[Revived Red]

Originally Posted by Ghostbuster

Our defence is strong in my opinion-if you stop the knee-jerk reaction to losing today. Dean and Peter can play either full-back or central defence. We have two options at left back and have Toto to come back in.
Physically we are weak in the opposition half.
If you were a central defender and woke up on a saturday morning deciding who you would rather play against;
a) Northampton (two big lumps who can also play a bit, plus another on the bench in a similar mould)
b)Stanley with Hatfield & Amond who will run all day, honest players but are too small. (If you are this size, you have to have something extra special to your game).

I have to agree. It's far too simplistic to blame the defenders. There was just no comparison between Akinfenwa's performance and Podge's. I know that Podge has his admirers, but I'm afraid I am not one of them. It's not only that he is too small; he cannot control a ball and lay it off. Unlike Akinfenwa, who was able to do that with ease all afternoon. Murphy cannot be blamed for the skill of an opponent. Too often, Podge is on the wrong side of his marker - he waits for a mistake by the defender rather than force the defender into a mistake. Yes, he will run and chase - but we need more from a striker. I can recall only one chance for Podge - and that was a poor header.

I feel something else should be said. We simply do not have a right winger. Charlie was wasted there, and Rommy is wasted there. Deano is not a wing back - Jon Bateson was.