Is it a concern we haven't kept a clean sheet since August? - Poll of the Day (16th Dec)

[1964white]

30 goals conceded in 16 matches, an average of 1.87 a game.

We are on track to concede 70+ goals, which is dangerous territory for a relegation place, one consolation is West Ham, Burnley & Wolves goals against is worse than Leeds & are sucked into the recent trends.

We have conceded 11 goals to the seven teams around us, an average of 1.57 a game.

A plus to balance our defensive frailties out is, we have scored 9 goals during December, after scoring only 11 goals in the first four months of this season.

[lufc1304]

I've said yes, it is a concern, for the reasons Leon points out above. But, as a newly promoted side, clean sheets were always likely to be an issue. As long as we can keep our GD better than those around us, then it shouldn't be a big concern.

[Sean_Nile]

Winning games is more important than keeping clean sheets, but they would be an added bonus if they came along with a win.

[1964white]

I've said yes, it is a concern, for the reasons Leon points out above. But, as a newly promoted side, clean sheets were always likely to be an issue. As long as we can keep our GD better than those around us, then it shouldn't be a big concern.

Hopefully not, Nick

[Jammy 07]

Yes it's a concern.

We've switched to 5 at the back and still concede at least once every game. However there does seem to be some progress so hopefully not keeping clean sheets won't matter come the end of the season.

[1964white]

Winning games is more important than keeping clean sheets, but they would be an added bonus if they came along with a win.

Indeed Rab, if we win six/seven games with scorelines of 2-1. 3-2 or 4-3, we should be safe.

I would love us to build a rock solid defence as we evolve as a PL club.

[1964white]

Over the previous six seasons, outside the relegation zone, only three teams conceded 70+ goals & managed to retain their Premier League status.

Leeds (79), West Ham (74), Bournemouth (71)

[Finnatic]

Winning games is more important than keeping clean sheets, but they would be an added bonus if they came along with a win.

Agreed
The standard of opposition is far higher so we will concede, it’s the self inflicted or sloppy goals we need to cut out.

[1964white]

Agreed
The standard of opposition is far higher so we will concede, it’s the self inflicted or sloppy goals we need to cut out.

Indeed Finn, the majority of the goals we concede are of our own making.

I've often referred to our defending being a bit championshipy this season.

[The Subhuman]

Agreed
The standard of opposition is far higher so we will concede, it’s the self inflicted or sloppy goals we need to cut out.

According to Leeds fans, aren't all goals conceded defensive errors? Personally I think we've conceded very few defensive error goals. Can't think of many off the top of my head.

[Irish Ian]

According to Leeds fans, aren't all goals conceded defensive errors? Personally I think we've conceded very few defensive error goals. Can't think of many off the top of my head.

Rodons pass v Liverpool springs to mind.

[Cjay]

Conceding is a concern but more concerned with the fact we concede first a lot.

12 times now we've conceded first, won only one and taken 6 points.

If you go behind in 75% or more of your games I suspect you get relegated more often than not.

So imo conceding is a worry but the amount of 1st goals we concede worries me most.

[weasel]

Indeed Finn, the majority of the goals we concede are of our own making.

I've often referred to our defending being a bit chanpionshipy this season.

Classic own goal there 64 when talking about cutting out silly mistakes!

[The Subhuman]

Rodons pass v Liverpool springs to mind.

That was the one I could think of...

[The Subhuman]

Conceding is a concern but more concerned with the fact we concede first a lot.

12 times now we've conceded first, won only one and taken 6 points.

If you go behind in 75% or more of your games I suspect you get relegated more often than not.

So imo conceding is a worry but the amount of 1st goals we concede worries me most.

That's a tactical issue.

[1964white]

The majority of our goals are conceded due to:

Our full-backs being skinned.

No defender marking the scorer in our box.

Conceding possession in dangerous areas.

Arsenal - Saka & Timber goals.

Fulham - Gudmindsson OG.

Bournemouth - Kroupi.

Spurs - Kudus 1st goal.

Burnley - Ugochukwu.

West Ham - Fernandez.

Brighton - Gomez 1st & 3rd goals.

Forest - Sangare & penalty given away.

Aston Villa - Rogers.

Chelsea - Neto.

Liverpool - Elitike 1st & 2nd goal.

Brentford - Henderson

[1964white]

All preventable if we defend efficiently.

[Finnatic]

According to Leeds fans, aren't all goals conceded defensive errors?

Not by me.
Liverpools third wasn’t iirc.

[The Subhuman]

Not by me.
Liverpools third wasn’t iirc.

Easy to apportion blame, Rodon for Liverpool's opener for sure, but where was Bijol? As much of an error for him as Rodon.

The second was strange, I guess you could blame Gudds for getting beat or Bijol for not closing the gap but that's petty imo. Great cross, excellent finish.

All our goals v Liverpool could have been defended better, how does Stach get that time, no need to bring Gnonto down and someone should do much better on the cross for Tanaka's goal. And Liverpool have world class defenders in their ranks.

In fact every single goal scored in the prem is a defensive error if you look for it and most of our fans do when it comes to goals against us

[Cjay]

Easy to apportion blame, Rodon for Liverpool's opener for sure, but where was Bijol? As much of an error for him as Rodon.

The second was strange, I guess you could blame Gudds for getting beat or Bijol for not closing the gap but that's petty imo. Great cross, excellent finish.

All our goals v Liverpool could have been defended better, how does Stach get that time, no need to bring Gnonto down and someone should do much better on the cross for Tanaka's goal. And Liverpool have world class defenders in their ranks.

In fact every single goal scored in the prem is a defensive error if you look for it and most of our fans do when it comes to goals against us

Imo it isn't always the fault of an individual.

Sometimes it is sometimes it isn't.

The amount of times players get behind our full backs for example, Farke tells the full backs to push high, is that the full backs fault if someone gets behind them or tactical? Should the player read the situation better? Maybe, but if you push full backs high you run that risk.

Likewise playing out from the back, if you do that you always run the risk, even the best players get caught on occasion because the margin for error is tiny at the top level.

Midfielders not tracking runners is an issue for example.

So I don't think it's entirely a tactical issue nor a player issue, sometimes it's both, sometimes it's one or the other.

We concede too many goals, and teams don't usually have to work very hard for it.