posts and decipher them in the way that suits them. This is a debating platform so disagreement is inevitable but misrepresentation of views is not good for a civilised exchange of views. I am fully aware that people will disagree with me, especially when I have the audacity to disagree with the general stream of views, but good healthy disagreement is better than just nodding your head.
It would also mean dropping Lane/Kamara or both? Or you play with a winger or two at wing backs and then you will really see poor defending!
You see it happening when Sparkes gets forward that Rafferty holds back a bit and tucks in a bit and you see it in reverse when Rafferty goes forward. We have tried three at the back a handful of times this season and it's achieved very little.