Central Defence a Major Issue

[Madjid Moments]

I’ve said it all summer, but we are weak in central defence. With Helander unreliable and now Souttar and Davies carrying knocks we are weak in here.

Sands isn’t a natural centre back and is being asked to do a job but it’s going to cost us.

In my opinion we should bring Balogun back, he at least offers a physical presence and ability to attack balls in the air. Both goals were soft and all down to the fact we can’t defend properly and lack physicality.

 

[Theresa May]

We need a proper CH next to Goldson ASAP.

 

[madride]

Other than the early De Jong chance Sands was very solid tonight. The set piece defending for the goals was a shambles

 

[Thewandofpedro]

Can’t help think we’d have benefitted from Balogun’s height in there

 

[I.M.A.Bear]

Sands wasn't the problem at the goals tonight

 

[GovanDerry]

We need a proper CH next to Goldson ASAP.

How about a Goldson that can header a ball at corners?

 

[LiviLoyal]

Sands was good tonight. Goldson wasn’t - cost us two goals.

 

[Crown_Defender]

We need a proper CH next to Goldson ASAP.

Odd take. Sands barely put a foot wrong tonight. Goldson is poor at both goals though.

 

[Jorgthegreat]

We need a proper CH next to Goldson ASAP.

Sands was much better than Goldson

 

[Pirlo]

We need a proper CH next to Goldson ASAP.

Goldson was the problem. Absolutely crap performance, if he was as good as he thinks he is he’d have gotten the big PL move he was after.

 

[TerrySilverLoyal]

Was Davies an injury?

Never heard before

 

[Bradbo88]

I'd have Balogun back in. Know quantity, helps us at set pieces.

Between him souttar and helander we should manage about 60 games.

 

[JD1872]

I thought sands did really well tonight. Goldson was terrible

 

[Theresa May]

Sands wasn't the problem at the goals tonight

Not so much at the goals, more so his general positioning. Had PSV been more clinical they'd have punished it. De Jong chance at the start and the one just after HT where the boy toe poked it past the post - both were due to Sands incorrect positioning.

 

[Coisty9]

Goldson at fault for both goals tonight. Our inability to deal with set pieces will kill us at this level.

 

[KL1872]

Sands was very good.

 

[Stupots]

Goldson cost us that game.

 

[Stuart_WATP]

Sands didn't do much wrong but he is no presence when defending set plays. Very unlike us tonight in that department.

 

[LoyalAndBlue82]

A man on the post at corners would be lovely too

 

[frankie_dux]

We should buy a 4m player from liverpool

That should do it

 

[KensingtonBlue]

Goldson shouldn’t be undroppable

He’s been slack since his new contract. He needs a spell on the bench

 

[NsKMaDBaDGer]

Would have felt a lot more confident with Balogun, still can't understand why we didn't offer him another season.

 

[The Crimson King]

Other than the early De Jong chance Sands was very solid tonight. The set piece defending for the goals was a shambles

Sands was fine. His partner CB not so much.

 

[RabSpackman]

I thought Sands had a cracking game tonight.


The problem we have at the back is this insistence on everyone having a touch across the back 4 before the ball goes forward. PSV were pushing us back because we were delaying getting the ball out and it all just invites pressure.

 

[6Counties]

4m player from Liverpool not even fit for any of our qualifiers. Typical

 

[Lord Summerisle]

Sands had a great game, unlike Goldson.

 

[Wordy_Rappinghood]

Goldson was poor tonight.

Sands was good.

 

[Zangief]

Again people pointing the finger at Sands when he had another good game.

It was Goldson who had a shocker tonight. He needs to smarten up quick style

 

[Jorg Albertz]

4m player from Liverpool not even fit for any of our qualifiers. Typical

Was he injured tonight?

 

[frankie_dux]

Can we still sign balogun back ?

 

[albert_left_peg]

Goldson thinks he is better than he actually is.

If we want to compete at this level you cannot afford to give away 2 goals from corners.

I said it a few weeks ago, losing our Nigerian lads - Bassey, Aribo and Balogoun has seriously weakened not only our ability to defend corners but also made us much less threatening when we have corners as well.

All very well having ball playing centre backs but we got bullied at times tonight.

 

[Xtal]

For the money we spend our centre half options are quite poor.

 

[HMS.Temple.Garden]

Goldson to blame at their 2nd. Wasn't close enough.

Trying to remember the 1st, seemed like carnage and the ball went to the PSV player after someone (Goldson?) kicked it through Tav's legs right into the PSV player's stride.

 

[Papac5]

It’s been an issue since before Gio. We are extremely vulnerable from corner kicks and concede a high number of goals from them.

Is it personnel, tactical? I don’t get it and why we haven’t improved at defending them.

 

[SW1Bear]

Our 6ft2 “rock” of a centre back - who we are really lucky to have, don’t you forget it, after all that contract stuff - was at it again

 

[punksnotdead]

I'd expect more from Goldson at both their goals TBH. They were a very big side it has to be said but I thought he could have done a lot better.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Goldson has mistakes in him that are punished in Europe.

 

[Boro_gers07]

Was Davies an injury?

Never heard before

Aye gio confirmed he had a niggle. Davies is not great in the air either though so wouldn't help so much with set pieces

 

[T WATP]

Sands was arguably MOTM and had to deal with a lot down the left hand side, Borna needs to stop giving him such poor passes, he’s lucky Sands has the athleticism to recover.

 

[wilso10]

For someone who isn't a CB, Sands was bloody brilliant tonight.

Goldson had a nightmare in all honesty.

 

[bud_light]

We need a proper CH next to Goldson ASAP.

Goldson is the problem

 

[km_2083]

maybe Goldson is part of the problem

He was at fault for both

 

[Fairbrass]

Goldson has made an untouchable reputation on here for some reason.

He stays fit and he's a good passer, but he can be a very sloppy defender at times.

 

[prenzlauerbear]

Goldson is prone to letting his mind wander at this level. We saw it in Seville and again tonight.

I thought De Jong's antics got into his head and he looked way too emotional. He checked out for a bit in the second half.

It is what it is. By and large he's consistent but will always be prone to these type of gaffes.

The second leg feels like a powderkeg btw. There doesn't seem to be much love lost between the players and there's so much at stake.

 

[Zwingli'sSausages]

Have you got the utmost faith in a player that makes massive blunders or can’t defend when it really matters? I know I haven’t.

I don't have the utmost faith in any player tbh. I accept their qualities and failures. To say Goldson can't defend when it really matters is nonsense.

 

[TheScotty]

Goldson to blame at their 2nd. Wasn't close enough.

Trying to remember the 1st, seemed like carnage and the ball went to the PSV player after someone (Goldson?) kicked it through Tav's legs right into the PSV player's stride.

Goldson headed it straight into trouble.

 

[TheFrenchTank]

I'll agree with the majority, Goldson had a very poor game.

 

[randomhero]

Goldson just isn't that good at this level, defence will always be our achilles heel

 

[The Lone Sniper]

That's not true, is it?

 

[Rudolph Hucker]

We need a proper CH next to Goldson ASAP.

No, we need a proper CH instead of Goldson. Last straw for me tonight, I’d be delighted never to see him in a Rangers shirt again. I’m old enough to remember proper Rangers defenders and he’s a million miles away from them. Consistently unreliable in the biggest games.

No doubt his staunch fan club will slaughter me but it doesn’t mean I’m wrong. They’re just easily satisfied.