One thing not many people have noticed is that the 2nd goal should have been disallowed as an offside player was obstructing Greens view. Even the media mentioned it.
Very few games in the PL end up 0-0 so criticism of defenses needs to be seen in context but its undeniable that our back line has been appalling all season. The players must take responsiblity of course but I put a good 50% of the problems down to how they are organized and Wigan's 2nd was a classic example of where we keep getting it wrong. MH seemed incapable of understanding basic defensive tactics. Can HR do better? He's not renowned for it sadly.
You may well be right in your general attack on the dying art of defending at the hands of the pundits and the rule makers. But how does that help us? The rules are the same for everyone. Why do some of our defenders fail to follow the basic rules of common sense? You clearly accept that our defending is poor at this moment because you have not distanced our boys from the generality of your criticism that all defending is now "laughable". I know you don't like to pick fault with individual players. So tell us what they should and should not be doing to defend successfully.
Well said re the witch hunt in fact well said all round! Don't agree re Taarabt poor defensive header away maybe but its done now ... we just move on and get that win .. however a load on here will still moan after first win. I think you have the right attitude as so many have given up on Rangers ... they have walked out the stadium in effect ... 66 points early. I can't understand this the only time we are relegated is when we are relegated. Witch hunt sums it up exactly Martha
I guess the point when the first win comes might have some bearing on people's reaction to it. And Taarabt was at fault for the goal: he misjudged the header and took his eye off the man he was supposed to cover. Having said that, if Mackie hadn't turned his body then the ball would have hit him head on. Moreover, it's hardly a witch hunt to suggest that Bosingwa's not quite defensively sound.
Despite poor defending to allow the shots, on both Wigan goals the ball somehow made it through a sea of legs with a deflection off Mackie for the first. Under different circumstances, with a bit of luck, those shots might have been been blocked en route to goal.
I was discussing this point earlier with Flyer, and on one aspect, that of Derry dropping too deep into the back 4, he was correct. The same thing happened vs Villa: the CMs were in line with the defence. Probably symptomatic of a lack of confidence amongst other things.
Wrote in a thread the other day that I felt some of our players were reactive rather than proactive. Too many of them were day dreaming and did not notice simple runs that the Wigan players were making. Our midfield lost so much possession and we won very little secondary ball.
