there's an interesting article in the Daily Mail written by Gary Neville stating that the reason why Man City have been successful this season is that they have had a settled defence. This has got me thinking that since we got promoted, this is area where we have not had a settled back 4 (5 if you include goal keeper). Kenny, Cerny and Murphy have been injured at some point, as have Ferdinand, Gabbidon, Dyer, Hall, Connolly, Hill (who lost form and went out on loan), Troare (who seems more suited to left midfield). The only positive in our back line appears to be Luke Young. Whilst the talk has been this transfer window has been mainly of defenders, what are your thoughts that IF this is the area we strengthen, and get a settled back 4, then we start to climb the table? Whether Gorkks is premiership quality - we will never know, but he is one I would have kept rather than Hall, and I would have thought twice about signing Gabbidon however we all knew that Tango and Bernie were never going to prise open their wallets. Incidently, although we got beat by City, that surely has to go down as one of the best performances this season.
It's the most important area of the team, it's no co-incidence that Newcastle's long unbeaten run at the start of the season was down to an unchanged and well-drilled back four. Look at Arsenal, pretty pretty football that bamboozles their opponents until they walk through the Gunner's fragile back four and score at will. Whoever is managing us through the window HAS to address this area as a priority (along with a creative midfielder and ace striker )
We didn't even get close to their back four, which also says a lot about our attack. We struggled to break down a notoriously fragile defence.
I agree with 99% of what you say. The only thing I disagree on is the Gabbidon comment. He's been very consistent and stable. He's played a lot of games this season, along with Young. But I agree that we've been very unlucky with injuries and bans, especially in the defence. I mean come on.... 1st and 2nd choice keepers injured at the same time? No Dyer? Ali now injured? Barton now out (albeit for one league game)? Taarabt and SWP out for spells? DJ Campbell having a bad little injury that still hasn't shaken off (I believe he was about to hit form before it happened)? We have had bad luck in this respect. Like you say, especially at the back. We've had no consistency in the team, which has been beyond Warnock's control for almost all of the time. Here's to a consistent second half of season!
