by Goataldo » Tue Dec 29, 2009 12:42 pm
From where I was standing I had a an ideal position to have a good long look at Rigsby in the second half, as I was right by our left wing. He has always seemed a bit tentative in the past about clattering into tackles but it did seem he was going in even more gingerly than usual last night.
Whether that's cos he's a complete glove-wearing-softlad, or is over worried about re-injuring himself against 'the bigger boys' in defence after his knee rehab, I dunno - probably a combination of both.
He also looked knackered on more than one occasion, choosing not to chase down balls that a fully match fit Petrov would be odds on to get to first. That will surely come with more games though.
As for his body language - it really does frustrate me, and always has done. I'd much rather see any player get on with trying to rectify a situation by working his balls off to put it right, rather than go through some theatrical histrionics, jumping up and down in frustration, clasping his hands together and throwing curses toward the heavens - it fools no-one and does the opposite of winning sympathy as it's surely designed to do. Robinho is bad for it also, and defending seems something of a inconvenience for both. Against better teams than Wolves, going through the motions will expose us, as proved against Tottingham.
Riggers covered back ok without really convincing defensively, and was a threat going forward without setting the world alight. I've seen him raise it in bigger games in the past, so plenty more to come I hope. We've got strenghth in that position so it's up to him to raise it. I'm not worried.