Arsenal's Bould Defense

[TheLoneFalcon]

This is a thread where the performances of our defense and defenders under new assistant coach, Steve Bould, can be analyzed and discussed.

Our recent defensive issues have been well documented, but we've had the luxury of having a world class striker to plaster over the obvious cracks. Now that goal machine Van Persie is unsettled and likely to leave a lot more responsibility has to fall on the defense.

Will Bould be able to turn bad habits around and inject greater urgency and discipline or will it be more of the same?

 

[leo_ense]

Good thread idea. Too early judge of course but from the pictures we've seen of the guys training Bould has had a hands on approach with the defenders, which I guess can only be good.

 

[GOONER1991]

As "van the man 10" has said, we can't really judge quite yet. The pictures we've seen so far have shown Bould to be a rather authoritative figure at training, and hopefully this will translate onto the pitch.

 

[kenkbc2]

Can't be any worse than its been these past few seasons (except during our CL Cup final run in 2006)..

 

[DanDare]

Good thread idea. Too early judge of course but from the pictures we've seen of the guys training Bould has had a hands on approach with the defenders, which I guess can only be good.

As "van the man 10" has said, we can't really judge quite yet. The pictures we've seen so far have shown Bould to be a rather authoritative figure at training, and hopefully this will translate onto the pitch.

Come on guys. There optimism and then there's this. I really don't tihnk we can comment on Bould's training style from a few pictures from Arsenal.com...

 

[redwhiteAustrian]

That's a good piece of evidence, what a specific kind of media coverage can do to one's mind/opinion on certain matters.

 

[arsenallegends]

He must be very familiar with Bartley Miquel Gibbs and perhaps Szczesny so thats already a huge bonus. I hope he can establish a system that anyone can come into, in that he can close the gap from our best defender to our most challenged. Such early days.

 

[mistaT]

So what are specific areas you want to see and expect improvement in?

For me:

Numero Uno - Is a more cohesive and defined approach to organizing how far the line plays behind the midfield.

Sick of seeing acres of space between our back line and midfield, and then watching players skip into it and get to run at our CB's. Though the Norwich and Swansea games near the end of last year were perfect examples of this.

Constant pressure on our defense because our midfield was being easily bypassed. But this was partly because our defense wasn't stepping up to eliminate this space and mark their opposition tighter.

 

[draiocht fianna]

Not sure he will make a huge difference, just because he was a good defender. Rice was a defender as was Wenger.

The famous back 5 Bould featured in was a George Graham product. George Graham as a player was a skilful attacking midfielder whose weaknesses were laziness and a lack of defensive discipline.

Bould's youth teams weren't great defensively as all teams at Arsenal play the same way.

 

[KY]

Not sure he will make a huge difference, just because he was a good defender. Rice was a defender as was Wenger.

The famous back 5 Bould featured in was a George Graham product. George Graham as a player was a skilful attacking midfielder whose weaknesses were laziness and a lack of defensive discipline.

Bould's youth teams weren't great defensively as all teams at Arsenal play the same way.

 

[Vela]

I was at the matches yesterday against Anderlecht and Rangers. During the warming up sessions before each match, Steve Bould and Neil Banfield took the sessions. Bould was speaking to the likes of Bartley and Djourou a lot before the match.

 

[leo_ense]

I was at the matches yesterday against Anderlecht and Rangers. During the warming up sessions before each match, Steve Bould and Neil Banfield took the sessions. Bould was speaking to the likes of Bartley and Djourou a lot before the match.

How did you think players like Bartley performed? Also heard Gibbs played well I'm expecting big things from him if he stays fit.

 

[ebouenolike]

I was at the matches yesterday against Anderlecht and Rangers. During the warming up sessions before each match, Steve Bould and Neil Banfield took the sessions. Bould was speaking to the likes of Bartley and Djourou a lot before the match.

Interesting. He's likely to be very hands on, and bring in some new thoughts. By all accounts he's thoroughly respected by the players, and his ascension will be great news for Bartley et al. He's (Bould) got a HUGE chance to improve our defense and make a real name for himself as a coach.

 

[Revolution]

He will certainly freshen up ideas, which should be good.

 

[jonos14]

How was the U18 defensive play last season? might give us an idea on Steve Bould defensive coaching style, which I assumed won't change now that he fully involves with the main squad

 

[Vela]

The U-18's didn't have the best of defensive records last season, mainly down to the mistakes which the centre-back's made. More in to the season they started pressing there opposition more which was very beneficial.

 

[BeijingBaller]

The U-18's didn't have the best of defensive records last season, mainly down to the mistakes which the centre-back's made. More in to the season they started pressing there opposition more which was very beneficial.

Why isn't defensive pressing a given at that level? Is it seen as detracting from the development of some other skills or something? It seems so centrally important for any team with aspirations of playing possession football, and we're supposed to be trying to produce players for the first team...

 

[fabo]

Goals conceded at the end of the season will be key, anything on 40 or above is not good enough, and that's been the case for a few years now.

 

[infineon]

Why isn't defensive pressing a given at that level? Is it seen as detracting from the development of some other skills or something? It seems so centrally important for any team with aspirations of playing possession football, and we're supposed to be trying to produce players for the first team...

It must physically require a very high standard of athlete to be able to do that as a young kid and we just don't have access to that pool of talent.

 

[Galahad]

Can't be any worse than its been these past few seasons (except during our CL Cup final run in 2006)..

Just watched the first leg against Real Madrid again yesterday...And I was pretty amazed to see a back four of Flamini, Senderos, Toure and Eboue almost completly shut out Real. So Im guessing whatever we have now should be at least equal skill wise, it MUST be tactics or training thats making us concede so much.

Granted, our midfield was probably better then but we had Hleb and Reyes defending out wide which is bound for trouble...or at least one would be forgiven for thinking so.

So imo we should expect this team to defend MUUUUUUUCH better then it was last season.