Todd Bemoans Defence
by Scott Thornberry - 14th September 2009
It was an area which, for the last few season, has proved to be a strong point for The Quakers. But now Darlingtons defence is proving to be as leaky Thames Waters main with organisational problems proving to be a major problem.
The departures of Alan White, Neil Austin, Rob Purdie and Tim Ryan to name just a few have exposed Darlington's rear line, but with the likes of Ian Miller and captain Steve Foster staying put it was hoped that we could keep some of our tightness. After Friday nights defeat away at Accrington Stanley it showed that we have major problems, by half time it could have been 7-0 to the home team if they took their chances. Talking to The Northern Echo Colin Todd expressed his concern. They’re going to have to learn very quickly. I can’t make decisions for players, we have a way of playing but on the pitch it’s the players that have got to make correct decisions.
"Defending should be simple."
"When marking in the box you’re meant to be with a man and you anticipate any danger, but we aren’t anticipating."
“You have to stop crosses coming in, but you can’t always do that. But you cannot mark space in the box, you have to mark, but we didn’t. You cannot win games of football if you mark space.
“The second was an absolutely shocking goal to give away, especially when we’d earned the right to get back into the game. He had a free header in the box, we never have a free header in the box.
“Towards the end we put a cross in and one of their defenders put his neck on the line to win the header. We don’t do that, we don’t anticipate.
“We obviously haven’t got leaders out there. The easiest thing in the world is to defend a ball coming into the box. At a corner, for example, you should always be able to defend that unless the ball played in is real quality. But the goals we have conceded have not been quality, it’s bad defending.
“I am trying to get the right formation and I left the skipper (Steve Foster) out. But they are going to have to learn quickly.’’
Comments
RH79 - 14th September 2009 10:32:16
I have an idea - pick our best defender!Darlo_H - 14th September 2009 10:50:02
You had a leader in defence when you started the job, Mr. Todd. You know, Steve Foster, the captain you keep leaving out?You were also the one to give contracts to three other fucknuts who can't defend - Bower, Arnison and Baines.
hodgie1 - 14th September 2009 18:21:22
he would have a leader, STEVE FOSTERdoc_64 - 14th September 2009 18:24:33
same as you RH79, todd picks the team so why does'nt he pick the best defender/defenceRH79 wrote:I have an idea - pick our best defender!
hodgie1 - 14th September 2009 18:27:27
i can remember a few yrs ago the fans got behind craig liddle and he stayed at the club, why not do something similar if foster doesnt get picked on saturday, just a thoughtonewayup - 16th September 2009 15:09:30
colin todd and dean windass ,see these lads perform every day in trainning ,we the fans don't ,who do you think has a better veiw of how their fitness levels are.the management or the fan's for gods sake let them get on with there jobs ,it will come right.Darlo Cockney - 16th September 2009 16:50:58
The problem is that Foster has not looked fit so far this season and not a patch on the player that he was last season.DC
divas - 14th September 2009 10:30:42
"We obviously haven’t got leaders out there"“I am trying to get the right formation and I left the skipper (Steve Foster) out..’’
says it all really doesnt it......clueless.
as for formation, has he played anything barring 4-4-2 yet?