Paddington Blue wrote:
OK, I love the guy, but I've been mulling on this for a wee while, Is he the problem with our defence?
With teh players we have we should have one of the strongest records in the league, we don't, we concede goals and have been conceding goals at an alarming rate this season. Newcastle had the same problem, they had decent defenders (and before you say ooooo titus bramble, titus bramble has gone on to be a decent player since he's left newcastle) now that harper is between the sticks for newcastle, they look rock solid.
Given doesn't command his box at all, the other night he should've owned that ball and clattered the fuck out of giggs to boot. He didn't.
Our defence has recentlt gotten better because we've changed the system in the box for set plays, this zonal marking takes the control of the organisation away from given, forcing the defenders to do it on their own. He should've had the cross for rooney's goal as well.
anyway, here's your 'paddy's being controversial shocker' chance.
On Newcastle. They're defence is 'rock solid' because they've got a Premiership quality defence in the Championship. The level of the Championship is a lot worse than the Premiership and Collocini, Taylor and Enrique are thriving in it. Newcastle were as poor second half of last season without Given as they were with him. Last season Collocini had an absolute mare whereas this season he's actually looking quite decent. I'd put that down to the level of football rather than the goalkeeper.
Titus Bramble is still prone to the odd f*ck-up - Wigan's defensive record this season is hardly exemplary - but then that's probably besides the point.
In terms of controlling him box, I'm not sure - you may have a point. One of the problems with our marking of corners of late is that nobody ever seems to cover the man who runs in for the short corner (Portsmouth did it three times or so, United managed it a few as well). His coming for crosses isn't the best, however his shot-stopping just about is.