Guiri Green":31fg7jdn said:
Often if you look back, you can see that blaming the keeper is the easy option.
Oxfords first goal he was blocked from the ball by the Argyle player flailing on the floor in front of him. Nobody ever notices the failures leading up to conceding. He won't save every attempt straight at him, but he's suffering from playing behind the extreme opposite of defence during Larrieus golden period.
The first goal saw chaos in our defence, something the keeper has to take partial responsibility for. An almost identical scenario occured shortly after Oxford's first when our box once again resembled a pin ball machine. Cooper failed to do what he should have done and charge through the melee to claim the ball. It ended with a soft header right at him that he could only chest straight back into the danger zone.
Then in the second-half he came for a cross and completely missed it - thankfully the Oxford forward did too.
You say blaming the keeper is the easy option. I don't think Cooper has been blamed enough this season, because he's young and came through our academy. Why should that be a free pass to avoiding criticism when our other defenders are getting (rightly) hammered?
ps. I agree with Knibbsworth above - though I wasn't one of those who was in favour of Cooper being our No.1. Not bringing Palmer back (or another quality League One keeper) was a major gamble and it hasn't paid off.