One positive(ish) thing I would like to comment on regarding last night is how we look without Mertesacker.
That is the worst we have defended all season, aside from maybe Old Trafford. Look at how we defend with Mertesacker, and then last night.
He is calm, collected, and is positionally brilliant. He would not have been caught like Koscielny did for the first goal, and he would have most likely tracked Robinho for the second.
Anyone, besides these assumptions. With him in defence, we don't look anywhere close to as nervous as we did last night. Koscielny and Vermaelen are both great defenders, but they need the quiet assertions of Mertesacker to be a true unit.
Browse:
Per Mertesacker
comment by Couchy- Stuck in the middle Giroud. (U10742)
posted on 16/2/12
*Anyhow.
comment by Seebs™© 🇵🇸🇦🇫🇹🇷 (U1410)
posted on 16/2/12
I still see TV and Kosc as our CB pairings. You're forgetting that last night was the first time the two had played for ages.
Besides, the whole team played poorly.
comment by We'll miss you Cesc (U7147)
posted on 16/2/12
The thing is anyone who is not playing suddenly becomes our saviour/hero. Vermaelen just had one of those games where nothing went right for him, maybe playing him at LB for so long has made him a bit rusty but his performance last night was inexcusable.
comment by UndercoverMancGooner (U1342)
posted on 16/2/12
Give them time - they looked fantastic for a bit last year until Verm got injured. Mertesacker is a more important player for us than people realise though.
comment by John Locke (U1204)
posted on 16/2/12
Koscielny caught for the first goal??? The first goal was clearly down to Szczesny's poor kicking and Vermaelen's poor positioning.
comment by Couchy- Stuck in the middle Giroud. (U10742)
posted on 16/2/12
Koscielny could have come across. Vermaelen can't see behind him.
comment by Couchy- Stuck in the middle Giroud. (U10742)
posted on 16/2/12
Besides I blame Arteta for not closing down Necorino whatsoever.
comment by Seebs™© 🇵🇸🇦🇫🇹🇷 (U1410)
posted on 16/2/12
No individual player was to blame for any of the goals. It was the whole bloody team that played pants.
comment by John Locke (U1204)
posted on 16/2/12
"Koscielny could have come across. Vermaelen can't see behind him."
===
No he couldn't cos there was too must space on the right and a player was making a run (can't remember who) so he had to keep and eye on him. If he'd covered Boateng would've squared it for a tap-in because Sagna wasn't covering either.
And I agree with serial, we really shouldn't be blaming individuals. We were poor as a team.
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