Mmm-Qatarian
Full Member
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2016
- Messages
- 1,509
People blaming Maguire for the first goal are so fecking daft. If he were significantly behind the defensive line then you could fairly say he's at fault for playing Welbeck onside but that isn't the case. In that instance, Welbeck simply times his run to perfection. If you're going to blame a centre back for the first goal, it has to be Licha; he is the one who can see Welbeck's run and he track it quite well enough to prevent the cross in the end. (To be clear, though, I don't think either centre half is primarily at fault for that goal)
Ironically, I'd say in blaming Maguire for the first goal, people are missing out on the fact that he was more culpable for the second one. In that case, he actually steps out of the defensive line to close down a player when he should be leaving it to Licha. He then compounds this error by failing to get tight enough to his man (Lallana I think?) in the box.
Overall, though, the Brighton defeat was not really on the centre backs. Both of them struggled with the long ball to Welbeck but generally carried out their defensive duties well enough and (particularly in Licha's case) were quite effective at progressing the ball. This match was the perfect demonstration of the problems that a midfield incapable of controlling the game and a goalkeeper who essentially refuses to sweep causes the defence.
Ironically, I'd say in blaming Maguire for the first goal, people are missing out on the fact that he was more culpable for the second one. In that case, he actually steps out of the defensive line to close down a player when he should be leaving it to Licha. He then compounds this error by failing to get tight enough to his man (Lallana I think?) in the box.
Overall, though, the Brighton defeat was not really on the centre backs. Both of them struggled with the long ball to Welbeck but generally carried out their defensive duties well enough and (particularly in Licha's case) were quite effective at progressing the ball. This match was the perfect demonstration of the problems that a midfield incapable of controlling the game and a goalkeeper who essentially refuses to sweep causes the defence.