Shocking defensively, but defence isn’t just the back 4.
Defending starts with your front players, who should have a big job to do.
Behind them, the most important defensive role falls to the central midfield.
If you have that working, the back four can concentrate on mopping up the crumbs.
Excluding Cavani, we have a front line of young players who, no matter whatever their attacking qualities might be, are incapable and unwilling to perform those key defensive duties further up the field.
On top of that, we have a roster of midfield players who can’t defend properly, if at all and if put under pressure, are easily overrun by even mid and lower table teams.
Even if we had Ferdinand and Vidic in their prime, behind this lot, even they’d be put under pressure by the sloppiness going on in front of them and the relentless pressure that results from it.
No wonder the ropey back line we have is getting repeatedly mullered.