[HighlandTerrier58]

I don't think defenders are any better or worse than before. In my opinion it's over analysed and sometimes they confuse bad defending with good attacking play. If a clever player outfoxes his opposition, it's not bound to be bad defending.
As for great Town defenders, what about Ken Monkou? He was classy, but sadly his time with us was short lived.

I agree 100% about over analysis Lord Snooty. Certain MOTD pundits [good as they were] who are/were often very critical of defenders would have been hard pressed themselves if they had had to play out it of defence instead of being able to pass it back to Grobelaar!
Monkou was indeed very classy and going back a bit further we had a great tradition for producing full backs. Obviously Ray Wilson - but his partner Denis Atkins was a class act. Not long after we had Denis Parkin and Chris Cattlin and Bob MacNab who had an illustrious career with Arsenal. I just wonder if more is required from defenders nowadays, especially what were called full backs now wing backs, who are expected to get forward all the time -and are often left in the lurch by forwards who won't track back when things break down.
Please don't think I'm trying to start some rationalisation of the modern game. I'm just interested in opinions as to why defensive problems are always being highlighted and, more particularly, who they have rated as Town defenders in their experience on the terraces. I'm with you all the way re: outfoxing defenders. There are some very talented players about in all squads.