Our defence

[westcountryvillain]

We are all over the place at the back, teams are targeting our right hand side and unless that's sorted I don't see us progressing this season. Philogene looked lost today and we really missed McGinn.

[Exiledvillan]

Personnel, mate.
Konsa is a diabolical RB, but a competent CB.
Neither Spanish CBs can defend, or pick a man up.
Digne, like Rambo, is either good for 45mins, then sh1t, or sh1t for the full 90mins.
I believe that Kosta Ned will come good, and I like the look of Maatsten, real pace on the pair of them.
Now we know what SJM brings to the team, apart from suspensions we’ve never really been without him. He’s a diamond.

Ah well, here’s hoping that Unai will get it right, I’ve still plenty of faith in him.

It’s no easy task, spinning plates.

[westcountryvillain]

Agree that Konsa isn't a right back but that wasn't the issue for the first goal vs Ipswich, loads of white shirts in the box and all focused on the ball and not their movement. Basics FFS!

[Exiledvillan]

Yep, basics. Both goals came through RB and RCB channels.
Neither of the Spanish CBs knows how to pick up their man. Pau is imperious strolling out of the back 4, pinging diagonals. But, he’s calamitous in and around the 6-yard box. Don’t get me started on the other Spanish lad.

I hope that it doesn’t get too embarrassing on Wednesday, gulp.

UTV

[westcountryvillain]

I know mate - it's David and Goliath all over again, just like Rotterdam in '82!

[Exiledvillan]

As match day looms, the more confident I am becoming.
Maybe the defending god residing in Ireland will look kindly on us.

Ooooh Ahhhh

[Exiledvillan]

The defence was excellent last night, credit where credit’s due.
Konsa was magnificent, he covered RB and RCB positions with aplomb.
Pau strolled about majestically as Digne swept up any threat down their right side all game.
Carlos made no rickets, wasn’t put under pressure, and looked on menacingly.
EM1? The best in the world.

I hope that they can give us a repeat performance on Sunday.

[westcountryvillain]

Unfortunately I missed the game being away in France but the comments on FB align with what you say Exiled, clearly when we are right up for it (Man City at home last season, Newcastle at home the season before) we are very hard to beat. We need to find those levels more often and trophies will follow.

What a brilliant goal, Emi rolls the ball out to Torres who finds Duran with sublime pass and such a cool finish in a high pressure game.

[Bongo2]

How good is Carlos now!

[Exiledvillan]

Carlos has been as good in these last three games, as he was sh!t in his previous three. All criticism at the time was fair and warranted, IMO.


The excellent DMFs have been making the two current CBs look better defensively than they actually are; both still lack positional sense.


In all fairness, the ball distribution by the two has been breathtaking of late, with Carlos seeming to be morphing into a right-footed version of Pau Torres.


Konsa is still no RB, all of their threat came through his vacant quadrant.


Obviously, none of this is offered as a statement of fact, they are just the ramblings of a grumpy Auld Bollix.