Is this crop of defenders the worst we've ever had? Bloody awful all of them

Conceded 12 in last 4 league games says it all.

Only Oxford City have conceded as many as us, 50, so far this season.

Pretty shocking statistics!

you ain't going to win any prizes when you are conceding on average 2 goals per game

Not just the defenders,its the worst team I've seen in 45 seasons.

The attacking players are clearly decent, we've scored 41 in 25. The defending and goalkeeping is by far the biggest problem, 50 goals conceded in 25 games is ridiculous. We have the most goals conceded per game at 2 in the entire league.

We need to play a back 4 and keep it the same for a few games to let them get to know each other’s game. They need to play as a unit but it takes time and changing players all the time isn’t working.

Surely Askey has previously tried to apply this philosophy but has been thwarted either by injuries or gross individual underperformance? How about playing five across the back in both home and away games? It’s hardly radical and neither is it trendy but desperate times call for desperate measures. A goalless draw would be some achievement at present, a sad indictment on how far the club has sunk.

the problem started at barnet where we conceeded 3 before we started to play and has continued right through to yesterday. at this level every defender will have mistakes in them but not so obvious as the ones our lot make.

If you use wing backs, Does not matter who they are.
They have to get up and down relentlessly.

If we use wing backs we need to be solid with the 3CB with understanding of their roles. Usually would also mean a defensive holding midfield who falls back to cover if a CB goes forward.

Listening to the Wealdstone commentary, talking about how unorganised we were and that we aren’t ready for a turnover is just embarrassing. We’ve played the same system all season and yet no player seems to know their roles.

Definitely should switch system to a back 4, not expecting full backs to offer the main attacking width and instead focus on being being solid in defence. 4-2-3-1 could work with the players we had available yesterday and they’d all be in it as close to their natural position.

No expert, but what you say sounds very reasonable. I wonder why Askey doesn't do it?

I genuinely believe that you could get a better defence from local players who would at least have some passion. It was standard practice in the 60’s, 70’s 80’s. Players who weren’t as technically gifted but sweated blood. Roy Hogan being a prime example.

Askey has commented in interviews earlier this season that the team was set up for 3-5-2, but that relied on Dodds, which is ridiculous if the team is set up around 1 player. We need to have a second choice formation. The players we have clearly have confidence and a switch of system could help change the mindset. Obviously no guarantee it would change anything but make the defenders just focus on defending, let the midfielders and attackers play football and just have the rest battling and keeping it simple.

Surely has to change something as right now, shuffling the same bunch of players around in the same formation is only resulting in user getting worse!

agree. even a traditional full back can get forward if the situation is there. always thought about that wing back thing anyway that they are either wingers or full backs anyway playing in that position. play full backs there and its more likely to be a back 5 you see and wingers there becomes a 3 as there defensive capabilities are less.