I don't necessarily think this contributed to the goal, but there seems to me to be a lack of organisation coming from Gerrard and Ming in terms of the defence. I know the centre backs are ultimately responsible for themselves but the defensive diamond of the GK, CBs and DM/Pivot/Whatever you want to call it isn't functioning as a whole. There has to be leadership all through that unit in order for them to work properly together, because the nature of the full backs pushing up and the team's high line means they're likely to be exposed.
It's why positioning is so completely key in our defence, and unfortunately it's not something that Gerrard or Mingeolet are especially great at. This then feeds into the way our Centre Backs line up, because part of positioning yourself on a football pitch is relative to others. If the GKs positioning is wrong, the CBs could position themselves relative to that, and then the whole thing is messed up from the start.
I really think Valdes would make a huge difference in that regard.
