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Pressure On Fullbacks

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After the recent defeat to Brighton, it has come to my attention that a lot of supporters felt that Grounds and Caddis were very poor at full back and I have tried to figure out why.

As I didn’t go to the Brighton game, I am afraid that I am only guessing but having seen past games, I feel I can make an informed decision as to why the fullbacks are now feeling the strain.

Gray, for all his ability and skill going forward, is not the most defensive winger. It is not a negative, I am merely just pointing out that he is an attacker and has the right to do this role. Yes, he does cover when he needs to but if he loses the ball up the pitch, then the defender behind him is exposed.

Maghoma or Cotterill on the other side are the same. They get you assists and goals which is what you want from a player who is put into that role, but the defensive side is also lacking. Caddis and Grounds are consistent players but when they’re left with a player running at them, most of the time they do not have the pace to be in the right position.

This pressure is easily dropped by just a few simple changes. Forget the wingers, we want them to attack. But if Grounds is pulled out, then the centre back, with it be Morrison or Spector, should get across to cover, denying their winger any opportunity of a cross.

Yes, it makes the central defender pull out from the middle of the box, but if a player such as Davis can cover, then it means that this is easily dealt with if the ball does get whipped in. Also, if Spector covers, then Grounds can position himself inside the penalty box if Spector delays long enough leaving a back four. Some may argue that Davis isn’t as good at heading as a CB. Fair enough. But he can attack the ball perfectly well and it is surely better than getting attacked from the wingers at every opportunity.

Maybe it was just a one off. But maybe, the two ever reliant fullbacks are getting tired and the increasing pressure is starting to show. My problem is that because we have been so consistent, Rowett has been too rigid and is not mixing things up enough. We need to be more fluid, both in an attacking sense and in a defensive sense.

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