Roeder issues warning on defence

[khay 10]

Roeder issues warning on defence

 

 

From BBC

 

 

Newcastle boss Glen Roeder says his side must eliminate defensive errors to avoid another European embarrassment.

The Magpies face Latvian side Ventspils in the second qualifying round, first leg of the Uefa Cup on Thursday.

 

However, they are haunted by the errors led to their exit from last season's Intertoto Cup semi-final and have been sloppy in pre-season friendlies.

 

"Mistakes that were made can be ironed out but players of this quality should not be making them," said Roeder.

 

Newcastle failed to qualify for the Uefa Cup last season from the backdoor route of the Intertoto Cup when they crashed out to Deportivo La Coruna in an error-strewn semi-final.

 

Roeder's team have conceded six goals in two recent pre-season friendlies.

 

The Magpies boss added: "Maybe with them being friendlies we were a little too relaxed when defending.

 

"We left keeper Shay Given exposed but we have got those games out of the way now and hopefully those mistakes will be eradicated."

[Gemmill 46195]

Against Villareal, it didn't look to me like individual errors, it looked like 4 players who didn't know how to operate as a back four that was the problem. Which is a coaching issue. Hopefully it's something they can work on.

[David Kelly 1260]

Tbf though towards the end of last season it did look like he had them working well as a unit. Hopefully it was just a bit of a rusty ring (have I got that phrase right?) and we will be able to put it right going forward.

[Tooj 17]

Think Roeder doesn't have an idea of what his best back four is, hense why they are all playing as individuals.