Our inability to defend/keep clean sheets

[GrandOldTeam]

We've kept one clean sheet in the league so far this season, the opener against Spurs.

In all competitions, we've kept two (Spurs and Salford City).

How easy Everton concede goals has been my biggest disappointment with our campaign so far.

Fulham, Brighton, Fleetwood Town... West Brom - all slotting two past us.

How big a concern is it?

Is the problem as simple as our defence not being good enough?

Is it the setup?

Do we need another centre half in January? If so, who does he come in for?

The very first player Everton approached under Ancelotti was a centre half - Magalhaes.

That to me suggested he knew we needed a top, good centre half as a priority. Is Godfrey that player, now?

Ancelotti also wanted Hojbjerg - whether ahead of Doucoure or Allan is anyones guess, I'd guess he wanted Hojbjerg and Allan sat in front of a back four which had Magalhaes.

It makes me think our current defence just isn't good enough...

 

[ElGato]

Lack of a settled back four is a massive issue for us, and in particular our full backs being in and out of the side is our biggest problem.

I'd also rather we played the classic ball winning CB (Keano) alongside a quicker more athletic recovery CB (should be Ben God, but he's had to cover for absent full backs) as opposed to two ball winners (Keano and Mina). Don't think we are mobile enough with both Mina and Keane playing.

Mina and Pickford in the same defence is just too much chaos.

Think a regular back four of Seamus - Ben God - Keano - Digne would keep clean sheets even with Jordan 'Calm Down' Pickford in net.

Based on that logic, we won't keep a clean sheet until late Jan. Which is great

 

[Toffe3m4n]

I do think frequent individual errors should also be factored in (which is also an issue in itself mind).

 

[The binman chronicles]

I would like to make my opening statement on behalf of the accused in this trial crown versus the defence.

They're all crap your honour.

I rest my case.

 

[GwladysBlue]

The system does not help. How Ancelotti hasn’t sorted the defence out by now is very, very worrying. You don’t have to have brilliant players to be organised and hard to break down.

 

[MikeH72]

We need a new goalkeeper.

 

[Big Sams Undies]

Goalkeeper and CB are priority positions to strengthen.

Pickford and Mina are a shambles, Keane is a slow wet lettuce.

 

[Toffe3m4n]

Lack of a settled back four is a massive issue for us, and in particular our full backs being in and out of the side is our biggest problem.

I'd also rather we played the classic ball winning CB (Keano) alongside a quicker more athletic recovery CB (should be Ben God, but he's had to cover for absent full backs) as opposed to two ball winners (Keano and Mina). Don't think we are mobile enough with both Mina and Keane playing.

Mina and Pickford in the same defence is just too much chaos.

Think a regular back four of Seamus - Ben God - Keano - Digne would keep clean sheets even with Jordan 'Calm Down' Pickford in net.

Based on that logic, we won't keep a clean sheet until late Jan. Which is great

Also, whilst I agree with this somewhat, we had a 'settled' back four for those first four league games that we won and still only kept one clean sheet. That could've improved over time, of course, but just worth pointing out that it may not be the overarching factor.

I think the midfield have to take some of the culpability too personally.

 

[Tramps_mate]

We've kept one clean sheet in the league so far this season, the opener against Spurs.

In all competitions, we've kept two (Spurs and Salford City).

How easy Everton concede goals has been my biggest disappointment with our campaign so far.

Fulham, Brighton, Fleetwood Town... West Brom - all slotting two past us.

How big a concern is it?

Is the problem as simple as our defence not being good enough?

Is it the setup?

Do we need another centre half in January? If so, who does he come in for?

The very first player Everton approached under Ancelotti was a centre half - Magalhaes.

That to me suggested he knew we needed a top, good centre half as a priority. Is Godfrey that player, now?

Ancelotti also wanted Hojbjerg - whether ahead of Doucoure or Allan is anyones guess, I'd guess he wanted Hojbjerg and Allan sat in front of a back four which had Magalhaes.

It makes me think our current defence just isn't good enough...

It's a huge issue currently. You don't lose if you don't concede. Should be the first area to work on for any new manager...

 

[Tipp blue]

Lack of pace, Coleman has slowed down none of our CBs have any speed about them and Digne is not too fast either, add our DM's to the equation Allan Gomes and Doucouré none of those are going to win a gold for sprinting any time soon.
You can get away with 1 or 2 slow but solid defenders you can't getaway with 6 slow defensive players on the pitch.
Add to that a keeper who doesn't fill the axis of snails with confidence.. it's not hard to see why we can't keep clean sheets.

 

[DaChunk]

Needed to get Gana Gueye in the summer.

 

[anton66]

Our defence puts a massive burden on the forwards to score at least 2, but more often 3 goals a game, and that’s not to win.

 

[ElGato]

Also, whilst I agree with this somewhat, we had a 'settled' back four for those first four league games that we won and still only kept one clean sheet. That could've improved over time, of course, but just worth pointing out that it may not be the overarching factor.

I think the midfield have to take some of the culpability too personally.

Indeed. Whole teams defend nowadays don't they, not just the back four.

Thinking back to those early games, though, some of the goals we conceded were from individual errors or pot shots from distance? A great free kick, wonder goal from Bissouma, Pickford dropping the ball at Maupay's feet. System-wise, I can't recall too many gaping chances for the opposition. Maybe that Doherty chance at Spurs?

Since Coleman has been out though, we seem to concede at least one edge of the six yard box one-on-one with the keeper per game. We're quite easy to get past at the sides, which pulls our CBs out of position.

I was in quite a good mood until this thread

 

[luuk_deventer]

If you are believe that any goal conceded from outside of the area, the goalkeeper should do better with, then Pickford has been responsible for 10 of the 21 goals we've conceded this season (7 outside the area and 3 due to goalkeeper error)

I think the goalkeeper is a problem but defensively, the shape is wrong, the intensity is wrong and there are several players (not just Pickford) who have unfortunately made errors leading to goals and may be unreliable.

I think that Ancelotti trusts Pickford so I do not think that he will buy a new goalkeeper. I think the original post was correct and we will look for more support for Allan and Doucoure in midfield and maybe a new central defender.

 

[BornBlue76]

We can't pass and keep the ball. Coughing it up as much as we do invites pressure and no team can keep on losing the ball in difficult positions without conceding.