Our Defense...

[TheVoiceofReason]

People keep banging on about strikers and how we do not have a dependable striker who can score goals. But lets be honest here, we do. Pav has scored 7 and so has Vdv so we are ok really when it comes to getting goals.

But our defense? I mean, Gallas. I know he is a great player, but i kind of feel like this is some kind of joke that Arsenal are playing on us! Is he some kind of spy sent in to destroy us? Because if he is, then he is doing a great job. He is supposed to be a leader, but he doesn't seem to have any control of what goes on back there! I know we are stricken with injury in that position, but i cant understand how we are so weak back there.

 

[Misfit]

I just couldn't disagree more.

From elswhere by me:

Nope, the attacking isn't only problem. Of course the defence is making ridiculous errors. But considering how many bodies are missing there, still not too bad. Respectable(ish) and not sabotaging us each week at least.

The 4 goals at Botlon was hideous and actually taken out the defence has allowed 11 goals in 11 games. Not the Italian national national team I grant you but come on. Chelseas - nuff said, awesome team. That's 2 fewer than Yanited have allowed, the same as assnal and only that dour, negative behemoth Citeh have allowed fewer of the teams to be up there fighting for top 4 come April/May. They have conceded 10 in 11. Hey, include the horror show at Bolton and it's still only 15 in 12. Far from perfect but manageable. They're not asking the midfield and strikers to score 3 goals a game just to draw or win matches.

Nup, it's the 14 goals scored in 12 matches which is killing us. Sweet succulent baby jesus, even Citeh have scored more than that they are managed by Mr. Anti-football himself. The other three above us are all pushing to have scored almost 10 goals more and in some cases nigh on double the amount of goals. All these teams still have to play their 12th games yet.

I dunno, only 2 or 3 goals worse off than 2 teams in the top 4, us having played one more game for good measure. Bearing in mind we have King, Dawson and Corluka all out - not disastrous. Could be better for sure but hardly panic stations.

Unless the argument here is that our defence, which truly is missing a fair few bodies, should play above and beyond whilst missing a good 50%-75% of its starters to compensate for our strikers (of which there is one, count 'em 1, missing) being utterly toilet in front of goal? Is that the argument?

Because the conclusion I reach on thinking about this stuff 'n junk is that it is not our defensive record which is "simply not top 4 record".

So sure, the defence could be more stout. The real issue is the lack of goals. 2 or 3 more goals conceded than a couple of our top 4 rivals. Or 10+ fewer goals scored. Hmmm...