Statistically our best defenders

[The Large One]

El Abd should have had another penalty awarded against him at Blackburn for a blatant pull on Jordan Rhodes in front of the away end. And there was a free kick given against him at Cardiff when the referee deemed him to have fouled Craig Bellamy, which looked to be very much inside the area.

Definitely inside the area, but it was a shocking dive - never a foul.

Wrong decision, wrong reason.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

As in that season when we had Simon Morgan, our best defensive partnership is who ever is playing with Upson.

 

[The Large One]

If you're talking in terms of our best defenders 'statistically' - i.e. fewest goals conceded EVER in one season - then you need look no further than...























































































ERIC YOUNG and GARY O'REILLY.

 

[Gullflyinghigh]

Not everyone does it. But it's certainly a useful weapon to have in the side. It's not cheating, it's perfectly within the rules of the game. Plenty of players like to "niggle" at each other, Adam El Abd is a MASTER at it, that's why he gets more notice for it than others. I can't think of many better.

I've no doubt this'll have been picked up on already but surely being noticed for it is entirely the wrong sort of reaction a master of the 'dark arts' should be receiving? Andy Johnson for example, 'won' a ton of penalties until it was picked up on by the press...bye bye penalties, hello reputation!

You're right in saying that it's not cheating (well, simulation is but he doesn't often feign injury...much) but surely that's simply by dint of it not being seen by ref at the time? Many of the little niggles, shirt tugging and sneaky kicks that he gets in would be fouls if seen. All it'd take is a ref turning round/looking up at the wrong/right time and he'd be in trouble much more regularly, putting the team at risk. To my mind it's more luck than judgement on his part (with the notable exception of the head rubbing, that was admittedly very funny).